Lena specializes in medical sociology. He had decided to take a six-month sabbatical from teaching when he saw a notice in the Chronicle of Higher Education. This is a unique opportunity for someone in academia, Lena said. This is an opportunity to experience the various facets of medicine. Since his arrival, Lena has had exposure to surgical grand rounds, including transplant rounds and traveled to Columbia for a donor harvest.
Teaching is about stories.
Students learn more from real life experience than text books, Lena said. This experience will only enhance my teaching. Robert Blank, Ph.D., took advantage of his second invitation to join the Interdisciplinary Fellowship. He is a professor of political science at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and has lectured at MUSC in the past. He is also the senior member of the fellowship.