Dr. George has been in Providence for a long time. He graduated from Brown University and Alpert Medical School before deciding to stick around for a family medicine residency at Brown too. These days, he can be found hanging around the Office of Medical Education, where he is responsible for the 2nd year Curriculum and the new Primary Care-Population Medicine (PCPM) Program. Murmur had the chance to ask Paul George a few questions about himself.
1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? How would you describe your role at AMS to a stranger?
I am a native Rhode Islander and have been at Brown University my entire adult life. I grew up in Newport, came to Brown as an undergraduate, stayed for medical school (although I was not a PLME student) and for residency. I have been on the faculty now for about 10 years. My role at Brown is to oversee the clinical curriculum, from Years 1 through 4 and to oversee the Primary care-Population Medicine program. In my spare time, I like to run and spin. I also coach soccer and baseball for my two boys, PJ (age 7) and Ben (age 4).
2. What would your perfect day look like?
The great thing about working at AMS in the OME [Office of Medical Education] is that no day is the same and I really enjoy that. One day I may be teaching, the next planning curriculum and the next seeing patients. I think a perfect day at work does not exist for me. At home, my perfect day is simply spending time with my wife Joanne and my two boys.
3. What life-changing experiences put you on the path that led to what you’re doing today?
The biggest life event that led me to the OME was a simple page I received from the former director of medical education, Dr. Dick Dollase, here at AMS. I had not quite finished residency and Dr. Dollase paged me, asking if I wanted to lead the 4th year OSCE. I was shocked because I was still a resident and had no experience running anything curriculum related. From that point on, my role at AMS expanded, to me running the 2nd year curriculum, then the PC-PM program and now the clinical curriculum. Along the way I got a Masters in Education to help me with the theory behind why we do what we do in education.
4. What motivates you to do what you do?
Quite honestly, I want to give students the best educational experience possible (in the hopes that the educational experience will translate into amazing patient care).
5. What are you most proud of?
At work, I am most proud of the team we have in the OME. I could not ask for a better group of people to work with. At home, I am most proud of my two boys who make every day fun, scary, adventurous and so super fulfilling.
6. What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment time, energy, money, etc.)
At work, getting my Masters in Education has really helped me as I think about developing and implementing curriculum. At home, I have really become a fitness enthusiast. I try to spin for at least an hour every day or run 5-6 miles every day at a minimum – it makes me feel really energetic and refreshed during the day.
7. What advice would you give to your 25-year old self?
I would tell my 25-year-old self that my thirties would be the best decade of my life, from realizing my dreams of becoming a physician educator come true to being a dad to having interests outside of school and work like running that I find really fulfilling.
8. If you were a student, what is one opportunity you would take advantage of at AMS or in Providence?
At AMS, I would take advantage of using as many faculty members as possible as mentors. The faculty at AMS are so invested in students and are passionate about seeing students fulfill their goals. In Providence, definitely take advantage of the great restaurants in town!
Profile by Jeffrey Lam, MD’21 and Creative Content Editor
Image courtesy of Brown Medicine Magazine