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FEATURE

Maybe It’s Time to Try

Something New

By Adam V. Ratner, MD, FACR

I’m sitting around a long table in a room with nine excited
and energetic first-year medical students or “learners” as we
now call them. They are having an animated, wide-ranging
conversation about a young patient with celiac disease. Each
of the learners is bringing to the table the results of their
research and study over the past two days. They discuss clin-
ical presentation, pathophysiology, relevant basic sciences,
socioeconomics, mental health and so much more at a level
I could not have imagined when I was a first-year medical
student way back in the last millennium.
I’m having a blast. I’ve had the privilege of “teaching” at
both UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine and
now at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Os-
teopathic Medicine for several years after a 20-year career
in private practice.
Over the past several decades, I’ve seen many excellent
physicians become cynical, get burned out and often leave
our profession because they no longer derived joy from their
daily work. An overwhelming clinical work load, frustrating admin- While searching local academic institutional web sites and job
istrative burdens and regulations, antagonistic third-party payors are postings are great first steps, academic departments have changing
a few of the many reasons we lose sight of what is important, mean- needs and direct conversations with departmental leaders are critical
ingful and fun. in finding a potential academic niche which may not be advertised
While most of the same challenges exist in the world of academic or even yet imagined.
medicine, we in academia benefit from the energy and passion of No matter what the practice setting, the BCMS wants our mem-
our learners, whether as students, interns, residents, fellows or fac- ber physicians to be as happy and productive as possible. If you’re
ulty colleagues. While they are always challenging us, most are also thinking about returning to academia and want to know more,
grateful for helping them obtain the wisdom and knowledge and to please don’t hesitate to contact me (adam.ratner@bcms.org) or Dr.
learn the skills we have acquired over the years. Rajeev Suri (suri@uthscsa.edu) , the chair of the new BCMS Joint
Many learners seem to be particularly hungry for pearls from Academic Collaboration Committee.
the worlds of private practice and appreciate the different per-
spectives that those of us who have practiced in non-academic Dr. Adam Ratner is Chair and a co-founder of the Patient
environments bring. There are too many potential opportunities Institute and currently serves as the Stewart and Marianne
for experienced private practitioners interested in the academic Reuter Endowed Professor of Medical Humanities as well as
world to describe here. Clinical Professor and Deputy Chair for Strategic Development
If you’re not feeling the joy of practice but also think there still and Socioeconomics in the Department of Radiology at The Uni-
is a burning ember that could reignite a passion for medicine, think versity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He is also a professor
about returning to academia. There are volunteer, part-time and full- of radiology, health policy and medical humanities at the University of Incarnate
time opportunities, but you will have to seek them out. Word School of Osteopathic Medicine.

32 San Antonio Medicine • June 2018