The Rewards of a Career that Combines Teaching with Clinical Practice

Jean A. Creek, MD' 52

Being a practicing physician in Bloomington and a volunteer faculty member of the Medical Sciences Program combines the best of two worlds for me. My parents and several family members were school teachers. If I hadn't discovered the pleasure of medical practice working summers in a hospital, I would have most likely gone into education myself.

I have been involved in teaching medical students in the Medical Sciences Program at Bloomington for the past 28 years. It has been rewarding in many ways. First, it has forced me to keep up academically so as not to be embarrassed by a second-year student. In preparing for lectures or answering students' questions, I frequently see problems from a different standpoint, giving me a better understanding of diseases or health problems. It has been a joy, both through teaching medical students and serving on the IU School of Medicine Admissions Committee, to meet so many bright, dedicated young people eager to become members of our profession. I have had the pleasure of seeing many of them grow into mature, caring physicians. Six of my former students have joined me in our group practice.

Volunteer faculty have helped the university and medical students by making a very expensive education a little less expensive. They have also been able to give a uniqueness to students' educations by presenting practical problems in a more pragmatic light than full-time faculty who spend most of their time in research or practicing in a tertiary hospital. More recently, as a result of reduced hospital stays, volunteer faculty have been able to bring their own patients into the teaching arena by having students serve as clinical clerks in their offices or by bringing patients to the classroom.

For physicians who want to stay current, help a medical school and have a good time in the process, I would strongly advise them to seek volunteer faculty appointments.

Dr. Creek is a volunteer clinical professor of medicine in the Medical Sciences Program and practices internal medicine at Internal Medicine Associates, both in Bloomington, Indiana)