Geargin Wilson, MD, was a rockstar resident that was brought back into the Division of Infectious Diseases to start his career!
What brought you to UNC Medical Center?
Since leaving the Triangle area after residency, I have always had the draw of returning to the area to practice. My experience working with patients in North Carolina during residency was so enriching that the prospect of being able to return and help better serve them with my additional training in infectious diseases felt like an outstanding opportunity to give back. On top of this, the Division of Infectious Diseases at UNC is outstanding and when the opportunity to join as faculty presented itself, it felt like an easy choice!
Where are you from?
I grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts in a town called Lexington! For history buffs, the Shot Heard ‘Round the World happened just a mile from my childhood home!
Did you always want to be a doctor?
From a fairly young age. While both my parents were physicians, it was my Great Aunt Erika that drove me towards medicine. When I was in the 4th grade, she was diagnosed and ultimately passed away from Myelodysplastic Syndrome and at the time, I felt somewhat defeated that there was nothing I could do to help. While there are many other experiences along the way that helped push me towards medicine, I would say that experience drove me to work towards being in a position where if a family member or friend was in need, there would be something I could do to help.
How did you choose your specialty?
Early on in medical school when I was still grappling with what field I should try to apply into, my mentor gave the advice that a good starting place is reflecting on who during your pre-clinical years was the physician you most wanted to emulate. For me, this was Dr. Richard Glew, an infectious diseases physician at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. My interest grew further in residency when I got to work more closely with the division where I trained. I think there is a lot of value in “knowing your tribe” so to speak and it was with the infectious diseases physicians that I found my home.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
It is incredibly satisfying that many of the infectious maladies are treatable – as a resident, I never really got to see the tail end of treatment plans that extend weeks, and sometimes months, beyond a patient’s hospitalization. In fellowship, getting to see patients through from end to end of a disease process was incredibly rewarding and further cemented my love of infectious diseases.
As cliché as it is to say, the other most rewarding aspect is the patients. HIV primary care is so unique and the patients I saw during fellowship, their stories, and the bonds we built even over a short time was so rewarding that it never really felt like work.
What are some of the new developments in your field of specialty?
While there are many potent oral HIV medications available to newly diagnosed patients, the advent and evolution of injectable antiretroviral medications is extremely exciting and important development in the field of HIV care. Not only does this allow for flexibility for patients, it also allows reaching patients who struggle with taking oral medications due to social determinants of health and the societal benefit of this cannot be understated.
Is there a particular achievement (professional or personal) that has been most gratifying to you?
Personal: I have managed to train my beagle, Winston, to walk off leash. For those who don’t have hounds, managing to keep his attention when his nose is constantly in overdrive definitely feels like an accomplishment!
Professional: Just prior to completing fellowship, I redesigned the Antimicrobial Stewardship Education module used by the UC system in the Bay area which will be distributed and used by all clinical staff!
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
An ounce of caution saves a pound of regret, courtesy of my mother the night before my first day of intern year!
If you weren’t a physician, what would you like to be doing?
I quite love cinema so I would probably take a lot of joy in being a critic or any job that would allow me to talk about movies!