Commitment over Intelligence with Dr. Stephen Rennard

Stephen Rennard MD, is the Larson Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine. He completed Internal Medicine training at the Washington University in St Louis followed by training in pulmonary diseases at the National Institutes of Health where he conducted research in the cell biology of lung disease for the next seven years. He joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1984 as Chief of Pulmonary & Critical Care, a position he retained until 1997. He maintains an active program of clinical investigation in COPD and smoking cessation and a program of basic research in the mechanisms of lung tissue repair and remodeling, including the role of stem cells in disease pathogenesis and repair. He is a recipient of UNMC’s Inaugural Scientist Laureate Award, the highest recognition given to a UNMC scientist.   “You’re gonna make it” said a lab tech who Dr. Rennard regarded as an early mentor. “You’re here on a Sunday morning. You’re gonna make it.” That’s when it struck: it’s not sleepless nights of studying, having textbooks for breakfast, or being an ultra-smart genius that shapes a student into an excellent physician; it is commitment. It is the commitment to the cause you believe in and having the willingness to walk the extra mile that will make you successful. Join us as we listen to Dr. Rennard’s journey at the bench, bedside and in industry, highlighting commitment as the most important criterion for success.   Pearls of Wisdom:   1. The job of being a good student is to make good teachers. Also, focus on commitment to the task and openness to improving your understanding as you go. 2. Commitment is the willingness to work hard and put ourselves in situations through which we can get the exposure we need to achieve our goals. 3. Practice your ability to reach out to whoever you need to, and ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask because it’s flattering to whoever you’re asking! It’s nice for them to answer questions they know the answers to.