UP FRONT dedicated , community-practice – based clinical faculty .
During my time as a resident , I cared for many patients with complicated , challenging hematologic disorders , both malignant and non-malignant . Because there were few fellows in hematology and oncology in Providence at that time , we were fortunate to be the primary providers for these patients on the wards . Our faculty mentors were tremendous role models and compelled many of us in the Brown residency programs to pursue fellowships in hematology and medical oncology .
I was also in Providence during a colorful time in the city ’ s history when a number of highprofile incidents and scandals kept this capital of the “ Biggest Little State in the Union ” in the public eye . Raymond Patriarca , the acknowledged head of the New England mafia ran his crime syndicate out of Providence and died of a heart attack in our emergency department in 1984 – luckily , I was not on duty at that time . Needless to say , as a hayseed from Kansas , Providence was a thrilling place to live .
What mentors played a role in shaping your career ? When I arrived here in Seattle , the faculty in the Division of Hematology was filled with amazing talent , including John Adamson , MD , at the University of Washington ( UW ), who had succeeded Clement Finch , MD , the first chief of Hematology at UW and the “ godfather ” of iron metabolism . Thalia Papayannopoulou , MD , DrSci , at UW ; Gerald Roth , MD , at the Seattle Veterans Hospital ; John Harlan , MD , at Harborview Medical Center ; and Richard Counts , MD , and his outstanding group of medical directors at Puget Sound Blood Center were all wonderful role models and clinical mentors . During my clinical training , I was also privileged to work with E . Donnall Thomas , MD , and his team of pioneers in the bone marrow transplant program .
The mentor who played the biggest role in shaping my career was Janis L . Abkowitz , MD . Dr . Abkowitz , the head of the Division of Hematology at UW , was my research mentor as a fellow . It was a tremendous fit ; we worked together for many years on hematopoiesis research in both feline and human models and I continued to work side-by-side with her in the lab until I moved to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance ’ s Fred Hutchinson campus in 2001 .
There have also been amazing people in American Society of Hematology ( ASH ) leadership who have reached out to me and other young individuals every year , to promote opportunities and scholarship within the Society . For me , that was James N . George , MD , who was ASH president at the time I was asked to co-chair the education program
for the annual meeting in 2005 . That annual meeting was notable for a last-minute change in venue from New Orleans to Atlanta because New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in the fall of 2005 . During that challenging time , I witnessed grace under pressure by Dr . George and the ASH staff . Since that time , Jim has been an incredible support and advocate for my career . It probably helped that we share midwestern roots – he from Oklahoma and I from Kansas .
How did these people affect your career ? Did they offer any specific advice that you ’ d like to share ? Great mentors offer valuable perspective . As you enter your career and try to find your niche in research or the clinical domain , you have to know yourself – what drives you and where your passions lie . If you want to go into academia , that passion has to be powerful enough to tolerate the disappointments of , say , having your manuscript rejected or being denied a grant opportunity . You have to continue to ask the probing questions , dig deeper , and take risks along the way .
On the practical side , I learned from my mentors that to be a good hematologist / oncologist you have to be an excellent clinician . My experiences as an orderly helped prepare me for that ; I
“ To be a good hematologist / oncologist you have to be an excellent clinician . My experiences as an orderly helped prepare me for that .”
— MICHAEL LINENBERGER , MD
quickly realized the importance of communicating and connecting with patients and caregivers on a personal level , to have excellent bedside skills – from both the social and clinical side .
Also , versatility is vital . If a project doesn ’ t work out , you need to be able to troubleshoot and understand new ways to approach a problem . Patience is certainly important , but so is good mentorship and the humility to know when you need help . I would advise young hematologists to seek out individuals who can support you and offer honest advice – which means you have to be ready to accept constructive criticism .
What have been your greatest career accomplishments ? Have you had any major disappointments , and how have you dealt with those ? My move from UW to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance ’ s Fred Hutchinson campus about 15 years ago was a major career shift . I transitioned from a physician-scientist to a clinicianscholar career track . It was disappointing to leave the “ bench ,” but the move took me in new directions . I had supportive people who allowed me to make that switch to another area of academia . I ’ m happy to have had the opportunity to develop new skills and do important work as a clinical researcher and education administrator .
I ’ m also happy that I ’ ve been able to make these contributions as a teammate or “ foot soldier ,” working as a member of a crew of brilliant , visionary people who are leading the charge and getting things done . I ’ ve seen this type of community spirit over and over in my career , and it ’ s always been incredibly rewarding to be part of the team . It is also a position that meshes with my personality ; I ’ m an introvert , but I ’ m not shy . As a hematologist , or a clinician in any field , you can be reserved and reflective , but you have to be there “ in the trenches ” with your patients and your colleagues .
What do you and your family do in the “ off hours ” – if you have any ? My wife , Sallie , is a family practitioner who recently retired from her practice , so we have a few more “ off hours ” than normal . We try to take advantage of everything the Seattle area has to offer : sea-kayaking in Puget Sound , day trips to the San Juan Islands , and live arts performances . I ’ ve always loved photography , so I try to fit that in when I travel .
We ’ re also active members of the Unitarian Universalist church , where I ’ ve served as a mentor for adolescents in a coming-of-age program for the past few years .
Can you tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to learn ? I was the co-editor of my high school yearbook in 1974 . ( It might be surprising for people who are familiar with my writing at the time .) This was around the time that the National Lampoon published an issue that perfectly parodied a 1964 high school yearbook . The funny ( and sad ) part was that our actual yearbook looked similar in many ways to the parody issue – right down to the formatting , cheesy captions , and staged action pictures . It was hilarious , and somewhat sobering .
I learned project management skills as the co-editor , but it did not teach me to write . That was something I learned in college – and continue to work on in my academic career .
If you could have dinner with one person – living or dead – who would it be ? I think Leonardo da Vinci would be a fascinating person to have dinner with . He was the quintessential “ Renaissance man ,” with wide-ranging interests that span art and science . Multi-talented individuals with broad experiences and perspectives have always been the most interesting , remarkable people I have met and worked with over the years . ●
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