RTW

After a lengthy and glorious eight month-long sabbatical, I am returning to the workforce. I have decided to rejoin the IR section at the University of Colorado where I was the previous section chief from 2014-2020. My position will be full time as a clinical IR starting on August 15. I’ve been immersed in modules and training sessions and, despite that, I can’t wait to re-embrace the daily challenges of patient care.

I have elected to forgo any titles (other than as a professor) for several reasons: 1. I’ve had plenty of titles- it is not important to me at this point, 2. I have a ton of respect for my new partners and the jobs that they are doing. I am delighted to help them along the way to see what they are capable of achieving, 3. My professional aspirations at this point in my career do not require me to have a title; I can mentor, guide, coach, and help individuals all I want without the need for a title, and 4. I’m not really ready for or certain of any additional roles at this point; I’m happy to wait and see how things develop once I get back to work. Maybe things will change in the future.

Being on sabbatical has prompted me to reflect on the impact of being an academician. Every single interaction that each of us has can have a profound downstream impact. As just one example, a “mundane” task like fistula thrombectomy can lead to several important outcomes: a) guides and improves patient care, b) teaches a trainee, c) develops your expertise, d) influences a medical student to pursue a career, e) help address a healthcare disparity, f) helps answer or generates a research question, g) builds a relationship with a new clinical colleague, h) generates revenue which helps support the academic mission…and so on. Similar examples are equally true for everyone in an academic enterprise: trainees, researchers, and administrators too. To be part of an academic mission is both a privilege and responsibility. There are few jobs like it and it’s one I won’t take for granted.