Hans C. Arora, MD, PhD: Ensuring patients are heard

Hans C. Arora, MD, PhD


On the move with: Hans C. Arora, MD, PhD, a urology resident at the Cleveland Clinic. 

AMA member since: 2005. 

What inspired me to pursue a career in medicine: I have always loved science and trying to understand how things work ever since I was a child. At the same time, I always knew that I’d want to do something where I could help people directly, so medicine seemed like an ideal fit. I feel very fortunate that almost three decades since making that decision that those are still things that hold true for me and continue to reaffirm the decision to become a physician. 

How I move medicine: By advocating for my patients and my colleagues, both at the individual level with every bedside encounter, and at the population level through policy and organized medicine for the opportunity. 

Career highlights: I’ve been very fortunate to chart a robust path through organized medicine. As a medical student, I was elected to serve as the Chair of the AMA Medical Student Section, the largest organization of medical students in America. As I traveled the country meeting students from every state and background I was continually impressed by the passion and enthusiasm each and every person had for the work they were doing.

As a resident, I was elected to serve as Chair of the AMA Resident & Fellow Section, and I continue to be inspired by the stories of my colleagues as they hone their skills and knowledge towards the common goal of caring for the patient. Today I serve on the AMA Council on Legislation and as a member of the AMA House of Delegates representing my specialty society, both creating and making recommendations on policy initiatives that are aimed at driving medicine forward as we continue looking for better ways to take care of our patients. 

Advice I’d give to those interested in pursuing a career in medicine: Medicine is not a job—it’s a calling. Embrace the opportunities in front of you and the privilege to serve your fellow person in a time of their greatest need and the returns on your engagement will be immeasurable. 

How I give back to the community: As I continue serving my patients and my colleagues through organized medicine, an underlying theme for me has been to help each individual ensure their voice is heard—whether it be their goals of care or expectations for surgery, or their hopes and successes for personal and professional development. While we are often judged and measured by individual patient visits or surgical encounters, our legacy will be the overall impact we have on a patient’s life or a mentee’s career. 

Aspect of my work that means the most: The opportunity to make such a significant impact on a person’s life and the immeasurable trust they place in your hands is a privilege that has no parallel. The experience of helping someone through his or her life’s greatest hardship is truly humbling, and I’m grateful every day.

My hope for the future of medicine: That we are able to grow and adapt to the changing environment around us. I think it’s incumbent upon leaders in health care to be the initiators of conversations with disciplines outside of traditional medical silos to create systems and environments that provide the highest quality care to as many patients as possible at a cost that is sustainable for future generations. The key to innovation in health care will not be in coming up with de novo concepts, but applying successes from other fields to our own. 
