In addition to knowing my subject and being able to teach it at a very high level, I also believe it is important to convey higher values and professional standards to students who are entering the field of medicine. I do this by being a professional role model for my students, by respecting my students as my future colleagues, and by being personal. This includes sharing my role as the primary care giver to my wife who is severely disabled due to a chronic progressive illness, multiple sclerosis. I have found that by sharing with my students the person who I am and my life experiences, I have been able to inspire them to a higher level. Finally, maybe the most important way a teacher can motivate students to learn is by caring for them.
Medical education is an extremely demanding and stressful process.
I believe it is very important for the teacher to create an environment of trust and caring to help students along this difficult path. I try very hard to convey to my students that I sincerely care for them. I also care that they learn my discipline because I believe that anatomy is an essential body of knowledge physicians must master. I therefore try to get to know my students, I learn their names, where home is, and something about their personal life. I pay attention to unexpected, disruptive events in my students' lives, making the students aware of my concern for them and offering them assistance.