Going Further Together with Dr. Adam Brufsky

Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, and the Associate Director of Clinical Investigation at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. He is a prolific researcher and is actively involved in national oncology organizations. On the path to being a doctor, getting caught up in the race of seeking credit and finding validation is easy. Here to remind us that true success in medicine means “affecting the lives of the people [we] care for and being a reliable source of help,” Dr. Adam Brufsky joins us on this episode of The Medicine Mentors. Tune in as we take a page from Dr. Brufsky’s book and learn why “you’ll get a lot more done in science and medicine if you don’t care as much about who gets the credit.” Pearls of Wisdom:   1. During training and throughout your tenure as a physician, getting credit seems to be a race to the finish. But you’ll go further for longer if instead you support your peers and learn to put credit to the side; don’t miss the forest for the trees. 2. It’s easy to feel intimidated when reaching out for support, but remember that those in high positions only got there by standing on the shoulders of giants. Speak up and reach out and you’ll find most people will happily oblige.  3. Two principles every good mentor must follow are: being a role model in every aspect, from work-life balance to professional candor; and being present for a mentee despite the circumstance even if just to listen. 4. Two principles every good mentee must follow are: showing interest and involvement by following through on opportunities; and understanding when to say no, which is something a mentor could help with.