“I was shocked when one of the committee members started lecturing me on my audacity wanting to take the spot from a male. I would be distracted by raising a family and would probably never do research.” Dr. Rita Kandel shared the barriers she faced when starting her career at the inaugural alumni career panel event in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (LMP) at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
However, the attitudes she faced as a woman, and the fact that she wanted to conduct research but had no PhD, did not stop her. Now she is a preeminent researcher in the regeneration of cartilage, a Pathologist and Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Sinai Health System and Women's College Hospital, and Chair of LMP.
The first in a series of LMP Alumni career events, Dr. Rita Kandel, Dr. Susan Done, and Dr. Phedias Diamandis talked the audience through how and why they became clinician-scientists. Dr. Gino Somers, Head of the Division of Pathology at the Hospital for Sick Children and Professor in LMP, and graduate student and Co-President of CLAMPS (the LMP student union), Maryam Khalil, hosted the evening.
They all discovered pathology quite late in their studies and found this area of medicine so intriguing and rewarding that they never looked back.
Although each has a unique experience and pathway, there were some common themes in their stories. The first was the surprise at where they are now. None had a ‘career plan’ or envisioned themselves in their current careers when they started out. A result of following opportunities when they arose and focusing on what made them happy led them to where they are. The key, they all agreed was to recognize these important opportunities, and take them. Dr. Phedias Diamandis, Neuropathologist and Clinician Scientist at University Health Network and Assistant Professor in LMP explained, “Not every decision is important. For me, I can count on one hand the decisions I made that had a big impact on my life and career. The key is being able to identify when these moments happen”.
The second theme was passion and communication. All panelists agreed how important it was to love what you were doing and how the unique pairing of being a clinician and a scientist can give you an advantage. As Dr. Susan Done, Pathologist at the University Health Network and Associate Professor in LMP, said “It’s fun to ask questions in your role as a Pathologist and go into the lab and answer them. Not many have the opportunity to experience that circle of inquiry”. Communicating your passion to others, however, is critical for success, whether that be during networking, presenting or writing applications and papers.
They also explored some of the more challenging aspects of being a clinician-scientist: the fact that you are competing against full-time clinicians and full-time researchers, so finding your unique advantage is key. Being resilient is also important, as Diamandis noted in undergraduate and graduate studies you’re expected to perform at a high level of success – getting consistently high marks. Later, “You have to quickly acclimatize to being rejected. I got rejected 26 times in my first year as a clinician-scientist”.
Key advice from the panel
Be open to new possibilities
Be prepared to look for non-traditional funding sources when necessary
Collaborate with people you enjoy working with
Don’t be deterred by lack of success of your grants, fellowship applications or publications – submit elsewhere!
Develop a strong support network
Add value
Always be humble and kind – give back and pay forward – good karma is essential
Always encourage others to follow their dreams – everyone has potential
Most importantly, they demonstrated how everyone’s path is unique – there is no right way or finish line. You have to enjoy the journey, as it is a long one. “I was incredibly inspired,” commented host Dr. Somers, “We’re looking forward to exploring many more career paths in the future.”
Watch a recording of 'My career as a clinician and a scientist'
