Director of Sibley Memorial Urologic Oncology Hospital at prestigious Johns Hopkins University, Assistant Professor of Urology, Doctor Armine Smith is a Visiting Professor of Yerevan State Medical University. We talked to our compatriot, a leading specialist, who has made significant achievements in the United States, about the choice of profession, as well as the challenges and advantages encountered on the way to the world of medicine.
– First, let us start with your decision to become a doctor. How did it happen? Was that your dream?
I always liked helping others and solving problems, but I attribute my choice of the profession to my sister. She was attending medical school when I was a kid, and I was very drawn to her medical books. When the time came to pick a career, I followed her footsteps and never since regretted my choice.
– What kind of difficulties can you mention in the profession of a doctor?
The biggest issue is the inability to be completely off work. I get and answer calls and emails at all times of the day and on the weekends, which takes away from my time spent with family. Additionally, as the medicine became more complex, we have become more heavily dependent on administrators and legislators, which takes away the independence of medical profession.
– What privileges do you enjoy being a doctor?
As doctors we have the privilege of having the trust of human life placed in our hands, and there is nothing else that is comparable to this feeling. To hear patients, confide in me and for me to try to solve the problem of their illness in the effort to improve and prolong their life is my ultimate gratification.
– Please, tell a little bit about your career ladder.
My career ladder is a bit convoluted, because I started medical training in Armenia, then moved to the USA, where I had to start all over. I went to English language school, then community college, then university and then ultimately medical school and residency in urology. After residence I did a 3-year fellowship in urologic oncology and finally settled down at Johns Hopkins University accepting a faculty position here.
– Do you manage to relax? What are your hobbies?
Unfortunately, the time to relax is sparse, but I manage to use this time to run and do mixed martial arts. I also find cooking very relaxing.
– Could you tell a little bitabout your family?
I have a husband and a pre-teen daughter. We try our best to allocate time for family activities on the weekends. In the winter we go skiing and in the summer we usually play outdoor sports, hike and swim.
– What do you miss from your homeland?
Most of all I miss the Armenian people. Other things that I remember from my childhood are the incredibly tasty fruits and vegetables. There are no apricots or tomatoes anywhere else in the world that come close to those in Armenia.
– Are you planning to visit Armenia in the future?
When the travel becomes safe again, I will most definitely travel to Armenia again.
– As an experienced doctor with a rich professional path, what advice would you give to your future colleagues?
My advice is to follow your heart. If you are passionate about something in your life, you will be good at it. I have witnessed many colleagues drop out of the profession because they went into it for wrong reasons and were not prepared to deal with the challenges of practicing medicine.
Author: Tatevik Ghazaryan