Even as Dr. Wolfe leads the way, he doesn’t allow his early accomplishments to keep him from seeking the counsel of his older partners. “Early in my career I had a patient with systemic vasculitis and I actually called a mentor from training and discussed it with local experts. I couldn’t have successfully done treatment without them. I wasn’t afraid to ask for advice then, so I wouldn’t hesitate to ask associates now who have been preeminent for decades. Textbooks can’t provide the answer when you’re dealing with medicines that could be potentially toxic to the patients.”
On his way home, Dr. Wolfe passed the popular K Street and drives along the gleaming Potomac River. Riches abound and power seeps through every turn, but it’s the opportunity to treat the poor in Washington that gives him the most satisfaction at the end of the day. “If you want to just make money, it’s easy enough to do it,” he says. “But exposure to different backgrounds changes you and makes you a better person. … The worst part about working on the reservation was seeing the poverty and how hard it was for them to afford medical treatment. Those are proud people and they shouldn’t be forgotten.”
Eric Butterman is a freelance writer based in New York City.
