Growing Together: The Power of Mentorship in Gynecological Oncology Research
In the lab and beyond, two physician-scientists in gynecological oncology built a bond that fuels scientific discovery and personal growth.
Patricia Jeudin, M.D., associate professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, knew early on that she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. Growing up in New York and Philadelphia, she loved to read her mother’s nursing textbooks, an unusual pastime for a child in elementary school. Accompanying her mother on home visits to patients eventually confirmed her fascination.
Marie Jeudin was Dr. Jeudin’s first mentor, the first to encourage the young girl to dream big. But the elder Jeudin would not be her daughter’s last mentor. In fact, Dr. Jeudin, director of the Dysplasia Clinic at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – the University of Miami Health System, has benefited from mentoring throughout her career. Now, she enjoys that special mentor-mentee connection with colleague Matthew Schlumbrecht, M.D., M.P.H., professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and co-lead of Sylvester’s Gynecologic Oncology Site Disease Group. Though their projects often diverge, they share several research interests in improving cancer survivorship.
Drs. Jeudin and Schlumbrecht met when they were both hired at the Miller School.
“I like to think that we’ve grown up together in our division,” Dr. Schlumbrecht said.
Cancer Conversations Right Next Door
Their eventual professional relationship was enriched by having offices next door to each other, allowing for regular brainstorming sessions.
“It’s very organic,” Dr. Schlumbrecht added. “We don’t set up formal meetings.”
Of course, their professional connection began more formally, shortly after Dr. Schlumbrecht, a research leader in endometrial cancer, came to Sylvester from Arizona. Dr. Jeudin had arrived in Miami from Boston only a few months earlier. She wanted to do more research work in her own field of pre-cancer gynecology and immediately recognized how his expertise might help her. She emailed him to introduce herself.
“He was very strong in research, and I felt I needed to do more of it to elevate my profile,” Dr. Jeudin explained.
Overlapping Cancer Interests
In the beginning, Dr. Jeudin would detail her research idea and Dr. Schlumbrecht “would help me fine-tune it.”
This meant not only lengthy discussions but also looking over her grant applications and introducing her to other people in the field.
Dr. Schlumbrecht, who also trains future gynecological oncologists at Sylvester, had been mentored throughout his schooling and career. From those experiences, he understood he had a clear mission in his efforts to help his new mentee.
“What does she want, where does she see herself in the future and how can I help her get there? What is the best way to develop her research?” Dr. Schlumbrecht said, reciting his mentoring mantras.
Early on, they learned they had a mutual interest in how environmental and lifestyle factors, as well as genetics, affect cancer risk and outcomes. Dr. Schlumbrecht’s research focuses on endometrial cancer. He leads a study on post-menopausal bleeding, which is the most common endometrial cancer symptom.
Dr. Jeudin’s research focuses more on pre-cancers. She’s especially interested in dysplasia, the growth of abnormal cells within a tissue or organ. (Though dysplasia is not considered cancer, it is referred to as a pre-cancer because it can develop into cancer.) Her research overlaps with Dr. Schlumbrecht’s in one crucial way. Their studies look at the complex factors and genetics that can affect or increase cancer risk.
“We Work to Each Other’s Strengths”
Last year, both traveled to Nigeria with Sophia George, Ph.D., associate professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and a molecular geneticist, to advance genomic research and provide in-depth education and training to Nigerian gynecologic oncology fellows. The mentor had the opportunity to see his mentee at work.
“Patty took charge of the students and she taught them in an amazingly comprehensive way,” recalls Dr. Schlumbrecht. “It was really very nice to see her in action.”
The Jeudin-Schlumbrecht relationship has evolved over the years.
“It’s more collaborative,” Dr. Schlumbrecht says. “We work to each other’s strengths.”
He has also become an enthusiastic cheerleader of her successes.
“When Patty gets promoted, when she gets a grant funded or a paper published, it’s such a good feeling. It’s wonderful to see her grow independent and separate from me,” said Dr. Schlumbrecht.
Dr. Jeudin acknowledges the changing connection. She’s been developing more research ideas on topics that don’t involve Dr. Schlumbrecht. In the process, she has found new mentors in those fields.
“He has helped to make introductions and open doors, which have helped me network in different spaces,” Dr. Jeudin said.
Tags: Dr. Matthew Schlumbrecht, Dr. Patricia Jeudin, endometrial cancer, gynecological oncology, lifestyle medicine, mentoring, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center