Keeping the Patient as Our North Star with Dr. Gregory Kane

Gregory Kane, MD, is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and the Jane & Leonard Korman Professor of Pulmonary Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Kane received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Lankenau Hospital before returning to Jefferson for a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Dr. Kane’s research focuses on asthma, sarcoidosis and bronchiectasis. He is an active member of various national bodies including the American Board of internal medicine, the Council of the Association of Program Directors in Internal medicine and the Alliance for Academic Internal medicine. Awards recognizing his commitment to humanism and professionalism include the Gold Humanism Award and the prestigious Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach award from ACGME. As Dr. Gregory Kane encounters new skills, strategies, or approaches - he tries them on like a new coat. And if they’re comfortable, he incorporates them into his armamentarium. Today, we take a deep dive into Dr. Kane’s armamentarium, and access the wisdom he has gathered over a lifetime of achievement. Key to everything he shares with us is a firm belief that no matter how many doors of opportunity we walk through, we must keep the patient—and the patient’s perspective—at the center of our mind. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Success lies in perseverance. Whatever problem you are faced with, persevere and overcome. Those who are the most successful maintain the attitude that they are capable of overcoming setbacks. 2. Observe the best practices of the faculty you admire, but develop your own script for what works best for you. Try new strategies and approaches like you would a new coat. Keep the ones that feel comfortable. Through this, you can create better versions of yourself. 3. No matter what door you walk through throughout the many stages of your career, keep the patient at the center. Their perspective should be your north star.