The Humanistic Pursuit of Medicine with Dr. Richard Hellman

Richard N. Hellman, MD, is a senior clinical nephrologist and an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, where he enjoys clinical teaching and mentoring of medical students, residents and renal fellows. His research interests include acute kidney injury, contrast nephropathy, hypertension, fluid and electrolyte disorders. Dr. Hellman received a BA in Economics from Roosevelt University, and an MD from the Baylor College of Medicine.  He did his internship in internal medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine and Residency in internal Medicine at the University of Texas San Antonio and a Fellowship in Nephrology at Washington University Barnes Hospital. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Hellman has practiced both in academic settings at the University of Minnesota and in a private practice, before coming to Indiana University where he has been on faculty for over 20 years. He is the recipient of several medical teaching awards including The Minnesota Medical Foundation Clinical teacher of the year and Fellowship Clinical Teacher of the Year Award at Indiana University. The rapid advancement of technology in medicine is an ongoing conversation. And today, Dr. Richard Hellman is here to remind us that medicine itself is a humanistic pursuit. What he means by this: As physicians, we must be proactive in bringing more people into our lives and conversations. Genuine human connection is invaluable in this profession, and that is what garners trust and respect from our patients and colleagues. He also advises us to self-reflect: Understand our unique skills and interests and find our fit in medicine using what we’re good at. So we can enjoy the journey. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Know the difference between knowledge and approach. Mentors may not always be able to add to your existing knowledge, but will be invaluable in how to approach a problem. 2. Medicine is a humanistic pursuit. In a field where technology is rapidly advancing, we need to make proactive efforts to bring more people into our lives and our conversations. 3. Base decision making on who you are and what you enjoy doing. It will make the journey that much more enjoyable.