I had the great pleasure of giving a lecture to Boston University School of Medicine’s Pediatric Department on Thursday.
I was able to give the Pediatric department some insight into treating obesity at ground zero and the concept of following your passion to hopefully give some perspective on practicing medicine in the real world.
Childhood obesity wasn’t on our radar in 1998 when I graduated. I am grateful to my training at this school to dig in and dedicate myself to helping children in need. I never imagined that I, being the kid who never ate my vegetables, would be promoting good nutrition of all things for children in need. They were such a fantastic group, and I am so impressed.
The biggest honor was that my favorite Biochemistry professor of all time Dr. Franzblau also attended with his lovely daughter. I am so grateful to Dr. Carine Lenders the brilliant Professor and Medical Director of the Nutrition and Fitness for Life Program in Pediatrics as well as to the legion in Pediatric medicine at BU Dr. Bob Vinci and their chief residents. Dean Suzanne Sarfaty is a dear friend and also helped arrange my lecture with the students and connected me with Dr. Vinci and Dr. Lenders.
Kate DeForest helped me track down some classmates as well as introducing me to the Dean Karen H. Antman, MD, who was amazing, regal and warm; and Doug Hughes,MD who is in charge of Academic Affairs who has brought back much of the rich history of medicine throughout the lobby.
The most important thing I want to convey to students and residents is to follow their passions. When I studied to be a pediatrician no one was talking about treating childhood obesity. I never imagined doing it. Finding passion in what you do is the key to happiness.
I went to a school like BUSM that trained us not only medicine but inspired me to take that knowledge a use it for the greater good. BUSM was so much more than a school rich with knowledge. It nurtured and germinated a trajectory which has catapulted me through life. I am so grateful to give back and reach out a hand to their students to pull them toward their dreams and beyond their goals.
