UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology December First Edition - Flipbook - Page 24
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
WHAT'S IN YOUR CUP?
Now is the time to assess our cups, reflect on their productive and
hindering contents.
E
ach Spring and Winter quarter since 2018, I have served as guest
lecturer for UCLA’s undergraduate course Diversifying Career Pathways
for Life Science Students. The course is designed to provide STEM
majors with exposure to diverse career options outside of medicine and
academia, such as industry research, policy, public health, technology, and
ancillary positions in healthcare settings. By now, I can do this presentation
in my sleep. I know exactly what questions to anticipate: “Don’t you take
children away?”, “Isn’t your job depressing?”, “How often do you cry?”, and
the most common, “I heard social workers don’t make a lot of money.”
Contrary to popular belief, medical social workers are actually compensated
quite well! I am usually paired with titans in their field who are bombarded
with questions and students stampeding to gain their attention following
the session. I provide a few with my card and schedule a small number of
informational interviews, reminding myself of my gratitude to dispel myths
about social work and expose potential future colleagues to what I consider
the magic of my career choice.
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