Dr. Maiman, author of Every Third Night and The Rainbow Diary, GYN Oncologist and former Chairman of OBGYN at Staten Island University Hospital- North, started his medical career off at Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, now known as Einstein/Montefiore OBGYN Residency.

We have a frank discussion about residency then and now, medicine, humility, passion, and what characteristics make a great doctor.

These are some Pearls of Wisdom....

*Correction: I refer to the the book The Life of Dr. Montefiore by Emmet Hirsch, MD but mispronounced the title, which is in fact, The Education of Dr. Montefiore

• Be tenacious
• Revile mediocrity
• Aim for excellence
• Maintain humility throughout residency and thereafter… there is always more to learn and more to grow.
• Anticipate potential complications and speak up- you can prevent complications this way
• Be thorough in your exam and assessment, leave nothing to uncertainty… if you just subject discomfort to ascertain information, then explain this but proceed, for an exam that does not produce thorough findings was not a worthy exam at all.
• Ask questions! Ask if this makes sense
• As much as we all love zebras, remember that’s HORSES are much more common
• Never take short cuts. Be efficient but NO short cuts. Use economy of motion.

Finally, BE CURIOUS AND PASSIONATE. these two attributes are the fuel you need to be a great physician.