During fellowship I nearly landed a Fogarty Fellowship, which might have launched a career as an academic critical care researcher studying outcomes in the developing world. That was not meant to be, however, so I instead worked on a procedural service for the IM Residency, and vascular and epidemiologic research with Dr, Jankowich at the VA. After fellowship I took a position as the sole Pulmonologist at Newport Hospital, which honed my inpatient and outpatient Pulmonary skills significantly. I trained an NP in Pulmonary/Critical Care/Sleep medicine. I also learned how to work/deal with various hospital administrators - a vital professional lesson. Most imprtant, I learned what it took and meant to become a valued medical professional in a small community. I was not doing critical care at the time. When a colleague from residency approached me about a job opening at Sturdy Memorial hospital, nearby in Attleboro, MA, I listened and carefully and did my homework. The network I had steadily built having stayed in the same region since residency was an invaluable asset in the assessment of whether the position would be to my and my family's advantage. I took the job. And it was the right move, both personally and professionally. For the last 6-7 (my kids would giggle) years I have been working hard at a small independent hospital 12 miles from Providence but seemingly a world away. I have started an EBUS program, trained another NP, served on the Medical Executive Committee, become the Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Respiratory Therapy, and the state-affiliated TB clinic. I am actively working to build out a lung cancer screening program. Since fellowship, I have maintained my academic affilitation at Brown. I attend on the Pulmonary Consult service periodically, where I try to share my community perspective with trainees in an academic setting. I enjoy teaching and learning during these weeks on service.
