Monday, May 4

Song of Ascents

"Are you ready to leave clinical medicine?"

His indifferent tone belied the importance of the question, not just to me but to the eight other people currently sitting around the table, waiting for my response with varying degrees of patience and interest. Outside, an unseasonably warm January day coaxed buds from the trees dotting the hospital campus.


I looked over at the chief medical officer of the hospital and blew out a wry breath. A half truth slipped out before I could stop it. "Is anyone really ready to leave clinical medicine?"