Thomas Mason, MD
The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency
In which residency program are you currently in?
Internal medicine-pediatrics residency at the Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Why did you choose internal medicine-pediatrics?
First and foremost, my joy of being a physician comes from being able to serve those in need. As physicians, we have a unique window into our patients’ lives as we have the privilege of being invited into the most vulnerable times of their lives. I find it incredibly fulfilling to provide care across the lifespan from birth to death, and across all the ups and downs in between. As someone who studied biochemistry as an undergraduate student and really enjoyed it, internal medicine (IM) appealed to me because you are forced to understand the “why” and “how” of physiology and its relation to disease. I find it very satisfying to manage complex problems and be able to explain those to patients in individualized fashions. To me, that is a very important aspect of ministering to people in their times of need, shepherding them through understanding their disease and treatment. Thus, IM (and more specifically Med–Peds) was perfect for me as it gave me a large amount of longitudinal patient interaction and the ability to manage complex problems.
What lesson did you learn in residency that will help you for the rest of your career?
Experience Emotions With Your Patients: A wise Pulm/Crit fellow (who I believe was a PGY-8 at the time) once told me that he still cried after his patients would pass away. This struck me as odd at the time, but—with the degree of suffering we see in residency—I now understand where he was coming from. It is very easy to wall off and become numb to said hardship at work, but this is unsustainable and promotes burnout. I have found that if I can experience a small amount of whatever emotion my patients and their loved ones are experiencing in their time of need, I am able to stay more grounded in their care and can process the experience more completely and effectively. Patients also appreciate this, as you are walking in lockstep with them during their journey.
What are your plans for after residency? What factors or advice from mentors contributed to your decision?
I am going to pursue cardiology fellowship after residency and see where that takes me and my family. I would like to go into fellowship with an open mind regarding career endpoints because I think that promotes the best learning. Long term, I will probably try to stay in academics because I really enjoy teaching. Mentors have encouraged me to pursue my interests over the years because you will be most engaged if you are doing what you are most interested in!
How has being a member of ACP helped you in your professional life? What resources have been most helpful to you?
Being a Medical Student Member, and now a Resident/Fellow Member, of ACP has afforded me several opportunities over the years. As a medical student, I was able to attend the annual meeting and present a case report; the experience helped me learn about scholarly work and the medical literature. I also have taken advantage of the member life insurance program and the updates from the various online journals I have access to through my membership.