We talked with Professor and Chief of Transplantation & Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery, Dr. Robin Kim. Discover why he’s so passionate about his specialty and what advice he has for future med students.
Q: What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?
Dr. Kim: The most fulfilling aspect of my job is caring for my patients while advancing the field of transplantation.
Q: Why did you pick your particular specialty in surgery?
Dr. Kim: My specialty is both surgically and medically complex. Encompassing various medicines, I have the opportunity to be both a transplant physician and surgeon.
Q: What advice do you have for medical students who are interested in surgery?
Dr. Kim: Be open minded and ask questions. Find people for whom you feel an affinity and similarity – does their specialty interest you?
Q: What does it mean to you to be an educator for the next generation of surgeons?
Dr. Kim: I find it especially important to be most strategic in communicating surgical concepts to trainees. In this competitive field, there is an increased amount of knowledge to be delivered, in a decreased amount of time. Effective, unconventional modes are often used, including simulation and digital media; trainees benefit from ever advancing technologies.
Q: What is something fun that the residents don’t know about you?
Dr. Kim: I am an American Board of Surgery Examiner
Dr. Kim is also the Executive Medical Director of the Transplant Service Line for the Department of Surgery. For more information on Dr. Kim, visit his profile here or follow him on Twitter @RobinKimMD