SPOTLIGHT such a rewarding opportunity to participate in the care of patients who have been confronted with a major illness requiring extensive , often life-threatening treatments . Of course , we still all too often face grief , but ultimately patients rely on us to make a difference in their journey with cancer . That relationship gives me the energy that I need to get up in the morning and try to make a difference .
When I finished my fellowship , I was triple – board-certified in medicine , hematology , and oncology , and accepted an offer to join the faculty at UC San Diego in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Division .
At that time , there was no single person specializing in multiple myeloma at UC San Diego , and my division chief was looking for someone to develop a myeloma program . I was grateful for the opportunity . In hindsight , multiple myeloma wasn ’ t originally my passion , but it has become exactly that . Sometimes you don ’ t know what you ’ re looking for until it finds you .
Looking back on your career so far , what is your greatest accomplishment ? Personally , my greatest accomplishment is my family . I am a proud mother of four daughters ages 2 , 5 , 7 , and 9 . They continue to teach me the meaning of patience , and I ’ m sure they will teach me about karma when they all hit their teenage years .
I want to show my daughters how mom doesn ’ t have to work , mom gets to work and help people and do these amazing things that I know they will have the opportunity to do someday as well . I ’ m trying to impress upon these young growing women that the world is theirs to change .
On the career side , my greatest accomplishment is finally feeling like I have a seat at the table . The myeloma expert community is a tightknit family that in the last couple of years has welcomed me , allowed me to have a voice , and valued my input . I ’ m proud that investigator-initiated trials of my own design are supported and that I can offer ideas that I hope will someday make a difference in the myeloma world .
Were there any specific mentors who impacted your career ? My division chief has been a wonderful mentor here at UC San Diego . Outside of my institution , within the myeloma world , my biggest fan is the one and only Joseph R . Mikhael , MD , MEd , who has decided that as part of his career , he is going to be a mentor to as many people as he can possibly support . When I was a first-year faculty member , a mutual friend introduced us and , since then , he has made it his mission to help me succeed in the greater myeloma community – locally , regionally , nationally , and even internationally .
What advice would you pass on to early-career hematologists ? Find multiple mentors – both within and outside of your institution . It ’ s easy to get entangled in the local challenges that occur within every institution . You need someone with an outside
perspective and a greater vision of you , your future , and your potential . Find someone with knowledge of what the landscape is like in your disease of interest specifically . Since I didn ’ t have anyone who was myeloma-oriented here at UC San Diego , I had to branch out and find other people who could provide that perspective .
I also think it is important to have a couple different kinds of mentors . For instance , in addition to the academic mentor to help establish your career in research and publishing , find personal mentors to help you understand work-life balance . “ Doing it all ” isn ’ t realistic , and it helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of and help you figure out what ’ s right for you and your personal goals . A personal mentor can help you answer the question , “ What do you want to do that will fulfill you and not just check the boxes that your institution is requiring of you ?” As an apologetic rule-follower , I always feel like I need to do everything I ’ m told , but when it comes down to it , as an early-career faculty , it ’ s important to take time to explore your options and then focus on the things that bring you the most satisfaction and passion .
Dr . Costello with her family on a recent trip to the beach ( at top ) and on a biking adventure .
Tell us about your life outside of medicine – what are your hobbies ? What do you do in the offhours ? Life outside of medicine ? I would love to say I have one . You ’ ll catch me on the soccer field cheering on a daughter , crafting some goodies for the nursing staff or schoolteachers , or upside down at yoga . Someday , once I ’ m done rearing all these tiny humans who live in my house , I ’ d love to be able to just spend some time stirring up trouble with my husband of 13 years .
What is one thing most people would be surprised to learn about you ? During my time as captain of the Harvard soccer team , we were Ivy League champions and ranked number seven in the country . I ’ m very proud of that . Go Crimson ! ●
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