Thanks to Teachers
Who helped you become the physician you are today?

Let’s face it: We don’t reward our teachers enough. They undoubtedly are our most valuable asset, but they are highly underappreciated, overworked, and underpaid. They have the ability to change the course of a person’s life. Great teachers impart knowledge, and inspire. They light the spark that we then fan into the flame that becomes our lives.

When Sam Nixon, MD, received the distinguished service award from the Texas Medical Association, I was impressed that he could recall the names of some of his grade-school teachers and that he mentioned many of his teachers in his speech. He attributed the man he had become to the things he had learned from his teachers. He’s retired now, and his memory is much better than mine. I can recall certain defining events of my life clearly. But I recall names only hazily. I also did not appreciate many of my teachers until some years later.

A few years ago, the Texas Medical Association saw the wisdom in creating an award for science teachers. The teachers who have applied are incredible. They take limited resources and invest large amounts of their own personal time to get students interested in science at all levels. These teachers will produce the future scientists, engineers, and doctors of the world.

The Excellence in Science Teaching Awards were established in 1990 to honor elementary, junior high, and senior high teachers who share their energy and enthusiasm for science through creative and innovative methods. Winners receive a cash award and an expense-paid trip to TMA’s annual session. In addition, a resource grant is awarded to the schools of the first-place winners. If you would like to nominate a teacher for the 2002 awards call Hella Wagner at TMA, 512-370-1403, or e-mail her at hella_w@texmed.org.

I don’t necessarily believe that all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten, but I think we physicians should take some of Robert Fulghum’s advice. Mainly, when we go out into the world, we should hold hands and stick together.

Actually a physician’s learning never ends. We thirst for knowledge. We are professional students. Not only do we go to school forever, our field continuously changes. That means there is never a dull moment, and that’s what makes medicine so exciting.

Some of our knowledge comes with a great deal of pain and anguish. I tell everyone that I spent 10 of my best years at Parkland (I was there only three). And some of our knowledge is obtained more pleasantly. I enjoy attending a well-run seminar in pleasant surroundings that is geared for the practicing physician. Some of our knowledge is obtained through self-study. And some of our knowledge our patients teach us. One of my professors once said that he was known for his good judgment. When asked how he obtained that good judgment, he said, “From a lot of bad judgment.” Being a physician is a humbling experience. And as a pediatrician, I am humbled every day by the things my patients teach me.

I would like to thank one of my teachers in particular, Charles (Chuck) Ginsburg, MD. He not only taught me about pediatrics, he taught me a great deal about life. Nothing was too trivial for him to teach me. He was always there for me. And he always helped me keep things in perspective. His greatest pride is in the physicians he has trained and in the fact that he took a homogenous training program and turned it into a world-class, diverse training experience. He remembers every one of us. He still is available for consultation. And each day that goes by, I use something he taught me or I remember something he told me.

Thank you, Chuck, for the physician that I have become. Now, for those of you who don’t have a President’s Page in which to thank your mentors, call or write someone in your life who was a great teacher to you.

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