Rheumatology Research Foundation Helps Medical Student Find Direction, Purpose

Now that Brian Le is a resident at Georgia Regents University, he has a clear path in front of him—one that includes a budding career as a rheumatologist. However, that wasn’t always the case. During medical school, Brian was plagued by doubt and aimlessness, until he completed a preceptorship funded by the Rheumatology Research Foundation.

During his third year of medical school, one of Brian’s parents became very sick and was diagnosed with a serious illness. He says it was a very difficult time, being sad and scared for his family while trying to keep up with his studies. “I remained in this mindset for quite some time,” Brian explains. “Soon enough, it really becomes normal to wake up and not feel any joy.” His feeling of hopelessness only got worse in December 2013, when his grandmother passed away. By the time Brian was approaching Match Day, when medical students are matched with residency programs, he couldn’t take part in the excitement spreading among his fellow students. “I was ambivalent, overwhelmed and upset by the lack of direction in my career and my ambitions. I felt exhausted.”

Then, Brian remembered his grandmother and her encouragement to follow his dreams. “One night, perhaps out of desperation, I decided to write down everything I wanted to accomplish in my life, from quick, easy tasks to grand, seemingly impossible goals. I also listed my interests, talents and experiences.” Among the list of Brian’s interests was rheumatology, which he had briefly experienced during a previous clinical rotation. He says rheumatology made the list that night because he remembered hearing a doctor explain Raynaud’s phenomenon to a patient and how it can be found as a criterion in other rheumatic diseases. Brian recalls, “He also mentioned that the causes of rheumatic diseases still aren’t clear yet. It was at that time that I realized rheumatology was a still a growing field and there was still a lot left to understand. And I liked that.” Brian says he was also intrigued by the lifestyle of a rheumatologist. “I could be actively involved in patient care, research and writing. Furthermore, working in a predominantly outpatient setting would afford me the personal time to care for my parents.”

Soon after, Brian began working with Laura Carbone, MD, in GRU’s rheumatology department. He says he told her about his intrigue with rheumatology, and she was very supportive. “She told me that if she were to do everything again, she would do it 100% and that she was very happy with her decision to pursue rheumatology.”

In an effort to help him learn more about the field, Dr. Carbone urged Brian to apply for the Foundation’s Medical Student Clinical Preceptorship, an award that supports a mentored, full-time clinical experience for students, which Brian received. He worked closely with Dr. Carbone and a handful of other faculty members and fellows to learn more about all the different aspects within the field. Brian was involved in adult rheumatology clinics, a pediatric rheumatology clinic, an osteoporosis clinic, a research project involving spinal cord injuries and a short course on biostatistics and epidemiology.

Dr. Carbone says she could tell the preceptorship had a big influence on Brian’s perception of rheumatology. “When Brian first started, I could see he was still undecided about his future,” she explains. “During his preceptorship, he learned a lot about clinical and research rheumatology. He is even a co-author on a paper. It was an outstanding experience that clearly lit a spark in him.”

Brian says the preceptorship allowed him to explore a wide range of opportunities and interests. “I had the ability to pursue interests in research and writing, in addition to patient care. Truly, it is my passion to be able to make a difference in patients’ lives on a personal level, but also be able to create change or leave a legacy more globally.”

Brian says because of the preceptorship, he has regained his focus and enthusiasm for medicine. “I really wanted to know for myself whether or not I had it in me to really commit and if I could see myself doing this for the rest of my life. … For the first time in a long while, I was very hopeful and confident about the future.”

Now, Brian knows where he’s going in life and is looking forward to his career as a rheumatologist, helping improve the health of people with rheumatic diseases.

“The Rheumatology Research Foundation has given me a great gift,” he says. “I do feel as though this preceptorship was a lifeline and a second chance. Now the future is exciting and full of possibilities.”