- The STS Leadership Institute experience was invaluable and timely.
- Sessions focused on leading others, applying skills, networking, program building, budgets, and contract negotiation.
- Yet, it was the sage advice on life as a surgeon from keynote speakers, such as Dr. Michael Mack, that made a much-needed impact.
“The whole of life is but a moment of time” - Plutarch
Professional Growth
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Dr. Michael Mack delivered the opening keynote, “The Totality of Life: You’re More than Just a Surgeon," to STS Leadership Institute participants in April 2022. As a proud alumnus of the 2022 STS Leadership cohort, for me, Dr. Mack’s words embodied the ancient quote by Plutarch: “Life is but a moment of time.” The STS Leadership Institute experience was invaluable and timely. I was preparing for retirement from the Navy after 25 years of service. I had recently sold my STAR Teams clinical practice, had a busy clinical year, and reached a career milestone highlighted in a publication of our thoracic transplant work spanning 15 years.
Personal Growth
The program’s first session, Individual Growth, and the last session, The Capstone, were what I remembered most about my experience. Collectively, these two sessions were very impactful. Indeed, the sessions on leading others, applying skills, networking, program building, budgets, and contract negotiation were practical and useful. However, listening to the sage advice of Dr. Mack as he espoused his regret throughout his career reinforced a truth and sobering reality that engendered needed growth at a critical stage in my career. I was more than just a surgeon, naval officer, businessman, and academic. Above all these personas, I am a husband, father, and son.
Learning from the great joys of Dr. Mack’s life, I incorporated his Sunday dinner tradition into our household. Although initially challenging to implement, my wife, son, daughter, and I enjoyed consistent Sunday dinners, and we included other family members and friends in the event if they were in proximity to our home on Sunday evenings. Our Sunday dinner event became sacrosanct, and everyone contributed to preparing the meal.
Thankfully, over the past year, the time together delivered the most significant opportunities to communicate as a family, grow closer, and enjoy the rare exchange of dialogue between teenage children and parents devoid of intrusive electronics. The moments were especially memorable and served us well now that my son is attending college for his first year this fall. The tradition of Sunday dinner together and occasional weekday dinners weaved into our busy lives continues as a practice inspired by the STS leadership experience.
Leadership Growth
During our Capstone session, we discussed how to answer the rhetorical question: Who are you without a scalpel? The question was compelling and provocative. The inquiry produced a lively discussion in my group and among the larger cohort. It was clear that someday, we would all have to answer the question. Thinking about an answer encourages one to reflect on the totality of their life. Of course, I did not have an immediate response a year ago.
I learned finding the answer over the past year allowed great introspection and led to a leadership growth opportunity. I leveraged the faculty exchanges, shared resources, and connected with colleagues to explore the question more fully. The experience prepared me to face significant challenges since the conclusion of the Capstone session.
President John F. Kennedy stated, “You are not a true adult until both of your parents have passed on." I lost my father after graduating from medical school, and 25 years later, this August, my mother passed away. Nothing prepares you for the loss of a parent. Now that I am a “true adult,” there is great truth in JFK’s words. My mom and dad were both West African immigrants. My dad said I was made in the USA, and my mom described me as her famous heart surgeon. I was happy I increased my visits with her months before her death. If my mom were asked who I was without a scalpel, she would have proudly answered, “He is my son, the famous heart surgeon.”
With the benefit of the STS Leadership Institute experience and year of reflection on the “totality of my life," I now would answer the question ─“Who am I without a scalpel?” ─in this way: I am a father, husband, son of my parents, and leader who knows life is too short, and we must always keep growing and learning to make the most of our lives both in and out of the OR.
About the Author
Dr. Hassan A. Tetteh is a retired U.S. Navy captain and associate professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He serves as a National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Strategic Planning Committee member and was a NAM Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar. He founded and led the Specialized Thoracic Adapted Recovery (STAR) Team to expand organ transplantation and save lives. Tetteh is a best-selling author, 24-time marathon finisher, and is board certified in thoracic surgery, general surgery, and clinical informatics, and lives near Washington, D.C. with his wife, son, and daughter.