I was very fortunate to get a day with Dr. Andrew Accardi. At the beginning of our search for career day mentors, I couldn't find many healthcare related professionals that would allow me to shadow them. Time was running out, but I was able to reach out to Dr. Accardi and he was graceful enough to let me interview him. The day was far better than I had hoped for, I was able to go into the ER and get a glimpse at a day in the life there. Dr. Accardi gave me insight on life in healthcare as well as medical school and the soul searching that comes along with that life path.
Interview Highlights
There were many great answers to my questions but some of them are summed up bellow:
Q: How do you interact with other people during your work day?
A: "Collegially with respect, but with a list of priorities: Patient comes first, then my team, then administration, and I'm last."
Q: To what extent do you find your work interesting and fulfilling and why?
A: "It's extremely fulfilling, it is a life choice. We are able to help people when they need help. 'Happiness is a job well done' and it is never about the money."
Q: What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional in this field?
A: "You have to have a compass of priorities, what is important and not important and what is urgent and not urgent. You need to have an understanding that as a professional there is a code to follow, a 'Public Trust' to uphold. You need to advocate for educating the public."
Q: What advice do you have for young people who are interested in this profession/field?
A: "Try to expose yourself to healthcare. You need to also commit to self excellence and growth and remember to put first things first. I try to learn something new every day."
Q: Healthcare is so large, How did you decide on ER?
A: "It's trial and error, a lot of research and work. I decided that I didn't fit with spinal surgery in Medical school after much thought and soul searching. What you tell people you want to do and what you do are two different things."
Q: How do you interact with other people during your work day?
A: "Collegially with respect, but with a list of priorities: Patient comes first, then my team, then administration, and I'm last."
Q: To what extent do you find your work interesting and fulfilling and why?
A: "It's extremely fulfilling, it is a life choice. We are able to help people when they need help. 'Happiness is a job well done' and it is never about the money."
Q: What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional in this field?
A: "You have to have a compass of priorities, what is important and not important and what is urgent and not urgent. You need to have an understanding that as a professional there is a code to follow, a 'Public Trust' to uphold. You need to advocate for educating the public."
Q: What advice do you have for young people who are interested in this profession/field?
A: "Try to expose yourself to healthcare. You need to also commit to self excellence and growth and remember to put first things first. I try to learn something new every day."
Q: Healthcare is so large, How did you decide on ER?
A: "It's trial and error, a lot of research and work. I decided that I didn't fit with spinal surgery in Medical school after much thought and soul searching. What you tell people you want to do and what you do are two different things."