The Path for Long Term Success with Dr. Richard Bucala

Richard Bucala, MD is the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pathology, Epidemiology & Public Health, and Chief of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Bucala completed his Medical school at Weill Cornell and Residency at Brigham & Women's Hospital. He pursued a Fellowship in Rheumatology from the Hospital for Special Surgery. He studies the mechanisms by which protective immune responses lead to immunopathology and his lab is leading multidisciplinary efforts to develop immunotherapies. Dr. Bucala also is credited with the discovery of the fibrocyte, which is being targeted therapeutically in different fibrosing disorders. He is a co-founder of Cytokine Networks and of MIFCOR, a biotechnology startup. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Arthritis & Rheumatology and has served on numerous advisory boards for the NIH, the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and private foundations. The buzzword usually is ‘goals’: We are often asked - what are your goals? Often told to dream big and make lofty goals. Not much is said about the path we should follow to achieve our goals. Today, Dr. Richard Bucala reflects on his journey and shares how the path is more valuable than the end point. Medicine is a long educational path, but if pursued with honesty, integrity and diligence, forms us into the person we aspire to become. Focusing on these virtues while traversing this path helps us develop our professional character and ultimately determines our professional success in the long term. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. The path is more valuable than the goal. The way we achieve our goals – with honesty, integrity, ad character – is more important for the long-term, than short-term successes. 2. Honesty is knowing one’s limitations; : realizing that no one person has all the answers, gives us the humility to be a great team player. But even more important than honesty is courage. Without courage, we cannot be honest. 3. Embrace the complexity and multidimensionality of medicine. It’s what makes medicine so gratifying.