In this powerful episode of Empowering Oncologists, Dr. Jasmine Kamboj connects with Dr. Vincent Rajkumar, one of the most influential experts in hematology and multiple myeloma. Â From his humble beginnings in India to becoming an endowed professor at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Rajkumar shares his journey, his groundbreaking breakthroughs in myeloma research, and the life-changing lessons he’s learned along the way.Â
 Get ready to hear about:
- Â The untold story of how he made multiple myeloma treatments revolutionary!
-  The secret to finding your calling in medicine (even if you don’t know what you want at first).
-  Why mentorship is EVERYTHING – and how it shapes your career (you won’t believe the impact a good mentor can have!).
-  Why we NEED to embrace luck and being at the right place at the right time. (It’s not all about hard work!)
- The future of myeloma research and what comes next!
00:00 Introduction
02:35 How Dr. Rajkumar knew he wanted to pursue hematology
03:55 Mentorship and its influence on Dr. Rajkumar’s career
06:02 Dr. Rajkumar’s journey at Mayo Clinic
06:15 How Dr. Rajkumar transitioned into his role at Mayo
08:29 Dr. Rajkumar’s involvement in bringing thalidomide back into myeloma treatment
09:20 The shift from myeloma to brain tumor research
12:30 Dr. Rajkumar’s advice for fellows considering hematology
13:00 The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG)
13:03 Dr. Rajkumar’s leadership role in IMWG
16:23 The alignment of guidelines between Mayo, UpToDate, and IMWG
16:52 Dr. Rajkumar’s use of social media for academic networking
20:51 Advice Dr. Rajkumar would give to himself 10 years ago
22:36 Reflections on being patient and focused in career development
24:26 Favorite non-hematologic cancer trial
25:39 Key takeaways from a cardiology trial that influenced Dr. Rajkumar’s perspective
29:31 The Myeloma Group’s annual jam sessions
30:41 Final thoughts: Would Dr. Rajkumar choose the same career path again?
31:06 The importance of mentorship in shaping careers
32:03 Treat every day like your first day at work