Dr. Shari Midoneck, the Ehrenkranz Family/Orli R. Etingin, M.D. Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in Women's Health and associate professor of clinical medicine, was appointed to the position of associate dean of academic affairs at Weill Cornell Medical College in January. Dr. Midoneck is also an associate attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She answered a few quick questions for us.
When did you know you wanted to become a doctor?
I was about 16 years old. I took biology in high school and decided that I wanted to be a doctor because it combined life science and dealing with people.
What time do you wake up in the morning?
I wake up at 6 a.m., shower, get dressed, wake up my boys, make breakfast, and get them to the bus by 7:15. Then I am off to work with my husband.
In the next 10 years, what do you foresee as the biggest change in how physicians practice medicine?
I don't have any idea about how medicine is going to change in the next 10 years, let alone the next two years. I already see that the Internet has changed the way we communicate with our patients and how accessible we are to them. Once the health legislation is passed, it will be interesting to see if that changes the way we practice medicine. I certainly hope there is not more government intervention in my day-to-day interactions with my patients, but I don't know what will be.
What's your commute?
I live on 52nd street and First Avenue so my commute is about a 10-minute walk to my clinical office and a 20-minute walk to the dean's office. I believe my lack of a commute is how I am able to balance work and family life. I don't have to spend long hours in a car. If I am not working, them I am home with family.
What is the most challenging year of medical school?
I bet you think I would say third year, but I loved third year. Although the hours were long, I did not find it as grueling as second year because I loved working with patients. Second year was the hardest year because there was so much to learn and just not enough time in the day to learn it all.
How old is too old for Facebook?
I have no idea, but I am not on Facebook. I don't have the time to commit to it. My husband, Dr. Pochapin, went on it and the next day had over 100 e-mails of people asking to be his friend. He removed himself from it immediately. It is not that we are not friendly people, but there is just not enough time in the day for Facebook.
Any pets?
No.
Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders, Devils or none of the above?
My favorite team is the Yankees. However, I like all New York teams. I am only against the Mets if they are playing the Yankees. If it were between the Giants and the Jets, then I would choose the Giants, but I like the Jets. My favorite hockey team is the Islanders, since I grew up on Long Island; my parents had season tickets, and I went to four Stanley Cup championships. I am not a huge basketball fan. I bet that this was a longer answer than you expected!
What is your favorite thing about teaching?
I enjoy connecting to students. I personally like small-group teaching and one-on-one teaching more than the lecture format. This way I have a better sense of what people understand.
What is your favorite New York City landmark?
I love Central Park. I love the idea that there is beautiful, green, serene park in the middle of the largest, most crowded and industrialized city in the world. It is a great place to people-watch, watch my son play baseball, have a picnic, or just sit on a bench and enjoy the surroundings.
What is the hardest part of your job?
I could say that the hardest part of my job is getting everything done and being home in time to make dinner and spend time with my children. But the hardest part of the job is really when I have a sick patient and can't figure out a way to help him or her. There is nothing harder than that.
Photography by Amelia Panico.