Dr. Nobody™ Podcast
Dr. Nobody™ Podcast
Episode 8 - Delayed Gratification
Do you ever feel the need to hurry through life to get to the end? That pressure? Was it worth it? Sometimes you need to take a step back and fully prepare yourself. Give yourself a chance to succeed in a big way. In this week's episode, we talk to David about that delay. Specifically, how he went from undergraduate to a successful career, and taking the final steps now, to obtaining a Ph.D. many years later. Listen in and enjoy!
00:00.00
drnobodypodcast
Welcome everybody to the Dr. Nobody podcasts I'm here today with 1 of my closest friends david david and i' have been friends for many many years. So I think a little over 10 years since we were in college together and you've heard from Marvin our ems my embarrassing story meeting them. I'll let you I'll let david later on tell his point of view of that little event but David welcome to the show. Can you give the listeners a little bit about yourself your bio and just talk about yourself.
00:28.57
D_E
Hey carlos ah, thanks for? Thanks yeah, thanks for for having me on your show I'm honored to be here and first of all.
00:31.38
drnobodypodcast
Um, yeah, right off the bat.
00:46.91
D_E
I Guess I just have to congratulate you on initiating this podcast I've known you to be a very driven guy and I know that you know you go for what you want and then you just you know you just do it so congratulations again. Yeah, and um I am David and.
00:58.89
drnobodypodcast
Thank you appreciate that. Thank you.
01:06.73
D_E
I am a biostatistician I currently reside in and iowa which is where I obtain my master's degree and yeah I've been living as a biostatistician. For the past. Ah um, I'd say 8 years since I graduated with my masters. Um, it was it was kind of it was kind of kind of fun now I am both working full time.
01:28.78
drnobodypodcast
Okay. Nice.
01:42.71
D_E
As a Biostatistician and I'm also seeking my doctorate degree. So it's been. It's It's a tough road but I am I am you know taking this step by step. And yeah.
01:54.00
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, that I guess that's a tongue twister like same biosthesistician like I hear you you say so smoothly but I can't so I'm not gonna say it. But for our listeners Can you explain what? what that is.
02:09.27
D_E
Ah, well Biostatus station is basically a statation but mostly mostly applied to the medical field and that's that's all it is and I I specifically work in clinical trials. Um, there are many other aspects of ah of biostatistics. Um I work in clinical trials. Um, but I also work in observational studies so clinical trials the difference between the 2 is clinical trials is more um, ah you you have more control. Over the different um aspects of the study you're able to get a certain amount of patients. Um, and you're able to you know, give them some sort of intervention and you're hoping you'll see a difference between the 2 um and then there is the other observational part of um. A part of it where you um, you don't have control over um your randomization. It's more like in a real-w world scenario like data. You don't really, you can only look at the data. But. Um, your conclusions are not. You know, super definitive. Um, so that's briefly what the difference between the 2 are and I work in both um of these aspects of bad statistics. Yeah, um.
03:46.80
drnobodypodcast
So when you were doing your college degree. Did you know you were gonna do This is this a choice that you had or did someone tell you or introduce you like how do you? How did you find that.
03:59.82
D_E
Well actually bio Biostat statistics came to me and ah through a series of events for and no not quite. Um, so for example.
04:10.27
drnobodypodcast
You're going to say through a dream.
04:19.49
D_E
Ah, it all started actually through the mcnair program which which we did an undergrad. So um at I was simply um, a um, ah math math major um.
04:24.69
drnobodypodcast
M.
04:37.33
D_E
With a statistics option and I believe it was Dr. Bore. Um, who told me about a conference in iowa it was the Stats f statsph fest conference and in that. In that conference I Met a professor here in iowa um, his name is you know Dr. zamba and he told me about this summer program. This r e program which introduces students um in the field of biostatistics. Um, and so when I did the program I loved every bit of it I was like you know what? I'd really like to pursue this and so after I did the program I finished my um undergrad and I I was like you know what? this is what I'm gonna do and so I applied for grad school here and. Got in. So so that's how that's basically how Bias statistics got in through through a summer program yeah
05:41.30
drnobodypodcast
So there's a lot to unpack there and I have a lot of questions that revolve around that but I guess the first 1 is in a couple of my episodes I talk about and even my guests talk about having taking advantage of opportunities like a conference. So 1 how important do you think is no sorry, let me rewind that 1 what is a conference because some people are not in the science background they may not understand that and maybe we could talk about it and 2 how important do you think is attending these type of events right.
06:16.36
D_E
Well conferences are you know it's your doorway into many different um aspects of your career because that's where you'll Meet. Um, you know, many. People from different backgrounds you make connections and this connection will lead will open so many doors for you. Um, and through these doors you'll either choose to go to grad school or go somewhere else. But um. Attending these conferences can make a very can have a very big impact on on your choice of of um, you know, career again and and my scenario it's through a conference that I met the professor here 1 of the professors who does biostatistics.
07:08.91
drnobodypodcast
Um.
07:13.69
D_E
And if I had not gone to that conference I would not have met this person and I would not have learned about bad statistics I'd probably be working somewhere else. Maybe in Mcdonald's or something but um, they did. That's true that's true I like their food I'm not.
07:26.84
drnobodypodcast
Hey, they make a lot of money now. The.
07:33.26
D_E
Umm, not theying it. But um, yeah, um, again, conferences are very important there. They basically gives you ah ah um, a head start ahead of everybody else because you meet people and they remember you and if you if you meet a professor in the school.
07:47.10
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, yeah.
07:53.15
D_E
And you want to apply to that school if you had a conversation with that professor that professor will remember you and they'll give you a bit of priority above other students. You know.
08:02.96
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, and I feel like ah it also these type of events not just conferences because there's other things that you can do I think also are important for networking to what your point is these people you learn about or you hear and you talk to them. They do remember you. I know that when at least you know when we attended conferences. We'd always talk to as many people as possible and and I'm on linkedin and we always were trained to send an email the next day of saying like thank you for talking to me and then make sure they know who you are a picture and whatever it is because I personally still talk to. My are you which is our research experience for undergrads program that we did with the 1 I did at in Tennessee in vanderbbot and that was I mean I I guess that was over 10 years ago for both of us right? I remember oh I hate saying 10 years ago
08:52.14
D_E
Yeah, that's that's it hey it just means we're becoming wiser. Yeah, but no I was just gonna say you're exactly right about you know.
09:00.18
drnobodypodcast
Yeah I hope so David I know you oh go ahead.
09:10.86
D_E
Making these connections another thing that comes out of that is um, say you have some ideas but you didn't think about um other ideas that people are thinking and by by combining. You know what you already had in.
09:23.60
drnobodypodcast
That's excellent point.
09:28.51
D_E
Someone else's idea you might come up with an even bigger idea for yourself and come up with something new.
09:30.19
drnobodypodcast
Yeah that's a great ad yeah, it's totally you know there's things that you just don't know about out there I mean even the field that I joined I didn't know about until basically 3 months before I applied to it. So um. Yeah there's just things you just learn at or any type of event like that. Ah so David I know you at a personal level and this is my personal question to you but I think it's a very important question for the listeners is that you grew up. Well you lived in haiti right? And then you came to new jersey.
10:02.00
D_E
Yes, that's correct. Yes, yes me.
10:06.41
drnobodypodcast
And then you move to Iowa Can you can you I'm only laughing listeners because he started giggling and and he probably knows where it's going. But how can you explain your transition from haiti to New Jersey to living in the cornfields of Iowa not literally, but.
10:24.10
D_E
Yeah I mean I guess I'll start with haiti. Yeah um I mean living in haiti was as as a kid was you know, very pleasant and warm. Never never seen snow. Um and you know I am I guess.
10:24.27
drnobodypodcast
I Hope not literally, but.
10:38.13
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, yeah.
10:43.98
D_E
I enjoyed living in haiti but at some point things got you know out of hand and it was it kind of it kind of got chaotic and so my family as a whole decided. You know what we're just gonna move on and give up. Everything we have and just move to um to the us and you know that's a big sacrifice that you know I've never forgotten from my parents they give up everything they have everything they've known. Every degree that they have is just they give it all up to bring us here for a better life and offer forever be thankful and so yeah, then I came here to the us to New Jersey and that's when I got into high school.
11:24.56
drnobodypodcast
It's incredible.
11:38.85
D_E
I did I did 2 years of of high school. It's funny enough because um I remember applying to ah to the high school and I just went in and they they send me to send some assessment and. Lady asked me okay, walk down the aisle and tell the the person that you need to take the test for for a sophomore I don't know what I don't know what sophomore meant I just came to the country and so I didn't I couldn't I didn't even know what the word was I just heard it a sophomore and I just nodded my head and just walked down.
12:02.90
drnobodypodcast
Yeah.
12:15.33
D_E
And then the guy asked me for which grade are you in and I said Eleven grade so I basically skipped um, skipped a grade and just started there and I and I I I guess I passed it because I got into eleventh grade and so I was happy about that. But anyway I did.
12:17.11
drnobodypodcast
M.
12:33.96
D_E
2 years of high school and then and then in the summer after I graduated high school I did a program called eeo I believe Marvin did that as well. Um, equal opportunity. Um equal experience opportunity or. Or something like that. But you basically is you start a summer and into into college and you earn some credits for it and then that'll give you a footsteps a foot in the door and the college and so I did that I got some credits and then I enrolled.
13:06.21
drnobodypodcast
M.
13:12.38
D_E
And the University kane university which we went together and then I did 4 years of undergrad there and decided to come to iowa and the reason why I came to iowa is because of the um. Because of the um, you know the Summer program that I did I realized um spending 3 months in iowa it was it was warm. It was beautiful. It was green not the corn but you know, um, the people were you know they were. Nice and everywhere you walk people say hi to you and it was something that I wasn't here still and the Jersey I I'm going to new jersey soon. So I hope that you don't.
13:55.84
drnobodypodcast
That's really relative because that's you know you're comparing nice people to New Jersey people. Yeah, so that's not fair. But yeah, if yeah.
14:10.16
D_E
They don't find out about this when I get there or so I don't get jumped. Um, but yeah, that's that's how I got from haiti to New Jersey to iowa.
14:12.37
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, yeah.
14:19.51
drnobodypodcast
That those are pretty big jumps and the haiti to us jump. Um, it's you know you're pretty young, right? High school age is still kind of young because you're still learning about the world relatively. But when you decided to make the jump from New Jersey to Iowa you know what were your feelings like you know you're now going full independent from your parents because nobody it's just you over there right? There's no family members there so you've had this bubble that you've been with all your life and then you're like.
14:49.33
D_E
That's that's correct.
14:54.93
D_E
Yeah.
14:55.70
drnobodypodcast
I Need to take this step to to progress in my career can you elaborate a little boring about that.
14:59.32
D_E
Yeah, it was a daunting thing because you know we Haitians we take in so some terms of family. You know we can't We don't go too far away from the family. Um, but you know so spending time in the mcnair program.
15:10.20
drnobodypodcast
Mm.
15:18.98
D_E
Going to conferences seeing what other people do you know they're not they broke out of their bubble and so that you know I Only you know, followed what other people are are doing. Um, yeah, it's just if you don't.
15:31.99
drnobodypodcast
No.
15:37.87
D_E
Break out of that bubble opportunities are not or they're limited I mean you may you may end up finding a nice career if you don't leave you know around your family. But for me, it was the right thing to do at the time. And I talk to my family every day. It's not like I elineiate them or I talk with them every day I I keep in contact and so it didn't feel as though they were very far. So.
15:59.46
drnobodypodcast
Um.
16:09.53
drnobodypodcast
Did you feel like you were mentally and physically ready for a change like that. Yeah, that was a quick. No do you still feel physically mentally ready. Yeah.
16:16.00
D_E
No. Um, I mean you know sometimes ah you just have to be able to get out of your comfort zone. Um, it's really tough but you don't learn By. You know you don't Learn. You don't. Experience by staying in your little comfort Zone. You have to you know, spread your wings a bit and that's how opportunities come if you stay in your little bubble where you know you're seeing the same people all the time. Um, Unless. Unless those people are very very Successful. You may not. You know you may not um, become successful yourself So you have to you know again, spread your wings to to. To be able to find other opportunities. That's not readily available.
17:21.16
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, it's a very cliche thing to say and it's okay I think 1 of the reasons why I started This podcast is these cliche things to say like that you know, go spread your wings I think it means more coming from people that had nothing or from or from little. And aren't famous like to your point or rich or influential and just nobody's like us. You know that they have made it to you know, made something from themselves from from very little or nothing. So I appreciate you sharing that with us I Guess the other aspect that I want to dig a little bit and it's.
17:43.83
D_E
Now.
17:57.43
drnobodypodcast
Kind of the focus of this episode is that delayed gratification and it doesn't mean for the listeners to understand this. It doesn't mean that it's you know, delaying your gratification of getting a ph d but it could be anything in your career. So for us. Yes, it was our ph d is you know that delay of. Um, waiting a couple years maybe it's maybe it's the delay for you to go into college or or jumping to that next step of moving to another state to start your career. So david can you talk about about that decision of waiting you know a couple years before you do your ph d or not even doing it right after finishing. Um. Your your undergrad degree.
18:38.36
D_E
Yeah, and it was a tough decision at the time. Um, so as I was you know getting into grad school was a shock for me. It was a shock um I Um I.
18:50.40
drnobodypodcast
Okay.
18:57.73
D_E
You go in there and and you just get shocked with the courses with the way they teach with um and so um I decided. Um after the masters that I would stop for. And let and let give me time to absorb what I learn and and apply it first because I tend to learn more by, um, applying things. Not learning something to a course and then just automatically know how exactly to use it all the time so doing the 2 years of masters I learned things and I wanted to apply it and that's what I did um I also had decided to stop that wasn't the only reason.
19:34.79
drnobodypodcast
Yes.
19:51.70
D_E
Um I decided to stop because of um, financial reasons you know I needed to help my family. Um, so I thought it was a good time for me to um, get a job and you know get paying help help out with the bill with those bills. But yeah, um I decided to do that and I think I think it was a very good decision for me. Um, it may be not the right decision for others but it helped me um, learn get that experience. Um, let. Everything I learned sink in and then once I truly mastered. Ah what I had learned I decided in the last 3 years that I would go back for my ph d.
20:45.26
drnobodypodcast
So was it I know you just mentioned that but what is was there a trigger point in your mind was like okay now I'm gonna do my Ph D because what? what is your goal with your Ph D Now you're you're pretty successful for what you're doing in your career Now. Why do you feel the need that now is the time to do your Ph D so.
21:04.88
D_E
Um, so for multiple reasons again if you surround yourself with very successful friends. You tend to you tend to you know try to elevate yourself to their levels I'm talking about you Marvin ah, yeah, yeah, that's that's a good thing. You know you don't want to be left behind but um, yeah, that's that's 1 thing. Um, another thing is.
21:21.89
drnobodypodcast
That's that's a good thing.
21:28.76
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, or made fun of now I was playing.
21:38.80
D_E
um um I want to um, eventually um, start my own contract research organization in another for me that I need some form of credentials. Um, yes I do have the experience. But. Think having a doctorate degree would go a long ways to to doing that and it's not It's not a 5 year maybe ah or 10 year goal but I'm I'm hoping in the next fifteen years I'll have not only the um, the experience. With the documentation to be able to start start such a company in and you know have that trust um without the doctorate degree. It be. It'd be difficult to um, you know gain that trust from from your customers. At least in that particular field. Um, not that this is what you need for for another field. Um.
22:35.92
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, yeah.
22:41.36
drnobodypodcast
So you think this this gap then between you know your masters and now your Ph D and then kind of soaking it in is is all part of your plan eventually.
22:53.50
D_E
Um, it wasn't all part of my plan but it it turns out that it's it gonna it's gonna work work. Well hopefully um, yeah, um, so yeah, you can't.
23:03.71
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, yeah.
23:10.42
D_E
Plan everything sometimes things happen and you just have to you know, um seek those yeah seek those other paths and just just don't give up Cliche but don't give up. Yeah.
23:14.73
drnobodypodcast
Roll with the punches.
23:21.33
drnobodypodcast
Um, yeah, ah, how has it been juggling your full time job and doing a ph d and then I'll ask another question after that which is. And your family. So the first 2 is ph d and job and then the other 1 and including your family.
23:46.96
D_E
Um, well, it's it's been It's been tough I'll admit it's been tough. Um, but you know I'll just go ahead and tie in the family. But. My family drives me I want to be able to get my family in a position. Um, where you know where we are all financially stable and so that drives me into. Um. Not you know, not giving up um given how hard working full time and doing a ah ph d is um so I work I work from you know, 8 30 to 5 six and then after work I eat try to take a twenty minute nap and then do the class work and work on dissertation or or whatever, whatever it is that I have due in the next and next day or 2 so that's been tough. It's it's. It's taken away. Um some fun time for me. but yeah but I know why I'm doing it I know why I'm doing it I'm um, I'm driven by um, wanting to get you know me and my family in a place where.
25:09.19
drnobodypodcast
2 part.
25:23.89
D_E
You know I'm trying to get them that Acuna matata life. Um, so yeah, um, so yeah, yeah, it's it's it's tough it's tough I'm missing out on some things. Um.
25:25.37
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, nice. So that's your driving force. Yeah, that's nice. Yeah, no, and go ahead.
25:43.54
D_E
But again I know why I'm doing it.
25:45.11
drnobodypodcast
So yeah, good for you. That's the I know for me personally that it's always been a driving force as Well. For me, you know the listeners have heard about my story with my family and the situation. So. You know everybody has something to focus on to motivate them and I think that's really important for the listeners to hear that find something that you can grab hold and be the reason why you want to succeed because that way you have when you are having tough times or you feel like you're not going to do it. You think of that 1 thing you're. Grabbing hold of and why you're doing it like for instances you and I is our family and that motivates you like I can't fail I can't stop. You know I need to keep going So you know I think it's really important and I appreciate you sharing that.
26:30.71
D_E
Yeah, um, yeah, people will have multiple different goals but there is that big drive that that will keep you going no matter how many times you fail, you'll always um, try to you know. Work hard to try and get to that ultimate goal that that you want to achieve so.
26:57.20
drnobodypodcast
Yep, yeah, totally agree. Ah when when you think about how you've gotten to this point in your life is there any specific people in your life like advisors or mentors that really stand out or do you think you felt like you've done this basically on your own. You know you've managed it up to this point on your own. So.
27:17.19
D_E
Um, I there's no way that I can say that I did this on my own. Um I mean for example, here, the faculty here and and the university of iowa biota statistics department. They. Like they really en invest time in you they want you to succeed. Um and so I've I've heard many things about you know ivy league schools and I'm not hating on ivy league schools but you know sometimes if you're not the top. Top top Student. You know some professors may just not not care about you but here the university of iowa faculty here. They they just really care about you you walking in a department everybody knows your name. Um, and.
27:58.90
drnobodypodcast
Yeah I know yep.
28:13.34
drnobodypodcast
Wow.
28:16.70
D_E
Yeah, they they take time to know their students and they want you to succeed and they they are always available. They're not gonna give you some some I don't get paid enough to to to the baby see answer. Yeah so that's why I really like about um the um.
28:27.48
drnobodypodcast
Um.
28:35.63
D_E
Faculty here and and I have some great mentors the the chair of the department is a great mentor and friend. Um, he's he's sort of encouraged me to to pursue a ph d is 1 of the reasons. Um, yeah, and just my um, my work also has allowed me to you know, take a course a semester and and they don't if I if I Miss maybe. An hour they you know they don't you know, hold it over my head and I can always make it up some other time and stuff and so if if it's just been really nice. Um, and without all these you know perks that I have here I don't know how I would be able to do it. So.
29:35.27
drnobodypodcast
So it's like a perfect scenario there that you've you've built and it's not just from you. It's from everybody around. You must be nice this way.
29:41.49
D_E
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, some were not that fortunate and but.
29:50.67
drnobodypodcast
Yeah I think that's I think that's a really important point to just harp on a little bit is that if you found something that works really Well, There's no reason to leave it or to move or to change it and also no reason to take advantage of it too much because then you're just hurting yourself. But it sounds like you you found a really nice place and that's why now I can understand why you're still in Iowa and you haven't come back which is is fair.
30:17.32
D_E
Yeah, yeah I mean again, the people are nice um in the faculty here like they really care about you. So if you have that um you know care around you. You don't feel alone.
30:34.18
drnobodypodcast
So.
30:36.83
D_E
And so it's it's not you know it's not in your immediate interest to just give it up and move on. Yeah.
30:43.65
drnobodypodcast
You know this question might come up in a different way in a little bit but what I want to ask you are there Any Pro tips based on your experiencing experience managing a terminal degree a full time job and your family. Anything that's worked for you specifically.
31:03.91
D_E
Well um I would say um well you will go a little crazy. But um, you have to do the basics too and by that I mean.
31:13.55
drnobodypodcast
Um.
31:22.19
drnobodypodcast
Ah, do you're gonna say take a shower that too. Are you though.
31:22.89
D_E
Eat healthy. That you can do that once a month you'll be fine I'm kidding. Um, yeah, um, yeah, you have to eat healthy. Um, do your exercise because.
31:38.75
drnobodypodcast
Yes.
31:45.96
D_E
Things will get out of hand stress levels will go up and you have to you have to try to reduce those risks. Um, and yeah, ah. Could you remind me the question I kind of lost my train of thought. Um, yeah.
32:06.41
drnobodypodcast
It's totally fine. Um, so I was asking like any pro tips of managing your full time job your life your your career Ph D and your family. So.
32:11.61
D_E
Yeah that's right, that's right um, again after you know you have to take care of yourself first in terms of healthy eating and and doing your little exercise because if you don't. Um, you know what's the point of of doing of working this hard when when like I don't know five years ten years down the road. You're just gonna get sick and potentially die. Um.
32:40.75
drnobodypodcast
Yeah.
32:48.60
D_E
Yeah, and try to I mean you have to have a little bit of balance. um um I try to for myself I try to occasionally you know, watch a movie you know just to get my head away from. Um, all the stuff that I need to do watch movies or tv show. Um, occasionally maybe every Friday you say? Okay, you have to watch that tv show on Friday at yeah, at least if you're um, crunching time on and my scenario. Um, yeah, and if you have a friend you can play some board games I you know I play 2 player board games to keep my mind off things. But yeah, you have to do some sort of things to distract you from all the. Stress that you have but you can't overdo it because um, somebody's have to do some the job's not gonna do itself. You have to do the job and yeah.
33:56.50
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, yeah, that's good. That's very basic stuff that people totally neglect very easily.
34:04.97
D_E
Yeah, yeah, it's easy to um ignore um, healthy meal and then next thing you know you have to you know, go to the hospital and you know experience something that. That might you might Regret. So.
34:25.20
drnobodypodcast
Absolutely Um, So when you think about a Ph D or any terminal degree. So like an M D Dentistry. Ah you know things like that. Do you think someone needs a terminal degree. To be successful in life with your honest opinion.
34:46.60
D_E
Um, I mean it's I think I think the um, the obvious answer is no. Ah yeah, you don't need that. Um, but. It has to be something that you want to do if you don't want it. Don't don't get it. It's not.. It's not the easiest thing. Um, but you don't need it to be successful I mean you can you can easily invest. 2 dollars in doge corn and then five months later, you've become a millionaire.. Ah yeah, um, but yeah, you don't really need a um, ah.
35:26.16
drnobodypodcast
Ah, am done. Yeah.
35:38.91
D_E
Ah, say a doctorate degree to be successful, but it it is what I feel like is right for me. Um, it's what I feel I can do to be successful. But if you want to you know, go. Go and do a tick tiktok videos and have millions of views and get millions of dollars for It. You go ahead and and and that's fine, but you do what you gotta do.
36:07.24
drnobodypodcast
Do what you got to do? It's fair. Advice. Um, so what I want to ask you next is related to your job in your career being a biostat person sounds incredibly Incredibly boring and hard I'm just playing I hate maths just so the listeners know that's why I tease david on that. But what gets you up in the morning about your job will get you excited.
36:24.85
D_E
H.
36:38.80
D_E
Well, um I think um, you know you get to work with extremely smart people. For example, you know in my job I get to work with. A bunch of physicians talk with them explain thanks to them now I'm a nobody I'm a nobody you know? um, but you know interacting with a bunch of people who.
37:02.90
drnobodypodcast
Um, yeah, yeah, and yeah.
37:14.87
D_E
I Feel are a lot smarter than I am you know it it. It brings you that that you are oh look I Am you know I'm actually interacting with smart people which means I must not be as stupid as I am um, but yeah, um I think.
37:26.76
drnobodypodcast
Yeah.
37:34.37
D_E
I I like that aspect of my job. Um, where I get to interact with all these smart people you hear their point of view and you learn things from them too. Um, and it it can only do good for you because you keep learning new things. About how they think so that I mean that I find that exciting about my job. Um.
38:02.68
drnobodypodcast
That's fine. That's great. Yeah I'm sure that's also very intimidating talking to to doctors in general. So.
38:07.60
D_E
yeah um yeah I can either go 2 ways you can either be happy. You're learning from them or you're gonna feel dumb talking to them in which case both happen to me. But um, yeah, no I mean.
38:16.67
drnobodypodcast
Um, oh boy.
38:26.60
D_E
They know a lot of things and you get to hear their perspective on things. Um, but they also didn't get a degree in biostatistic so they get a learn from me too. You know so they they learn as much from you as you learn from them is just.
38:34.29
drnobodypodcast
So yeah.
38:45.67
D_E
Yeah I Never I never imagined that I would be working with a bunch of smart people. You know constantly.. It's not so yeah, it's not something that I you know imagine Oh yeah, when I'm when I grow up I'm just gonna surround myself with a bunch of smart people. You know so. And I find that very fun to do.
39:09.77
drnobodypodcast
That's good for you making your job exciting by talking to smarter people and having fun and learning because that's ah, that's always fun for us like always learning and learning through others is even cooler than just reading a book all day.
39:25.24
D_E
Yep now.
39:26.66
drnobodypodcast
So we're wrapping up here I have 2 more questions for you I always ask my listener sorry I always ask my my interviewee. What are the best and worst moments in your career or your life if you want to share something. And then I'll ask the second question after. Okay.
39:45.95
D_E
Um, um, best moment of my career would be um, getting my I guess I guess I have many of them every time you publish every time you publish? Um, you get published in ah and up and ah in a paper it's just thrilling to see that all the hard work that you put you know running analyses writing. Summarizing the results and explaining to the physicians or or researchers what the results say and then you work with them. You write the paper you help write the paper and then many people from different backgrounds come together. They have their inputs in the paper and then they publish it. I think I think that's I find that exciting. Um I guess for worst. Um I guess the worst moment for me was 1 time. Um. We were getting ready to publish a paper. You know you're working with researchers from and nih you know and you know and I is not something you want mess around with and then yeah ah and um.
41:11.97
drnobodypodcast
National Institute of Health for people that don't know what that is.
41:20.23
D_E
And then you realize like a few days before your publication before you know papers getting ready to publish you realize oh crap. There's an error in the code. So.
41:30.31
drnobodypodcast
Ah I'll no.
41:37.27
D_E
Yeah, this this sort of thing can happen. Luckily there are um, there is a period of time where once your paper has been published. You have time for revision for more revisions before you fully publish the paper so that's what saved me but going to that experience. Of you know, finding last minutee errors and you know having to stand them on and the office at 4 four m in the morning trying to address these and and fixing them before you know paper gets sent out that's kind of.
42:05.49
drnobodypodcast
And and.
42:16.40
D_E
That's kind of daunting and and stressful. But um, but think these things happen I wouldn't be the first this happens to and don't feel bad. You just have to you know, learn from it and just move on.
42:32.54
drnobodypodcast
So basically you almost came back to new Jersey. Ah.
42:35.71
D_E
I Have yeah I mean it was It was a group. It was a group error I wouldn't say it was yeah so yeah.
42:42.87
drnobodypodcast
Oh now you're blaming other people got it very bold move That's so good. Yeah, ah, the last question I have for you? What are 5 essential things you think. Are important to succeed in your career or in your life now. You can think of in terms of your own personal life and career or just in general something that you some things that you think is important.
43:10.74
D_E
So um I I could I probably wouldn't be able to give you five but I can give you maybe maybe maybe 1 Yeah, so.
43:25.70
drnobodypodcast
At least 1 okay make it make it a good 1 then.
43:30.73
D_E
Oh um, let's see. Um.
43:36.95
drnobodypodcast
I Don't want to give you examples of what other people gave me because I don't want to bias you.
43:41.36
D_E
Okay, okay, um, it's I guess this would be for um, this would be for grad student I'm gonna give an advice to grad students. Um. I am not the the brightest of students of um but if you decide to um, come to grad school 1 thing.
44:04.68
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, um, that's very he's being very humble. But.
44:20.43
D_E
And if you're if you're if you're a struggler like me. 1 thing. You must try your best not to do is to compare yourself with other students. Um, in my case like there. There are times when you know as as I said earlier. Coming to grad school was ah was getting into grad school and taking grad courses was a shock from me and so when you look around you you see all these brilliant students and you know and you're constantly trying to compare yourself with them to them. Ah, is is a no-go because everybody in grad school come from different backgrounds Some of them will be um, better prepared than you and some things you might be better prepared and something else. Um, then them. But it's it's not um, it's not wise to compare yourself to them and try to say oh my goodness. This person is just so much smarter than me I don't belong here. Or you will have that you may have that um feeling or that of like I feel like I don't belong in here I'm just not smart enough or um, I'm a fraud.
45:55.50
drnobodypodcast
You know? yeah.
45:56.85
D_E
Um, and my my advice for you is just 1 just don't compare yourself and then just go at your own pace. Yes, that might mean that you might want to work. Harder you might end up having to work harder than these other students but just just go at your own pace and and just don't give up like like.
46:35.39
drnobodypodcast
So.
46:35.53
D_E
Like now or to now to never gave up. Um, so yeah, that's that's 1 that's 1 advice. Oh okay, well count them all as 1 but okay.
46:42.98
drnobodypodcast
That was 3 actually? Ah so David you actually described something that has been mentioned several times in this podcast and I actually did this special on just it. Which is imposter syndrome and it seems like I've experienced it people I've interviewed indirectly unrelated imposter syndrome have experienced it and it seems like you've experienced it yourself. So it's unfortunate that people I think.
47:01.97
D_E
Ah, yep.
47:20.96
drnobodypodcast
I think I should just do another podcast total new show just on imposter syndrome because 1 there are people that had been on this podcast that had no idea what it was but knew exactly how you were just describing it but they didn't know there was a word for it which is you know it's important to recognize this. And it is a mental issue that happens and the number 1 thing of imposter syndrome is exactly how david started with which is comparing yourself to others that is the first issue with imposter syndrome and it's so important not to do that. No matter. How successful people are around you. And just remember that as successful you are. There's people that may be looking up to you that may feel that imposter syndrome too. So you need to help them just as much as the you know in the other way. So I I always like when people bring imposter imposter syndrome up because how important it is in anyone's career in any career path. Because everyone experiences it in some ways shape or form. Do you have anything else to add about imposter syndrome.
48:23.88
D_E
Ah, no it it ah other than it happens to many many people. Um, but you just you just can't let it get to you. You just have to keep going. Don't let that be the reason why you drop out or something. Um, you just have to you know, keep going and just work at your own paste. And yeah.
48:54.80
drnobodypodcast
Yep, thank you for sharing? um all right? So sidebar this last portion I'm just gonna ask you if it's okay I'm gonna you know? Thank you and then ask you if it's okay, if people can you know message you on your socials or whatever.
49:09.32
D_E
Um I don't have any I don't all I have is Facebook that I I barely use but I don't I wouldn't send people to my Facebook all I have is linkedin I guess okay.
49:09.74
drnobodypodcast
Are you? okay with that. Okay.
49:21.77
drnobodypodcast
Linkedin has been almost. everybody has been okay yeah everybody has linkedin except for day. Um, Marvin he was the only 1 that said, like yeah Twitter website email facebook like he Instagram he's just whatever but I most I always just tell people like Linkedin if that's okay with you I don't want to you you know.
49:29.45
D_E
Okay.
49:39.33
drnobodypodcast
I don't want to mention if you don't want to get you don't know I don't know if I'm gonna get five listeners or I'm gonna get 500 listeners so
49:44.15
D_E
Yeah, Linkedin is fine I mean I I don't even know mine like them name I just saw it exist. Okay.
49:51.78
drnobodypodcast
Don't worry about it just say Yeah, that's fine. You know reach out you know, whatever you want to say you don't have there's people have have said their entire linkedin thing but you don't have to all right, all right? And then I'm gonna I'm gonna sign us off right after? okay.
50:00.30
D_E
Okay, yeah, yeah. It sounds sounds good.
50:08.58
drnobodypodcast
Right? David thank you very much for your time and for sharing your stories I greatly appreciate it and it's just a lot of things to unwind and think about for what you said, especially at the end there about imposter syndrome I want to make sure that the listeners have an opportunity to maybe talk to you more. Is it? okay for them to reach out to you on your I guess your linkedin profile all right great well listeners I hope you gain plenty of insights today. This is the beginning of becoming a someone but specifically the someone you always wanted to be.
50:29.98
D_E
Yeah, yeah, that's that's fine that that works for me.
50:45.31
drnobodypodcast
Hope you enjoyed this episode and if you did please do give me a like review and subscribe and you can always visit my ah you can always visit my website. The drnobodypodcast dot com to learn more about my guests and to listen the episode again. Thanks again for listening to the Dr Nobody podcast where we turn nobodies to somebodies. Talk to you all very soon.