Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Gary Epler, an internationally-known Harvard Medical School professor and the CEO of Epler Health. They talk about Dr. Epler’s discovery of Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia, and lessons medical students can take away from his journey.
- [01:00] Introducing Dr. Gary Epler
- [04:31] Go to Medical School for the Right Reasons
- [10:16] Discovering Epler’s Pneumonia
- [15:58] Innovation in Medicine
- [22:38] Think from the Heart
Dr. Gary Epler’s Medical Journey
The decision to go into medicine is going to be different for each person. Dr. Epler was inspired to become a physician so he can improve patients’ lives. His journey had a rough start, with his application rejected by several medical schools. But with enough perseverance, he was able to enter Tulane University’s School of Medicine. The life of a medical student is full of challenges, but Dr. Epler faced those head on because he was eager to learn.
During his pulmonary critical care training, Dr. Epler took up an interest in bronchitis obliterans. He examined dozens of cases and found abnormalities in the x-rays. After convincing his professor for months, they discovered bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Be Your True Self in Medicine
Going into medicine for external reasons is not wrong, but internal motivation will better inspire you to provide the best care possible. Dedicated physicians prioritize patients’ well-being, even if it means experiencing inconvenience. When we think about ourselves less, the more authentic we can be in our interactions with other people. We become free to innovate and explore creative solutions that will help medicine progress even further.
You can reach Dr. Gary Epler through his email at [email protected]. Check out his website for more details about his work and podcast.
To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor.
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