What is the best advice you received as a young attending?

Actually I heard this on the interview trail in 1997 from Sam Hellman:

First be a good person. Then a good doctor. Then a good oncologist. Then a good radiation oncologist. In that order.

The best advice I received as a young attending:

1. Pursue research questions and projects that you are passionate about. Don't just do research for the sake of trying to meet an expectation or standard.
2. Teach students and residents in a manner that fits their needs and not your own.
3. Mentorship takes ...

First, I will say that @Dr. First Last's quote from Dr. Hellman truly gets to the heart of the matter. Henry Kaplan and Sam Hellman were two of my earliest and most influential mentors; this philosophy was every day apparent in their clinical and academic practices.

That said, I will add several sug...

The best advice I received as far as building my career as a clinician was to make every to communicate with the other physicians in the multidisciplinary care team, preferably face-to-face. Establishing strong relationships with the other physicians caring for your patient will help you provide the...

My advice is: be prepared (for whatever opportunity comes your way) and stay flexible.

Focus your efforts in one clinical and/or research area. You may want to believe that you can do many things well but you will be recognized as a contributor in only one or two areas.

I've learned this lesson the hard way, it goes well for a few years until then you realize how hard it is to keep ab...

If you're a young attending in academia, be certain that your chairperson is supportive of your research interests, and is not merely interested in getting you to "fit in" with the center's priorities.

If you're a young attending in private/non-academic practice, get to know and respect your colleag...

1. Know what you are good at and interested in being better, or even the best.

2. Work at a place that has the foundation (mentor, equipment, population, resources such as time devoted to the project)

3. Collaboration with bench, other modalities, is part of knowing institutional resources.

4. Write...

Advice from Bob Goodman to me as a first-year resident, which has met the test of time:

First, what is the disease?

Next, what is the extent of disease?

Is this case radical or palliative?

NOW you can consider treatment options.