See One, Be One, Teach One: How Becoming a Patient Informed My Role as a Teaching Physician

Many essays, books, and even movies have centered on the theme of doctor as patient. As an academic internist diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, I could appreciate the profound impact it had on me personally and on my patient interactions and practice style. What was rather unexpected was the additional transformation of my clinical teaching. In the educator role, I noticed my priorities shifting and approach changing, whether it was as course director in the medical school or preceptor in resident clinic or attending on the inpatient service.