Dr. Mel Stone (Mentor) and Dr. Gerard Baltazar (Mentee)

Dr. Baltazar, Mentee (left) & Dr. Stone, Mentor (right) meet at a Harlem eatery.

The EAST Mentoring Section is proud to introduce the very first "Featured EAST Mentoring Pair", congratulations to Dr. Mel Stone, MD (Mentor) and Dr. Gerard Baltazar, DO, FACS(Mentee)!  

Drs. Stone and Baltazar are participating in 2015 EAST Mentoring Program.  Recently Dr. Stone and Dr. Baltazar had the chance to meet in person. See what they have to say regarding their mentorship and the EAST Mentoring Program.


Quotes:

“There is so much to know, and having an experienced guide like Mel encourages me to keep evolving as a surgeon and helps me stay humble.” –Gerard

“I’m learning how vital communication is to patient care, how to build an academic career and how partnerships between hospitals can help each grow.” –Gerard


Anecdote:

A happy coincidence, the pair actually crossed paths about eight years ago.  Gerard came to NYC as a medical student to audition for an emergency medicine residency and stayed in the building where Mel was living.  They ran into each other in the lobby and struck up conversation.  Gerard was debating whether to pursue trauma surgery, and Mel advised him that trauma surgery was a challenging but very rewarding lifestyle.

 “I was not sure it was Mel, but after we met again, I was certain.  I feel really lucky for the opportunity to thank him for the good advice he gave me all those years ago. And now, we have this whole new chapter to write. What a great New York story!” –Gerard


Statements posted are those of the Mentor and Mentee and do not represent the opinions of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.