Words of Encouragement
After compiling the quotes on
this page, I realized that this is an egotistical exercise. This is a
nice warm backscratch for my ego. It is also an exercise in humility.
Each of the people quoted here are the object of my admiration and
respect. Thus as I transcribe these here, I feel a greater sense of duty
and obligation to learn to the best of my ability, and to fulfill the
expectations laid before me.
Nathan B.
Smith, M.D.
Assistant
Dean for Admissions
University
of Alabama School of Medicine
"Dear Mr.
McDonald:
Congratulations! Because of the outstanding impression you made on the
Committee on Admissions, you are accepted for the 2004 University of
Alabama School of Medicine entering class."
Michael S.
Saag, M.D.
Professor
of Medicine
Director,
AIDS Outpatient Clinic
The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"YIPPEE..good
for him!"
Beatrice H.
Hahn, M.D.
Professor,
Depts. of Medicine and Microbiology
The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"Rob just
called to tell me that he got accepted into UAB's medical school!
FAN-FUCKIN-TASTIC!"
James A.
Pittman, Jr., M.D.
Professor
Emeritus of Medicine
University
of Alabama School of Medicine
"Congratulations! You got into the best one of the bunch. You're going
to have to work hard..."
-- Dr. Pittman
also gifted to me three books that I treasure. They are:
Doctor in
the Making: The Art of Being a Medical Student by Ham and Salter
The Citadel
by A.J. Cronin
and an
anthology of medical lessons in honor of Dr. Tinsley Harrison. I don't
have the title at hand at the moment.
Kathleen
Nelson, M.D.
Associate
Dean for Students
University
of Alabama School of Medicine
"This is
terrific news Rob---I look forward to having you in our class of
2008!!!"
Monica
Sampat
Long-time
friend
I have shared a couple of significant times in your
life, happy and sad. I have to say the news of you going to medical
school made me grin from ear to ear...I can only imagine how you
looked! There are so many things to be thankful for, miracles that
happen, challenges that are met, but know that you going to medical
school was meant to be. I guess I never had any doubt in my mind that
no matter how long it took the medical field would be blessed by
having you apart of it. Everybody deserves happiness in their lives
so enjoy the next couple of months off before you start the next phase
in your life. The one you have been waiting for the longest. Next to
Maggie, I know that medicine is the 2nd love of your life!
Thank you so much for calling me. It truly made me
really happy. In fact I needed a little bit of that because we just
found out that my Mom has to go in for surgery next week to remove
some cancerous tissue in her breast. It is only 1-2mm but still it is
always a shocker. She seems fine and my Dad of course is always
positive, but your news really lifted my spirits. Thanks again for
sharing such a special time with you.
Talk to you soon,
Love,
Monica"
Michael
M. Lederman, M.D.
Scott R.
Inkley Professor
Director,
CWRU/UHC Center for AIDS Research
Case
Western Reserve University, University Hospitals
"Dear Rob,
I am absolutely delighted
for you (and for UAB!). I know you will be a great doc and look
forward to hearing about your experiences and success. My only regret
is that this means you will not be here with us at Case.
My very best wishes"
Cynthia
Derdeyn, Ph.D.
Assistant
Professor
Emory
University
"Congratulations!!
I had no doubt
that you would be accepted. You have so much ot offer, and I know that
you will be a great physician with all your knowledge and experience.
They are luck to have you!!"
Norris
McDonald
Uncle
Extraordinaire
"Rob----
I know that you are on your way to Zambia right now,
but this will catch up to you sooner or later.
It was great to talk to you last night.
Congratulations, again, to you and Maggie (I'm sure she
helped!) on your being accepted into UAB Medical School. As I told you
last night, your Dad called a couple of days ago and gave us the good
news. (It was "advanced copy", but we knew it was true.) When he
called, he said that he had some good news and that he wanted to brag
about you! All of us, especially your father and mother are very, very
proud of you. I admire you so much because you never gave up. Your
compassion, willingness to work hard, and the fact that you will not
take NO for an answer, will make you a tremendous asset to the medical
profession.
Love and good luck!"
James
Curran, M.D., MPH
Professor
of Epidemiology and Dean
Rollins
School of Public Health, Emory University
"Rob:
congratulations....this is terrific and I know you will become a very
fine physician.....jim"
Marintha
Heil, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Department
of Microbiology
The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"Congratulations! See, I knew that UAB had good taste. They didn't get
to be a top medical school by letting talent like you go! We need to
celebrate when you get back. Have a great time in Zambia, Dr. McDonald.
Marintha"
Groesbeck
Parham. M.D.
Professor,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"GODDAMNIT YOU
DID IT MAN, YOU DID IT!!!!!!!!"
Scott
Denham
Future
Physician
"Hey I heard
it through the grapevine that you got in! That is great news.
Congratulations Dr. McDonald. I am very excited for you. Hope you are
having a good time in Zambia and I look forward to buying you a beer
when
you get back. Take care and again congratulations !!!!"
Adrienne
Ellis
Good Friend
"Hi Rob,
I got your voice mail message. Thanks so much for allowing me to share
in your exciting news. I didn't have any doubt that you would get in.
Talk to you soon, and have fun in Zambia Dr. McDonald.
Adrienne
P.S. Give my
love to Maggie, and tell her that I said thanks for putting up with you
(smile!!!) "
Susan
Murdoch
Artist and
Friend
San
Francisco, California
"WAHHHHH!!!
What wonderful news! Thank you so much for calling to let me know...I
am so pleased for you! Your trip must be all the more satisfying,
knowing the agenda you have ahead of you. I can't imagine that all of
Maggie's family isn't celebrating wildly right now!
I am so glad
that you have been able to achieve this major step in your life plan.
It's an amazing plan. And boy, are you going to be one busy, exhausted
guy for the next 6 or 7 years. But what a worthwhile undertaking!
Congratulations on getting to this first, HUGE goal. (Sounds of hearty
applause and whistles!)"
Carol Linn,
RN
AIDS
Outpatient Clinic
The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"Hip...hip...hooray !!!! You'll be a great doctor ! Congratulations.
cal :-)"
Satish
Shanbahag, M.D.
Resident,
Internal Medicine
University
of Alabama School of Medicine
"Dear Rob,
It was great
hearing about your getting into med school at UAB. I am really happy
things worked out for you .... YOU DESERVE IT!
Belated
birthday wishes for the 8th ... surely we must celebrate your success
with a party!
I am looking
forward to next week ... match day is tomorrow but i should find out
where ill be the next 3 years on thursday.
take care,
Satish"
Pat Fast,
M.D., Ph.D.
Medical
Director, Research and Development
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
"Thanks, Rob
and all the best. It's hard staying up all night no matter how old you
are! But you'll get through it.
Regards,
Pat"
Paul
Farmer, M.D.
Physician
and Anthropologist
Professor
of Medicine, Harvard University
"bravo, rob
am writing from haiti, where we see, everyday, the need
for more good, committed docs
i recognized a fellow spirit and feel very lucky to
count you as a medical colleague
good luck and, above all, congrats
paul"
Grace
Aldrovandi, M.D.
Physician
and Friend
Children's
Hospital Los Angeles
"CONGRATULATIONS I AM THRILLED FOR YOU"
Laura
Napolitano, M.D.
Investigator
Gladstone
Institute for Virology and Immunology
San
Francisco, CA
"Congratulations Rob!!!
I am so happy to hear this.
UAB is lucky to have you...I know that you'll make many excellent
contributions there.
I wish you all the best and would be thrilled if you decided to look
me up sometime in the future. Though reaching your 40s must still be
2 decades away... :)"
Laura Hall
Alabama
State Representative, Madison County
"I am just
reading your e-mail and I am delighted to hear that you are
going to med school. please stay in touch. I look forward to our
continuing to work together. by the way I did not realize you were
going
to Zambia ,I would love to hear about your trip!!!!"
Phil Smith,
M.D.
Professor
of Medicine
The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"Rob,
Just back from a long trip. Congratulations! I knew from the beginning
that you were special. I'm delighted that UAB recognized this, too.
Best
of luck.
Phil"
Clay
Leonard
Friend and
Teacher
Birmingham,
AL
"Finally...What took you so long?"
William
McDonald, Sc.D.
Dad
In an email
to other family members...
"Some
absolutely GREAT news of a personal variety!!! This afternoon our son
Rob McDonald received a letter from the School of Medicine at the
University of Alabama at Birmingham that he has been admitted and he is
to matriculate next September. His letter contained some significant
compliments. His mother and I are VERY happy and proud of him!!! He
and we have little time to celebrate, however. He must leave at 4:00 am
tomorrow to catch a plane to Zambia. Several members of the UAB Center
for AIDS Research are going to Zambia to survey the situation and plan
treatment facilities and projects for AIDS and other diseases in
accordance with President Bush's program to help African nations in
treating health problems...His wife Maggie has been hired as coordinator
and translator for this trip, since she is native to the country and
speaks the three native languages (as well as English and French) in the
remote areas of Zambia into which they will go..."
Allegra
Cermak
Head of
Operations
Adult AIDS
Clinical Trials Network
"That is so
wonderful - I didn't know that was your goal. But don't grow up
too much - we need that fun side in our doctors too. Your patients are
going to be very lucky to have you caring for them."
Marilynn
Crain, MPH, M.D.
Professor
of Medicine
The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"I hear that
congratulations are in order-you are going to medical
school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is great.
The hours are
long in school and it is a sometimes difficult adjustment to
undergo the years of study in class before seeing patients-it always
helped
me to keep focused on the ultimate goal, not waver in that, and things
seemed to fall into place even though there were always challenges. It
did
help me keep my priorities during those times, and as corny as it
sounds,
because I did not go directly to medical school from undergraduate
school
either, graduation was one of the happiest times in my life in terms of
sense of accomplishment of a very long term goal. Plus I loved being an
intern (sounds funny doesn't it) because I was doing what I wanted to
do. I
tried to remember what a privilege it is to gain the confidence (in all
meanings) of patients who slowly reveal much of their life stories to
you.
It is a very unique role to play in someone's life, and an honor and a
privilege.
But all that being said, you also need to listen to what needs you have
as
you go through this, because I believe that we can serve best when we
understand what we need to keep our own lives in order, especially with
family commitments.
You know the old saying : "Physician heal thyself". We all need to
remember
that one."
