Teaching medical students, residents, fellows, and patients has always been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life in medicine. Over time, however, I came to realize that even though I loved to teach, I had never formally learned how to do it well. That led me to make an unexpected decision to return to school after more than four decades in clinical practice.

Reentering academia was not easy at age 65, but after exploring several options, I chose to enroll in the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Health Professions Education program at A.T. Still University's College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS). The curriculum was robust and carefully constructed, but what ultimately distinguished the program was its people. From the beginning, I felt welcomed not just as a student, but as part of the ATSU academic community. The support I received was unwavering throughout the program.

Pursuing this degree was one of the most meaningful decisions of my life. Entering what I thought was the final chapter of my career, I could not have predicted that the EdD from ATSU would open an entirely new professional pathway. In addition to continuing interventional nephrology clinical practice, I now serve as the Founding Medical Director and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine for Tarleton State University's inaugural Master of Medical Science program in Physician Assistant Medicine—a role that has allowed me to unite patient care with a clear calling in medical education.