Advocating for Our Patients with Dr. David Reuben

David Reuben MD is the Director, Multicampus Program in Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology and Chief, Division of Geriatrics at UCLA. He is the Archstone Foundation Chair and Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine and Director of the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program. Dr. Reuben completed his medical school at Emory and residency at Rhode Island Hospital. He pursued a fellowship from UCLA. He has served as principal investigator of numerous large studies including the STRIDE study aimed at reducing serious falls related injuries in the elderly. His bibliography includes more than 200 peer reviewed publications in medical journals and over 30 books including the widely distributed Geriatrics at Your Fingertips. Dr. Reuben has received numerous awards including the Henderson Award from the American Geriatrics Society and the 2008 John Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award. He has served in a number of important leadership roles including the Board Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine, President of the American Geriatrics Society and President of the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs. What is the hallmark of a great physician? Today, Dr. David Reuben reflects on how we as physicians are very powerful people: people listen to us, return our phone calls. A great physician, according to Dr. Reuben, is one who uses that power to advocate for their patients. Sharing anecdotes from his own life, Dr. Reuben shares how many of our real achievements never make their ways on a CV. Oftentimes, those lie in the small differences we can make for our patients and their families. And that is true success. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. In a patient encounter, building a relationship with a patient should be the first thing on our checklist. 2. The move from a good internist to a great internist is built on advocacy for the patient. Physicians are powerful. Use that power to advocate. 3.  Your mentor and your role model don’t have to be the same person. Having multiple people as mentors offers a variety of perspectives. 4. Think about the long-haul. Is what you’re worrying about now going to matter in five years?