Shen-Han Lee

Update on my life: I’m done with the bench work of my research project. Now, I’m busy writing up the report, which is in a form of a Ph.D.-style thesis for the biological sciences, only much shorter in terms of length. This basically involves sifting through loads of experimental data, and trying to make sense out of them – this normally involves plugging in the raw data into a computer program which will then fit the data into a curve using a pre-set mathematical algorithm (in this case, a four parameter logistic curve). From the dose-response curves that are constructed, a few parameters such as pD2 values and Emax will be calculated, in order to ascertain the potency and efficacy of my test compounds. If you’re thinking that my research project sounds pharmacological in nature, you’re probably right. And that means, you’re a medic or a pharm major….. hawdy.. har har….. (insert ‘lame joke’ laughter). And it doesn’t end there. I’ve got to sort out my confocal microscope images and figure out which ones to include in my report (and which ones NOT to include!).

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Here’s an excerpt from Joe Martin’s speech to the HMS incoming class of 2009, which I find to be truly inspirationl. FYI, Dr Martin is the outgoing dean of the medical school at Harvard. It describes what it takes to become a doctor, based on the etymology of three words related to this profession.

What does it mean to be a Doctor of Medicine? Lewis Thomas — who was himself a medical school dean as well as a prizewinning author — reflects on the origins of some of the words that will become central to your lives as you embark on your careers. The evolution of these words can be traced back to the ancient Indo-European language that was the ancestor of many of our modern languages, and they have some hidden lessons for your profession  Let’s look at three words that will come to mean much to you: Doctor, Medicine, and Physician.

The word doctor came from dek, meaning something proper and acceptable, useful. It became docere in Latin, to teach, also discere, to learn, hence “disciple.” In Greek it was understood to mean an acceptable kind of teaching, thus dogma and orthodox. “Decorum” and “decency” are derivative words. 

Medicine itself emerged from the root med, which meant something like measuring out, or taking appropriate measures. Latin used med to make mederi, to look after, to heal. The English words “moderate” and “modest” are also descendants of med, carrying instructions for medicine long since forgotten; medical students ought from time to time to meditate (another cognate) on these etymological cousins. 

Physician came from a wonderful word, one of the master roots in the old language, bheu, meaning nature itself, being, existence. Phusis was made from this root in Greek, on its way to becoming two English words: “physic,” used for medicine in general, and “physics,” meaning the study of nature. The first chair at Harvard Medical School was established shortly after its founding in 1782 as the Hersey Professorship in Physic.

(Ed: in Cambridge, it was the Regius Professorship of Physic, a crown appointment founded by King Henry IV in 1540… beat that Harvard! 😉 )  

Doctor, medicine, and physician, taken together with derivative words that grew up around them, tell us a great deal about society’s ancient expectations for the profession — hard to live up to!   

I hope reading Dr Martin’s speech will inspire a new generation of doctors and medical students alike, to take on the responsibility that comes with the profession with dignity and humility. If there are any students out there who are considering taking up medicine, I wish to say that medicine is more than just a job. It is a way of life. And once you embark on this journey by becoming a medical student, it will change your life forever. Life as you know it, will never be the same again. 🙂