Several years ago,
I was selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, which was held at the prestigious Georgetown University; where a collective of us who chose to pursue medicine/medical research.
There, I was able to make friends, and was able to do rotations with medical professionals in the specialty of Thoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Family Practice as well as Gastroenterology.
There, I met a quaint individual, who attracted my attention, and during our 2 week duration of the Forum, I befriended Dr. Ralph Updike, M.D, who was a then the Chief Gastroenterologist in the GI Floor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
He showed me the ropes, talked to me about the ins and 'outs of the floor, and we divulged in out of topic conversations, family history, reasons for pursuing medicine, his life story etc etc. A beautiful conundrum of informative exchanges, so to say. lol.
He inspired me with his departing words, 'Always remember why you are hear, and what is the real purpose. Don't you ever let daily trivia and constancy numb you to the calling you were given into Medicine. The poor, the destitute, the dying. They are what counts. Always remember that."
Today, even as I read lectures and discuss with colleagues, I can still hear Dr. Updike's voice and message. It resounds in my head.
He is definitely one of the driving forces that has helped me in my decision.
This is all I have to remember him by:
Taken during the end of my rotation with him.
Thanks Dr. Updike, for helping me.
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