UCSD School of Medicine, Class of 2012

[Note: The following speech was delivered by Dr. Cohen to the UCSD School of Medicine Class of 2012 on August 29, 2008.]

Colleagues, Friends, Medical Students, and Invited Guests:

I am honored, as current president of the San Diego Medical Society, representing all of San Diego County’s physicians from all specialties and from every conceivable practice modality, to welcome you, the UCSD Department of Medicine’s Class of 2012, into the medical profession.

The white coat ceremony is a rite of passage, welcoming you into the medical community, laying the groundwork for your teachers who will be inculcating you, over the next four years, with the idealism and altruism of being a medical doctor. With that privilege comes, of course, the rights and responsibilities of exemplifying the highest standards of medical care and compassion for patients, all the while attaining supreme clinical skills and competencies, a commitment to lifelong learning and continuous quality improvement while striving to always adapt to one’s own community of patients and their changing needs, and finally a dedication to professionalism, always putting the patient’s needs first.

This is my 20th year in private pediatric practice. I have reflected about what message to give you today, so I have condensed my pearls of wisdom to 10 wise rules. May you inscribe them into your cerebral cortex.

1. Remember always the joy of being a medical doctor. As you go forward into practice and life, you will have many obligations thrust your way: medical, personal, family, financial, educational, community, etc. You will have days where you doubt the ability of modern medicine to heal and improve lives. You will have days when you question yourselves and your competencies. You will have times when you question your choice of careers. Always go back to the joys of the unique patient-physician relationship, the trust patients and their families have in you. This joy will carry you through the tough times.
2. Be a better listener. The patient interview is still the most important aspect of being a good doctor, better than all the black box gimmicks modern medicine can provide. A healthy dose of listening and empathy are necessary, indeed critical, to help diagnose and heal your patients. This skill may even improve your marriage and/or significant relationships.
3. Have a positive attitude. Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive friends, colleagues, and ancillary professionals as part of your inner-sanctum. You will have a much healthier outlook on life and a more positive effect on others, especially your patients.
4. Be humble. Remember your roots. As you become successful and more accomplished and honored in your profession, stay humble. Only with humility can we keep our goals in life in proper focus, and pass the baton of our profession on successfully to the next generation.
5. Remember the altruism and idealism with which you enter the profession today. Seek out volunteer community activities that suit you: school, faith-based institutions, political or community advocacy, healthcare for the uninsured, etc. Opportunities are there; seek them out and they will enrich your lives multi-fold.
6. Keep focused. Develop a personal mission statement with life goals and objectives, and update it from time to time. This will help you strive for excellence and reach personal goals while staying in touch with your own ideals.
7. Accept/embrace diversity. Learn that differences of opinion with your colleagues, be they scientific, political, religious, or ideological, are not personal affronts, but opportunities to learn and grow personally. You can always embrace the person, even if you don’t embrace his or her opinions. Science is often advanced on the basis of these disagreements.
8. Remember your family and friends. When you are done with your career, you will be more remembered for your involvement and influence on your family and friends.
9. Medicine is lifelong learning pursuit — we never stop.
10. Have a good sense of humor at all times. Take your job seriously but not yourself. Along with a positive attitude, a good sense of humor is always appreciated by all around you. Your days will run much easier and be more enjoyable. Life is the journey, not the destination.

The physicians of San Diego County welcome you and look forward to working with you, the class of 2012.