Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this inspiring episode of Why I Teach, Dr. Christy Lawson, a trauma, critical care, and acute care surgeon at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine, reflects on her journey from a rural community in Georgia to the operating room and classroom. Blending stories of family, mentorship, and personal growth, Dr. Lawson reveals how formative experiences—from learning through storytelling with her grandfather to assisting in surgery during a mission trip in Honduras—ignited her passion for medicine and teaching. She discusses the emotional complexities of surgical training, the power of individualized mentorship, and the importance of nurturing students as whole people.
00:02:05: Dr. Christy Lawson reflects on her first day as a faculty member at ETSU.
00:02:56: From digging postholes on the farm to performing trauma surgery: Dr. Lawson recalls her journey into medicine and teaching.
00:05:42: Dr. Lawson describes a powerful, full-circle mentorship moment – when the mentee becomes a mentor.
00:08:27: Is work-life balance a myth? Dr. Lawson shares her take on it.
00:10:09: Bringing hope into the classroom and the operating room.
00:11:07: Enjoying the “aha” moments in teaching.
00:12:12: “We make mistakes”: How Dr. Lawson prepares her students to deal with challenges and remain grounded.
00:14:14: Quillen College of Medicine’s mission and the importance of preparing students to serve rural and underserved areas.
00:15:56: Breaking out of the mold and helping students be “the best versions of who they are.”
ETSU Quillen College of Medicine: https://www.etsu.edu/com/
ETSU Health: etsuhealth.org (http://www.etsuhealth.org)
ETSU Department of Surgery: https://www.etsu.edu/com/surgery/
ETSU Great Lecture Series: https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2025/01-january/great-lectures-feature-handy-herrmann-lawson.php
In this inspiring episode of Why I Teach, Dr. Christy Lawson, a trauma, critical care, and acute care surgeon at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine, reflects on her journey from a rural community in Georgia to the operating room and classroom. Blending stories of family, mentorship, and personal growth, Dr. Lawson reveals how formative experiences—from learning through storytelling with her grandfather to assisting in surgery during a mission trip in Honduras—ignited her passion for medicine and teaching. She discusses the emotional complexities of surgical training, the power of individualized mentorship, and the importance of nurturing students as whole people.
00:02:05: Dr. Christy Lawson reflects on her first day as a faculty member at ETSU.
00:02:56: From digging postholes on the farm to performing trauma surgery: Dr. Lawson recalls her journey into medicine and teaching.
00:05:42: Dr. Lawson describes a powerful, full-circle mentorship moment – when the mentee becomes a mentor.
00:08:27: Is work-life balance a myth? Dr. Lawson shares her take on it.
00:10:09: Bringing hope into the classroom and the operating room.
00:11:07: Enjoying the “aha” moments in teaching.
00:12:12: “We make mistakes”: How Dr. Lawson prepares her students to deal with challenges and remain grounded.
00:14:14: Quillen College of Medicine’s mission and the importance of preparing students to serve rural and underserved areas.
00:15:56: Breaking out of the mold and helping students be “the best versions of who they are.”
ETSU Quillen College of Medicine: https://www.etsu.edu/com/
ETSU Health: etsuhealth.org (http://www.etsuhealth.org)
ETSU Department of Surgery: https://www.etsu.edu/com/surgery/
ETSU Great Lecture Series: https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2025/01-january/great-lectures-feature-handy-herrmann-lawson.php
