Lessons From an MD PhD – From SLC13A5 to Neurology

The journey towards becoming a physician scientist is a long, arduous, and uncertain journey. Few medical students pursue a career as a physician scientist. Even those that do, the path towards maintaining a robust research career and clinical training can be difficult given the personal and social pressures to focus solely on research or clinical work. Despite the long history of science and medicine, there is question concerning the role that physician scientist in modern medicine. As a recent physician scientist graduate, physician scientists are greatly needed in the medical profession. The ability to overlap science, medicine, and the humanities together is an essential part of the producing a well-rounded and effective physician for a rapidly changing profession and world. Through my journey as a physician scientist in training, the lessons I've learned through my training in both the basic science and clinical portions can be helpful for medical students traversing both sides of the divide.