Mentoring matters

Dr. Gilstrap hands over department key to Dr. Ramin

By Darla Brown

Dr. Ramin is the primary investigator of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Unit Network grant, which is one of just 14 networks in the country designed to investigate problems in clinical obstetrics, particularly those related to prevention of low birth weight, prematurity, and medical problems of pregnancy. The grant has just been renewed for another five years. She serves on an FDA panel, she is on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology OB Practice Committee. She is an oral board examiner for both the general and MFM subspecialty examinations of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecologists and serves on the board of directors of the MFM Division.

"This is an example of where the student turns out smarter and more capable than the teacher," Dr. Gilstrap says.

Dr. Gilstrap says that he is most proud of the faculty that he has assembled and the many faculty that he has mentored and supported. He says he is also pleased with the NIH funding of the department and has always enjoyed his association with the medical students, residents, and fellows.

Mentoring students and helping them throughout their Medical School career has always been important to Dr. Gilstrap.

"Something I try to impart to students is not to forget how privileged one is to be trained as a physician and to remember that you are here for patients – they are not here for you. During the white coat ceremony, a promise was made to practice humanism in medicine – but above all, have fun in practicing and teaching medicine," Dr. Gilstrap says.

Match Day advice with sessions throughout the year is something Dr. Gilstrap initiated to help students decide where to apply and how to interview.

"Match Day is my favorite day and the Medical School's finest hour – it shows we did what we were supposed to do. I will miss the people, the faculty, and the students, and according to Dr. (Margaret) McNeese, I've got an invitation to return to watch them open their envelopes again," Dr. Gilstrap says.

When it comes to Match Day, Dr. Mc- Neese probably won't be able to keep Dr. Gilstrap – who still has his acceptance telegram to medical school – away.