Fulfilling Hippocratic Oath includes sharing career advice to aspiring, other physicians

Five University of Arizona Department of Medicine faculty participated in a Pima County Medical Society Career-Building Bootcamp, Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation.

They included:

• Billie Bixby, MD, assistant professor and director, Interventional Pulmonology Program, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine;
• Eric Brucks, MD, internist, Tucson VA Medical Center, U of A assistant professor, and associate program director and former chief resident, Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus;
• Monica Hinestroza Jordan, MD, assistant professor, Division of infectious Diseases;
• Alex Perry, MD, MPH, assistant professor and director, Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Program, Division of Infectious Diseases; and
• Serena Scott, MD, MBA, associate professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, and vice chair for faculty development, Department of Medicine.

“PCMS created the bootcamp in order to show young physicians and students support available if they choose to practice in Southern Arizona once they complete their degrees and residency training,” noted PCMS Executive Director Dennis Carey. “We hope to make this a regular event in the future.” 

Presentations and panel discussions included information on applying for residency programs, preparing for interviews, picking a specialty, academic medicine careers, opportunities available at local hospitals, working in primary care, and balancing a career and life away from their practice.

Also at the event were Art Sanders, MD, MHA, a Department of Emergency Medicine professor emeritus at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson, Sarver Heart Center member and PCMS Board member — and clinicians from Tucson Medical Center and the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System.

All U of A participants noted it was important to network with other medical groups and local physicians and assist early-career physicians in finding their path in medicine.

Dr. Perry pointed out it’s even in the Hippocratic Oath, which makes it “literally a duty.” He added, “While how medicine is practiced has changed, the ethos to mentor those who want to go into medicine has not and I hope never will. I was fortunate I knew what I wanted to do before I walked through the College of Medicine’s doors, but I had great mentors giving me advice and advocating for me with letters that allowed me to be the doctor I am.”

Dr. Scott agreed. “It’s great to connect with healthcare providers across all of Pima County with the common goal of helping develop the medical careers of medical students, residents, and young practicing physicians,” she said. “It’s an invaluable investment in the future of our medical community, and it brings great joy to come together in this way.” 

For Dr. Hinestroza, a native of Colombia, a highlight was the great attendance of international medical graduates, or IMGs, like her.

“Participating in this workshop was confirmation of the importance of providing medical students and early career trainees access to different pathways to practice medicine,” she said. “IMGs, historically, face great barriers to get into residencies programs; sometimes because they don’t have clarity about how U.S. training system work or due to lack of mentorship and networking skills. So, events like this are vital in the quest to attract new talent to specialties such as ID, endocrinology and nephrology,” she said.

Dr. Bixby said, “The whole thing was great. It was such an honor and pleasure to be on the panel about choosing a medical specialty. It was an intimate group of medical students and residents eager to navigate the landscape of a life in medicine. We had a great group of local physicians both in the community and from Banner – University Medical Center Tucson from specialties ranging from nephrology, infectious disease, OB/GYN and interventional pulmonology. I look forward to participating again next year.”

EXTRA: Joining the Pima County Medical Society & the PCMS Board

The Pima County Medical Society will be conducting its annual election for the Board of Directors in November. Candidates are needed for five vacancies on the Board. If you would like to be a candidate or know someone you believe would be a good candidate, PCMS is now taking nominations.

You must be an active member of PCMS to serve on the board. If elected, you will serve a three-year term and are eligible to run for two consecutive terms.

If you are not a member, you can submit an application prior to the election. Nominations should be submitted by Oct. 18, but will not be closed until Nov. 6.

Contact Executive Director Dennis Carey or 520-795-7985 to submit a nomination or for additional information about serving on the Board of Directors.

Learn more about PCMS here.