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MEDICAL SCHOOL
EVALUATION & GRADUATION

neering to my medical degree. I did this because I wanted to help pa- This was her response:
tients navigate their illness but also believed that science generates the “Throughout college, I seriously considered a few different career
map which makes that navigation possible.” choices – marine biologist, teacher, art historian, social worker, the
Our second child, Emily, graduated from Massachusetts Institute list goes on. I saw the tireless hours that you and mom spent working
of Technology (MIT) with a degree in Neurocognitive Studies and and was firm about not pursuing medicine because of it. Similar to
then spent the next three years doing medical research at UTHSC, Emily, it wasn’t until I stopped thinking of practicing medicine as a
San Antonio. She is presently at Johns Hopkins completing her second job and began thinking about it more as a lifestyle that I seriously
year as a medical resident and is pursing a Rheumatology Fellowship considered it. As I grew up, I remember countless conversations about
program. The following is her response: different projects and patient cases that you both were working on
“It’s honestly hard to remember exactly what happened, or when and I’d be lying if I said that your passion and excitement were not
the lightbulb that told me, ‘this is what contagious. Ultimately, as I reflected
I want to do,’ went off in my head, since upon my own experiences, I realized
I had spent so much time fighting the that becoming a physician would pro-
idea. I didn’t like the hours I saw, and I vide me the opportunity to marry
didn’t want to feel torn between work many of my passions: science, teach-
and home. But, honestly, as soon as I ing, advocating, serving my commu-
stopped thinking of being a physician as nity (specifically our tiniest members)
‘having a job,’ and started thinking and learning.
about it as part of a lifestyle, I eventually Side note: I also remember multiple
just realized that I couldn’t see myself warnings from you both to not go into
doing anything else. My initial plans of medicine unless I was 100% sure – I
being a teacher are fulfilled (with stu- still appreciate not being pushed into
dents, interns and patients), my curios- this field because it is demanding (but
ity on the human body, mind and As soon as I stopped also extremely rewarding and fun). I
condition is never satiated, and the re- “ joked multiple times with my inter-
lationships and compassion I choose to thinking of being viewers who asked about whether or
have for my fellow beings is essential, a physician as not you and mom played a role in my
not only for the sake of my patients and decision to become a doctor that the
their families, but also for myself and ‘having a job,’ and best way to get your kids to go into
my team. From an ideological perspec- started thinking about it medicine is to tell them NOT to go
tive, the traits of what I would consider as part of a lifestyle, into medicine. I told them it worked 3
a great physician – compassionate, lis- out of 3 times.”
tener, humble, analytical, good commu- I eventually just realized From my perspective, the message is
nicator and teacher – are all traits that that I couldn’t see myself clear: if the parents love what they do
I aspire to, although I know I can fall “ as physicians, their children will likely
short. Plus, seeing how fulfilling you doing anything else. consider pursuing the same, if not a
both found your work, and [after more similar career.
exposure to the field outside of home] I’d like to thank the Publications
understanding how meaningful the work truly is, ultimately helped Committee for asking me to write this article and mostly would like
guide that decision. Regardless, I’m sure it was many things that led thank our children for writing the bulk of it.
each of us down this path, though I also would favor believing that if
you (parents) didn’t like your job, we probably wouldn’t either.” Rodolfo “Rudy” Molina MD, MACR, FACP is a Practicing
Sarah, our youngest and a proud Aggie, is graduating this year Rheumatologist and the 2021 President of the Bexar County
from UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine and will Medical Society.
be entering a Pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine.

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