Study Break: David Sloan, Ed.M.'13

Program: Special Studies
Tool for Change: Medical Education
Hometown: Boston via Cleveland

For David Sloane, a doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, the best part of his work has to do with what he calls the "teaching moments" — the times when he's helping patients, medical students, and even colleagues understand complex information or new ideas.

"I have loved teaching and learning for as long as I can recall," he says. "From my cultural background, there is no one as venerated as a great rabbi, who is a student and teacher by definition."

Recently, after noticing that he was turning the latter half of clinic visits into mini-lectures, he even paid homage to the online video teaching master, Sal Khan, by posting his own Kahn-like video on YouTube, explaining the immune system for patients. But as a specialist in immunology and allergies, where does the Ed School fit in? He found the connection in one of those "aha!" moments. (He says it was more of a "well, duh!" moment.) Shoveling his driveway one day, he realized that knowing something about education — learning about learning, teaching, thinking, and understanding — was the first logical step in making medical education (as opposed to medical research) the next focus of his career.

It hasn't been easy, especially with five kids at home, ranging in age from five months to 12 years, and still working full time. But he says it's more than worth it. "The Ed School has been a dream come true, a way for me to pursue my love of cognitive studies (neuroscience and psychology), complex systems, and philosophy, to name just a few, all under the guise of reshaping my professional identity. I am in a constant state of amazement that I have not been charged with criminally intense enjoyment."

Are other students surprised to learn that you're a medical doctor? They are indeed! But when I wax poetic about how fantastic an experience I am having, I think they can see that glint in my eye telling them that this is where I belong. Either that, or that they should call 911.

Favorite class so far: T543: Applying Cognitive Science to Learning and Teaching with Associate Professor Tina Grotzer, Ed.M.'85, Ed.D.'93.

Hardest part of trying to juggle being a doctor and being a master's student: The critical dimension is time. If only there were some sleep battery that I could charge up during the summer and live off during the academic year.

Typical day: Work, part I: 7 a.m.
Classes: late morning
Work, part II: until at least 5 p.m., sometimes until 11 p.m.
Home: dinner, kids' homework, bedtime
Homework: 3-6 a.m.

Allergy you treat the most: dairy, caffeine, pollen, or cat? Without a doubt, allergies to medications: antibiotics, pain relievers, and chemotherapy agents. Allergy you'd least like to have: I am already intolerant to dairy, pollens, and cat. Now you're going to take away caffeine from me as well?! Actually, I stopped all caffeine in 2009, so the end effect is, sadly, similar.

Yes or no: Do you ever see a day when asthma will be eliminated? In the word of Matt Groening, "N-ye-maybe."

Television or movie doctor whom you think you're most like: My goal is to be a cross between Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock.

Why? Clinically competent and compassionate while simultaneously thinking logically about harmonizing quantum physics and general relativity by means of M theory.

Your blog ends with, "Beam us up, Scottie!" Are you a Star Trek fan? See answer to the last question. I need say no more!

Read Sloane's blog at www.pacasthma.blogspot.com.