PAYING IT FORWARD
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Story 2 : First in , Last Out
Dr . Kasdan has mentored hundreds of students throughout his career . One shared story focused on two students . Student 1 was a mentee of Dr . Kasdan who was on a one-month long sub-internship for plastic surgery at Duke University . This student was the first to arrive every morning , sometimes as early as 3:30 a . m ., and the last to leave every night , often well past midnight . This student was the first in , last out and ultimately matched at their top choice in plastic surgery at one of the most prestigious plastic surgery programs . Student 2 was also performing a sub-internship and staying with a colleague of Dr . Kasdan ’ s . At the end of the one-month sub-internship , the colleague shared the student was generally later in arriving and beat him home every day . This student was the last in , first out so it was not surprising this student did not match at a top choice . Hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed . Dr . Kasdan ’ s favorite saying when preparing students for interviews is , “ Life is like a Broadway show , except this tryout determines your future .”
Lesson 2 : Do not let anyone outwork you .
Story 3 : Make a Great First Impression
Dr . Kasdan has witnessed students fail in interviews and on clinical rotations because they did not look presentable , were not punctual or were not prepared . Dr . Kasdan stresses to his students to always look and act professional . Tips he shares with his students include arriving early , ensuring your white coat is clean and pressed and never leaning against the wall .
Attending doctors are not the only ones who deserve respect . Learning from the residents and fellows is just as important as they have experience and can provide valuable input . Dr . Kasdan shared a story regarding an intelligent student who did a sub-internship . The student only attempted to impress the attending physicians ignoring both fellows and resident physicians . The student failed to recognize that these residents and fellows give vital feedback to the attending evaluator . As a result , this student did not match at a first choice . Professionalism in both appearance and behavior along with respect are critical for success .
Lesson 3 : Be professional .
Story 4 : In Order to Live , You Must Learn
To this day , Dr . Kasdan has nightmares that he did not study hard enough during his time in medical school . He grew up with a sister who possessed a photographic memory and could easily memorize everything she read or watched ; he could not . To compensate , he would set his alarm every morning for 3:30 a . m . to read and study .
While in Dr . Kasdan ’ s home office one day , I saw a handwritten note with the words , “ If you are not learning , then you are not living .” He encourages his students to read and listen to speakers . Some books that have influenced him include Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell , The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and Studying a Study and Testing a Test by Richard K . Riegelman . Some of the best speakers he has heard include Beck Weathers and Jonny Kim . Dr . Kasdan encourages his students to observe writing patterns , speech and pronunciation and use of gestures that engage both readers and listeners . In his experience , he has seen many intelligent people fail because they stopped learning and became complacent . In Dr . Kasdan ’ s eyes , a lack of internal drive to keep learning means you have stopped living .
Lesson 4 : Learn something new every day .
Story 5 : Get Out of Bed
Dr . Alice Pickett , the first woman faculty member at the UofL School of Medicine , delivered Dr . Kasdan . When Dr . Kasdan was applying to medical school , he went to Dr . Pickett ’ s home and she agreed to write him a letter of recommendation if he followed this rule , “ Always put your patients first , students second , family third and yourself last .”
True to his promise , Dr . Kasdan lives by this rule and credits his successes to a patient-first mentality . When he was a chief resident at Duke University , Dr . Kasdan believes adherence to this rule was the only reason he was not fired . After working 72 hours straight , he came home “ dog tired ” and fell fast asleep . He soon received a message on his pager to call the Duke Emergency Room . A parent insisted on seeing the Plastic Surgery Chief Resident . Initially , Dr . Kasdan contemplated not getting out of bed as he had not slept in two days . However , he remembered his promise and the most important rule : patient first . He dressed and went to the hospital .
A week later Dr . Kenneth Pickrell , the Chief of the Plastic Surgery Division at Duke , called Dr . Kasdan into his office . He explained that a letter had been copied to the president of the university from Dr . Mcintosh , the Head of the Cardiovascular Division at Duke , saying “ Ken , Friday night my young son , Jim , lacerated his finger and we asked to see your Chief Resident . Dr . Kasdan responded promptly . He is indeed , a fine young man , bright , pleasant , articulate and above all , skilled . You are to be commended in attracting him to the Duke University Medical Center and guiding his training .” Had Dr . Kasdan remained in bed , the outcome of this story could have been very different .
Lesson 5 : Put your patients first .
14 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE