Meet the Doctors Elliott Bennett-Guerrero, M.D. Specialty: Cardiothoracic anesthesiology Home: New York, New York Favorite medical TV show: I loved watching "M.A.S.H." while growing up as well as the program with the paramedics, I think it was called "Medical Center" or something like that. I thought that Hawkeye on "M.A.S.H." was an awesome person. What was your primary motivation for becoming a doctor? I think I was attracted to the drama and the overwhelming sense of the importance of the job. I almost became a scientist, but my desire to interact with patients led me to medicine. What was your greatest moment as a doctor so far? In terms of clinical medicine I guess it was a case of a 40ish-year-old woman who was resting comfortably in the surgical ICU at Duke after a kidney transplant. I was doing my critical care fellowship at the time, and I was called to her room because her heart had stopped. I shocked her a few times and gave her resuscitation drugs and just when I thought she was not going to make it we got a good heart rhythm back. I can't believe that she walked out of the hospital and did great. What has been the most unexpected aspect of being a doctor? To see a lot of doctors and other health-care professionals who don't seem to be very interested in becoming better doctors. Maybe I was idealistic, but I thought everybody would be very dedicated to their work. Do you have a hero? Hawkeye, the doctor on "M.A.S.H." played by Alan Alda, has always been my hero. He has a big heart, a funny personality, and really cares about doing the absolute best for his patients. Did medical school prepare you well for the profession? Yes, as well as it can. It is a little unrealistic to think that anybody can be "prepared" at the end of medical school for so many of the things you need to deal with as a doctor in training. What is the hardest part of your job? The stress of taking care of really sick patients, especially in the operating room, where really bad things can happen very quickly. And often I worry that I might be cutting my life a bit short because of all of the worrying I do about patients. Knowing what you know now, would you choose again to become a doctor? Absolutely, yes. Previous: Luanda Grazette, M.D. Next: Jane Liebschutz, M.D. One Night in an E.R. | Meet the Doctors | The Hippocratic Oath Today M.D. Specialties | The Producer's Story | Medicine Through Time Resources | Transcripts | Site Map | Survivor M.D. Home Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated March 2001