Making it Personal Through a Career of Service

He ended with “pearls” of advice for the younger audience, including considering their careers as a sprint, not a marathon. Collaborate when possible, but retain ownership. Don’t be afraid to make career changes and fail. Remain flexible, reinvent yourself. Don’t flip out too often (which elicited a laugh from attendees). Retain professional passion. Start new programs. Become a mentor. Remember the mission is to serve patients.

“But above all else, keep your eye on the prize, those things that keep you human and grounded and help you maintain your humility,” he said. “You will make it highly personal and you will make a difference to your patients through a career of service.”

Paraphrasing U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm’s quote that “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth,” he applied it to vascular surgeons, who have a purpose to serve patients. “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of patient care. It is deeply personal,” he said.

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“Colleagues, thank you for allowing me to be your president this past year,” he concluded. “In this highly dangerous and volatile world, may God bless all of us and our mission to our patients.”