Initially, I was not drawn to medicine. I
started out as a government major and actually
when I grew up, I didn’t like the smell
of hospitals. In fact, the last thing I really
wanted to be was a doctor. But I was fascinated
by health economics, and international
relations and global health.
So I applied to medical school with the focus
that I wouldn’t really practice, but I would
perhaps use that background in training to
lend more legitimacy to my interest in health
economics. But medical school happened and
I thoroughly, surprisingly enjoyed it, particularly
working in the hospital, seeing patients and
everyday was an exciting day of different
stories, some inspiring, some very depressing.
But it was the whole gamut of emotions of
narratives that really attracted me to change
course and decide that practicing medicine
would be perhaps more personally rewarding.
What fascinated me about GI was unlike some
of the other specialties, it’s not just
about one organ, it’s about several organs.
And GI is at the crossroads of so many
different fields. There’s infectious diseases
in GI, there is immunology and autoimmune
diseases, there is so much going on now with
the microbiome and the role of the gut.
And the other aspect is that I did like using my hands and endoscopy
also offered me the opportunity to use my hands.
Once I chose GI, then I decided I had to pick
a field within that area. I like a challenge
and I saw pancreatitis as a challenge. It’s
very complex. In some ways a neglected specialty
within my subspecialty. Patients who suffer
from chronic pain are patients who are truly
in need. I just saw that there was a lot of
unmet need and a lot of possibilities to lead
a fulfilling professional life.
