11/15/2025
One of the things I have always loved, long before medicine and long before surgery, is teaching.
When I was in graduate school working on my master’s degree in physical chemistry, I was named the Graduate Student Teacher of the Year both years I was there. At the time, I did not fully understand how meaningful that was. I just knew that I loved taking complicated ideas and making them clear, simple, and useful for other people. That feeling has stayed with me for years, and teaching is still one of the most rewarding parts of my life.
That is probably why teaching has become one of my favorite parts of medicine. There is something incredibly meaningful about sharing techniques, explaining the lessons I have learned, and helping other doctors elevate what they do for their patients. When you have spent years refining something, being able to pass it on is a privilege that I never take lightly.
This moment was a reminder of that.
Being invited to lecture and teach at The Mayo Clinic, which is one of the most respected institutions in the world, was an honor that I am genuinely grateful for. Walking into a room filled with brilliant physicians and knowing that you are there to contribute something that may improve their work is a feeling I do not take for granted.
Now for the honest part. I have absolutely no idea what my hands were doing in this photo.
None.
Not even a little.
I am sure I was explaining something important, but based on the photographic evidence, it looks like my hands decided to communicate on their own. I cannot tell if I was demonstrating anatomy or calling for a tiny woodland creature to come help with the lecture.
