This post is the final part of a multi-part installment exploring the career and life of Dr. Mark Rupp, outgoing Chief of Infectious Disease at UNMC. If you missed our first post introducing Dr. Rupp and this series, part 2 exploring Dr. Rupp’s career, or part 3 exploring his life outside of medicine, see the linked posts to catch up. Otherwise, read on to learn more about Dr. Rupp’s outlook on the future of ID and advice for the next generation of ID professionals.
How do you avoid burnout?
I think a little introspection and self-reflection really helps. In our line of work, it is not hard to find very worthy people who, through no fault of their own, are dealing with truly daunting challenges. Many of us have so much for which to be grateful. Many people in the world would jump at the chance to switch places with us. Keeping these things in mind goes a long way to avoiding a doom and gloom/burnout cycle. Also, I think that the 24-hour news feed, social media, and the pace of communication – constantly texting, checking posts, and emails, lends itself to a frantic, chaotic mindset. Setting aside the phone for a while, turning off the TV and radio, and getting outside in nature is a great way to recalibrate.
What advice do you have for those considering ID?
Infectious Diseases is a wonderful field. In many instances, ID docs are able to cure their patients fully and restore them to health. There is rarely a dull moment – a new bug, outbreak, or resistance trait is always just around the corner. Also, the people who chose ID as their field of specialization are some of the smartest, most interesting, and most pleasant folks in the world – you’ll have great colleagues and coworkers!
Where do you see the field of ID going in the next 10 years?
I only see the need for ID specialists growing in the coming years. We’ll continue to see a quick pace in the development of better ways to diagnose infections and AI/ML assisting us in the clinics. The interface between public health, funding, politics, and social media will continue to be challenging. ID specialists who have additional skills in IT, data analysis, population health, patient safety/quality improvement, and mass media/communication will be in high demand. The way in which our country funds health insurance and healthcare will continue to be problematic, as will healthcare access issues – these issues are global but will impact the practice of infectious diseases in the coming years. Antimicrobial resistance will only increase and ID specialists will be needed to steer how to best treat these complex patients. The big wild card is when we will see the next pandemic.
What keeps you excited about ID to this day?
As I mentioned earlier “you‘ve got to love them bugs” – new pathogens, new virulence determinants, new resistance traits. In addition, interacting with students and trainees keeps you on your toes.
-Dr. Mark E. Rupp