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“ I love that we have the opportunity to care for them in every setting , from surgical to nonsurgical care . It builds a special relationship between you and the patient , as well as their family and all of the members of the health care team . It ’ s not just about me or my partners , it ’ s about our trainees , our nursing staff , the members of our office and the other people in the operating room . They see us all as a consistency in their lives . When it gets to the point where they may end up succumbing to their cancer , you ’ re there and you ’ ve been there . It ’ s a familiar face and I hope that it makes it an easier , less stressful , less painful transition in their final days .”
That also brings its own set of challenges , though . She leans heavily on her family for support and a listening ear , but also praises her work partners for fostering such a collaborative environment .
“ Dr . Metzinger and Dr . Whitney Goldsberry have played such a pivotal role . I always know I can lean on them . Sometimes there ’ s just so much sadness and it can be overwhelming . It ’ s part of being a human , you can ’ t just act like a robot . Kudos to people in solo practice , I don ’ t know how they do it , because there are times when you have to let someone else step in with a fresh set
of eyes . We ’ re all very dedicated to our patients and you want to be there every day for them , but sometimes taking a day or two to step back can be very helpful ,” she said . “ And it ’ s hard in front of the patients sometimes . To put yourself in their place and imagine what ’ s going on in their head . I ’ ve got knowledge about the disease and what I think is going to happen based on my experiences , but ultimately none of us knows what the outcome will be or can predict when someone ’ s going to pass , or how long their life is going to be .”
As an Assistant Professor with UofL , Dr . Todd shares with medical students and residents practical bits of wisdom and her stories , letting them know that you can ’ t learn everything from a textbook and must build education through experience and time . Knowing firsthand how beneficial a gap year can be , she stresses the importance of gaining as much experience as they can before they ’ re out on their own .
“ Unfortunately , there aren ’ t enough spots for everyone to match into fellowship each year . If you have the opportunity to just get another year of training in some other way , take that opportunity . It will set you ahead and allow you to care more optimally for the patient . I don ’ t think you can ever overdo training .
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