A Mission Larger Than 'Me' with Dr. Paul Noble

Paul Noble, MD, is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Director of the Women's Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Noble is a physician-scientist who has made significant research contributions to understanding the mechanisms and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Dr. Noble completed his medical school at NYU, trained in Internal Medicine and was a Chief Resident at UCSF, did his fellowship in pulmonary & critical care at the University of Colorado, and his research fellowship at the National Jewish Center in Denver. His professional career spans appointments at a number of prominent institutions including Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Duke where he served as Chief of the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care and Allergy, before joining Cedars Sinai.  An elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the American Association of Physicians, Dr. Noble has served as Deputy Editor of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Part of being a great physician is uncovering—and achieving—our true mission and purpose. Dr. Paul Noble shares his own mission: to make an impact on the world. He explains that the satisfaction he gets from medicine has always been less about him, and more about the patient. That medicine is a mission larger than himself. And when we start living this ideal, we’ll find a joy and satisfaction  that is “almost impossible to describe.” Dr. Noble also teaches us that when we discover what our true mission is, others will join us to propel us forward. As physicians, we have the power to make a positive impact on the world. And this impact is only intensified when we work as a team. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. The key to making an impact is not pursuing success for self. It’s about building a team, it is about the people around you. 2. Instead of asking someone to do something for you, ask them to be a part of making a difference to change the world. When we place our priority on the patient, we are will be joined and supported by great physicians and leaders to help us achieve that goal. 3. Always look for the truth. It may not be the answer you wanted—but it’s what matters most.