The Carrot and the Stick

Abstract

t t t g t e m t i p c It is truly an honor to be standing before you today. Being president of this august organization is certainly the pinnacle of my career. I was drawn to the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) because it was comprised of very intelligent, pragmatic problem-solvers. I have always enjoyed the easy communication between the members who are not reluctant to share their ideas with each other as evidenced by the completely unfiltered APDS list-serve. I believe that the APDS has now risen to the level of the American Board of Surgery (ABS), the Residency Review Committee (RRC), the American College of Surgeons, and the American Surgical Association on matters pertaining to surgical education. Members of this organization have also gone on to become members of the ABS and the RRC. At the outset let me say that nobody is more indebted than me to the world of surgery for prolonging and improving my quality of life. I underwent an atrial septal defect repair at age 15 and a Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation at age 44. This experience with heart surgery at an early age was most likely what piqued my interest in a surgical career. The most important mentor in my life is my father—a pathologist and cancer researcher—who was most responsible for my interest in medicine. From him I acquired a work ethic and the importance of having passion for one’s career choice. I once sent him a Father’s Day card with the inscription: “You didn’t tell me how to live. You lived and let me watch you do it. Thanks for setting such a great example for me.” My most important mentor in surgery was Dr. Brownell Wheeler, my chairman at the University of Massachusetts. Brownie accepted me into his program as a foreign medical graduate and then supported my every move thereafter, including a vascular fellowship and my appointment as program director (PD) in Orlando. I suspect it was Dr. Wheeler’s influence that helped steer me in the direction of surgical education. He remarked at our chief graduation that his reward was watching all of us develop into fine young surgeons. He has been a lifelong mentor and a superb role model. When I became presidentelect of APDS in 2010 it gave me great pleasure to inscribe a copy of Dr. Berry’s book on the APDS history and send it to Brownie in thanks for his support throughout my career: “To Brownie Wheeler, my friend and mentor. Thank you for giving me the