On Leading the National Academy of Medicine | Victor Dzau, MD

Feb 28, 2023

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The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) is an independent organization that provides expert evidence-based guidance on issues of health, biomedical science, and health policy. Election to the NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, recognizing individuals who have shown exceptional professional achievement and commitment to service. In this episode, we are joined by Victor Dzau, MD, who has been president of the NAM since 2014. He previously served as President of the Duke University Health System, Chairman of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard Medical School, and Chairman of Medicine at Stanford Health Care. As a leading scholar in cardiovascular medicine, his pioneering research laid the foundation for the development of blood pressure medications widely used today. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Dzau discusses his challenging upbringing as a refugee of the Chinese Civil War, describes his dedication to health equity and global health; explores the work of the NAM, and passionately shares why clinicians should be more involved in public discourse.

In this episode, you will hear about:

How growing up as a refugee of the Chinese Civil War shaped Dr. Dzau’s path and practice as a physician - 2:27
How Dr. Dzau’s became a physician-scientist - 7:06
The circumstances that led Dr. Dzau to take on issues of global health - 11:03
Reflections on how Dr. Dzau stays in touch with the deeper meaning of medicine - 13:05
A discussion of the values Dr. Dzau holds in his various roles - 17:41
The difficulties Dr. Dzau faced during his education and career and how he recovered from burnout - 20:04
A description of the purpose and mission of the National Academy of Medicine - 28:36
How new members are elected to the NAM - 32:26
A survey of the current issues the NAM focuses on and how Dr. Dzau thinks about the political dimensions of his work - 36:25
The need for medical professionals to better communicate scientific facts with the broader public - 41:25
Advice to early-career clinicians on leadership - 45:32

Dr. Dzau delivered the Boston University Class of 2020 Commencement Speech, in which he discussed his own experience of burnout.

You can follow Dr. Dzau on Twitter @VictorDzau.

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