Each year at the White Coat Ceremony, a faculty member who exemplifies the humanistic physician is selected to speak to the incoming class. This year, it was Jack Ludmir, M.D., G.M.E. ’87. Ludmir is chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Pennsylvania Hospital.
An expert in maternal-fetal medicine, he has been honored for his strong advocacy for assuring that the underserved and uninsured receive maternal care. He is one of the founders of Puentes de Salud and Latina Clinic Health Services.
Ludmir began his talk by noting that medicine “is the greatest profession and career choice in the world.” He proceeded to share the principles that helped him to have a more fulfilling career. His first principle: To be a doctor is to have a privilege – use it well. Talk to your patients, get their stories. Always keep in mind the way you would want to be treated if you were a patient.
2. This profession is not about us but about our patients. It is important to find a niche and to promote yourself through research and scholarship. But remember you’re starting this journey not to fulfill your professional development but to make a difference in the well-being of another person.
3. Intellectual curiosity and pursuit of new knowledge. Don’t take dogma and repetition as the only truth. Ludmir gave an example from his own career. For many years, he prescribed absolute bed rest to pregnant patients to decrease the risk of premature birth. But recent randomized clinical trials have shown that bed rest actually increases the risk.
4. Fight health inequalities and advocate for your patients. Lack of access to health care and mental care continues to be a problem, even in Philadelphia. Try to understand the important role that the social determinants of health play. You can fight for the just thing – health for all regardless of the ability to pay or legal status.
5. You are human and you will make mistakes. You are here to learn and accept that medicine is not a perfect science; sometimes adverse outcomes will occur even with the best treatments. Don’t shy away from them; instead learn, discuss, disclose.
6. Finally, resilience and perseverance. Find your own way to constantly reinvigorate yourself, whether it’s family, sports, arts, hobbies, etc. Remember that you can make a difference in the life of a human being.