A week ago, I was honored to be a part of the Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit in Dallas, Texas. This was an AMAZING event spearheaded by Dr. Dale at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Students from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and some from out of state were present along with parents and teachers. There were a number of volunteers, medical doctors, premed students, and teachers in attendance as well. I was in awe at the attendance and highly inspired by everyone who spoke.

As I chatted with the young students in attendance, I began to notice nearly everyone had the same two questions for me?

1. How long did it take you to become a doctor?

2. Why did you choose Endocrinology as a specialty?

These were two excellent questions. I liked them because they allowed me to appreciate the dedication these students had to the field of medicine. As we say, medicine is a long road and it is best that you count the costs before embarking on it. I thought I’d share with you my answer to these two questions but first I must explain what it is I do as an Endocrinologist.

Endocrinology is the branch in medicine dedicated to studying endocrine glands and hormones. As Endocrinologists, our bread and butter is diabetes of all types but we also treat a host of hormonal disorders stemming from the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, gonads, and pancreas glands. We also deal with metabolic disorders, growth disorders, and bone disorders. I personally think it is the coolest job in the world.

So back to the questions.

#1. How long did it take you to become a doctor?

This was a question asked primarily by the young students but when I think back, I don’t know that I could answer this question while I was a premedical student. I took for granted that I was going to medical school straight out of college and did not have anything but time on my hands. “A veeeery, veeeery long time,” was the answer I gave most of them as I watched their eyes open wide. I thought I surely scared them off with that but not at all!?! Nothing could deter these kids from their dream of becoming a physician. Most of them inquired further by asking me to explain the steps needed after high school all the way to my specialty. I obliged. 

   

So there you have it.. 10 years! This is a long time to dedicate to training but it is necessary to become a competent physician. During this time, friends will start jobs, buy homes, get married, and start families. You may have to put those things on the backburner but in no time you will catch up and it will be worth it. Delayed gratification is the key.

#2. Why did you choose Endocrinology as a specialty?

Medical students ask me this question all the time. My answer is, I chose Endocrinology because I had to be true to myself. To be an internist, you need to be intellectually curious. You must master the body in an out. As a medical student, I liked the cerebral challenge of internal medicine and felt it would be applicable in serving my family and community. While I rotated through the wards, I paid special attention to the cases that kept me up at night. These were the ones I loved to round on. The ones I was eager to see the lab results for. I found myself going back to the patient’s room after rounding so I could teach them about their condition. These were the cases I would watch on one of my favorite TV shows called “Mystery Diagnosis”. Pheochromocytoma, Addison’s disease, and acromegaly were always those zebra diagnoses in the back of my mind. How small glands such as these can transform one’s life continues to amaze me to this day but it is great to know that with the correct diagnosis and tools, you can help a patient out tremendously. 

There are many paths to become a doctor and many flavors of doctors. The road is a long one but oh what a privilege and honor it is to don the white coat.

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