Nurturing Integrity and Authenticity with Dr. Pamela Munster

Pamela Munster, MD, is a Professor of Medicine and a breast cancer specialist. She is the Director of the Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit, Co-leader of the Center for BRCA Research, and Co-leader of the Molecular Oncology Program at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is also the founder of Alessa Therapeutics. She has authored the book Twisting Fate, in which she describes her journey as a breast cancer specialist to a breast cancer patient and back. She serves on multiple committees around the world which focus on developing new treatments for cancer and leads breast cancer awareness campaigns in the United States, United Arab Emirates, and India.

“Life in medicine is a marathon. It's not a sprint. There are many opportunities to reroute; there are many opportunities to succeed.” A competent physician is nurtured on a strong foundation of integrity in character and authenticity in practice, but an effective mentor is equally responsible for their growth. How can you as a budding physician instill these values in your career? Where can you find such a mentor? Join us on another episode of Medicine Mentors where we discuss these important questions with Dr. Pamela Munster.

Pearls of Wisdom:

 

1. Two qualities that should never be compromised in an effective role model or leader are integrity and authenticity.
2. Doctors have incredible power and responsibility bestowed upon them as caretakers. It should be used to channel ourselves toward the best we can do for our patients. 
3. Effective mentors act as sounding boards and help the mentee achieve their maximum potential. As mentees, it is our job to actively seek out answers and define for ourselves, "What does success look like for me?"