Hooked on Rheum with Kenneth Saag, MD
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As an undergrad, I studied bioengineering. When I started studying medicine, I found that the musculoskeletal system had the most in connection with my biomechanics interests. That is what initially attracted me to consider rheumatology, orthopedics and physical medicine and rehabilitation.
During medical school, I did a rotation in rheumatology and got to work with John. T. Schousboe, MD, who was our fellow on the consult service. John was a bundle of energy and intellect. He spent a lot of time with the students and residents going through the full American College of Rheumatology slide collection, which back then was a bunch of Kodachromes. We would review findings associated with the fascinating diseases we were seeing among our patients; so many of our diseases have interesting exam findings or imaging abnormalities. I really enjoyed making the connection between the visuals and starting to understand our eclectic collection of disease.
During my time as a medical intern, I got to work with Joseph Golbus, MD, who had just finished his fellowship and had returned to the institution of his medical residency as a prized recruit. Joe was the doctor everyone called when they needed a “smart person consult.” He further turned me on to the idea of becoming an expert around a rather unusual group of conditions, in a specialty where you needed to be a very complete internist. I also appreciated the continuity of care in rheumatology since I really enjoyed building long-term relationships with my patients.
During fellowship, I caught the research bug and realized that my quantitative training as an undergrad fit well with a career in clinical investigation. I understood that I could expand my contributions to medicine beyond the patient by studying diseases at a population level.
I have never regretted my choice to become an academic rheumatologist. It has been a very rewarding career. My surgery professor once coyly told me: “I may be wrong, but I am never uncertain.”
Alternatively, my motto in rheumatology, a very humble specialty, is: “I may be right, but I always keep questioning.” There are many mysteries remaining in our field and there are great many opportunities to be a lifelong learner.
Kenneth Saag, MD
Anna Lois Waters Endowed Chair
Division and the Department of Medicine
Division Director of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
University of Alabama, Birmingham