In this comprehensive Q&A session, we speak with Dr. Jihad Mustapha, a seasoned Interventional Cardiologist who has built a successful career in medicine and founded the renowned Amputation Prevention Symposium. Having learned to overcome fear and uncertainty in his early days, Dr. Mustapha now confidently runs global clinical trials and shares his experiences, lessons, and tips with residents and fellows entering the medical field. Keep reading to learn how to overcome your insecurities in clinical practice, find mentors, handle "turf wars," and balance your personal life with your professional dedication.
Many residents and fellows leave training with a sense that they aren’t fully ready for clinical practice. Do you remember a time when you felt like you weren’t ready for “prime time”? How did you overcome this?
Just like everyone finishing any form of training, there’s always a moment when one feels uncertain. Clinical decisions are made based on the training experience, but it also helps to ask senior colleagues for additional information or suggestions to make the best possible decision. I don’t believe anyone ever leaves the training fully prepared to face every challenging medical condition. Only time allows us to improve and continue to practice medicine to the fullest. Even today, occasionally, there are things that I like to discuss with a colleague to get a second opinion on and enhance my certainty from maybe 90% to 99%.
Thinking about your early days after completing your fellowship, what types of tools or training do you wish you had to help build your clinical practice?
After finishing my training, my best tools were my confidence and self-reliance when addressing and dealing with complications. Everything else had to be built on as time went by. There are many tools and devices that have evolved and become available to us over the years. We had to adopt them into our practice and decide whether they benefit our specialty or subspecialty based on data experience outcomes and patient satisfaction. If I had the tools I have today in my early days after graduating, I would probably be more confused and unable to learn how to use all these tools effectively. Today, I feel comfortable and confident using almost all the tools I have because they were introduced over a number of years.
The point I’d like to make is that it would be great if fellows and residents received proper training if they were to use any of these tools. Otherwise, they run the risk of complications. To avoid this, we should integrate specialties and subspecialties training during the fellowships.
How would you recommend a fellow get involved with clinical trials and/or establish collaborative research with other specialists?
Fellows should be integrated into clinical trials just as much as Principal Investigators. One of my biggest challenges was learning everything required to conduct complicated research, advanced research, and clinical trials. I had to learn it very quickly, and now I am grateful that I feel confident and comfortable running global trials. I had to learn most of it on my own, and I wish I had been more involved in the behind-the-scene research analysis protocol, writing an implementation of protocols, etc. My advice for fellows is to get involved while still in their fellowship.
In this comprehensive Q&A session, we speak with Dr. Jihad Mustapha, a seasoned Interventional Cardiologist who has built a successful career in medicine and founded the renowned Amputation Prevention Symposium. Having learned to overcome fear and uncertainty in his early days, Dr. Mustapha now confidently runs global clinical trials and shares his experiences, lessons, and tips with residents and fellows entering the medical field. Keep reading to learn how to overcome your insecurities in clinical practice, find mentors, handle "turf wars," and balance your personal life with your professional dedication.
Many residents and fellows leave training with a sense that they aren’t fully ready for clinical practice. Do you remember a time when you felt like you weren’t ready for “prime time”? How did you overcome this?
Just like everyone finishing any form of training, there’s always a moment when one feels uncertain. Clinical decisions are made based on the training experience, but it also helps to ask senior colleagues for additional information or suggestions to make the best possible decision. I don’t believe anyone ever leaves the training fully prepared to face every challenging medical condition. Only time allows us to improve and continue to practice medicine to the fullest. Even today, occasionally, there are things that I like to discuss with a colleague to get a second opinion on and enhance my certainty from maybe 90% to 99%.
Thinking about your early days after completing your fellowship, what types of tools or training do you wish you had to help build your clinical practice?
After finishing my training, my best tools were my confidence and self-reliance when addressing and dealing with complications. Everything else had to be built on as time went by. There are many tools and devices that have evolved and become available to us over the years. We had to adopt them into our practice and decide whether they benefit our specialty or subspecialty based on data experience outcomes and patient satisfaction. If I had the tools I have today in my early days after graduating, I would probably be more confused and unable to learn how to use all these tools effectively. Today, I feel comfortable and confident using almost all the tools I have because they were introduced over a number of years.
The point I’d like to make is that it would be great if fellows and residents received proper training if they were to use any of these tools. Otherwise, they run the risk of complications. To avoid this, we should integrate specialties and subspecialties training during the fellowships.
How would you recommend a fellow get involved with clinical trials and/or establish collaborative research with other specialists?
Fellows should be integrated into clinical trials just as much as Principal Investigators. One of my biggest challenges was learning everything required to conduct complicated research, advanced research, and clinical trials. I had to learn it very quickly, and now I am grateful that I feel confident and comfortable running global trials. I had to learn most of it on my own, and I wish I had been more involved in the behind-the-scene research analysis protocol, writing an implementation of protocols, etc. My advice for fellows is to get involved while still in their fellowship.
In this comprehensive Q&A session, we speak with Dr. Jihad Mustapha, a seasoned Interventional Cardiologist who has built a successful career in medicine and founded the renowned Amputation Prevention Symposium. Having learned to overcome fear and uncertainty in his early days, Dr. Mustapha now confidently runs global clinical trials and shares his experiences, lessons, and tips with residents and fellows entering the medical field. Keep reading to learn how to overcome your insecurities in clinical practice, find mentors, handle "turf wars," and balance your personal life with your professional dedication.
Many residents and fellows leave training with a sense that they aren’t fully ready for clinical practice. Do you remember a time when you felt like you weren’t ready for “prime time”? How did you overcome this?
Just like everyone finishing any form of training, there’s always a moment when one feels uncertain. Clinical decisions are made based on the training experience, but it also helps to ask senior colleagues for additional information or suggestions to make the best possible decision. I don’t believe anyone ever leaves the training fully prepared to face every challenging medical condition. Only time allows us to improve and continue to practice medicine to the fullest. Even today, occasionally, there are things that I like to discuss with a colleague to get a second opinion on and enhance my certainty from maybe 90% to 99%.
Thinking about your early days after completing your fellowship, what types of tools or training do you wish you had to help build your clinical practice?
After finishing my training, my best tools were my confidence and self-reliance when addressing and dealing with complications. Everything else had to be built on as time went by. There are many tools and devices that have evolved and become available to us over the years. We had to adopt them into our practice and decide whether they benefit our specialty or subspecialty based on data experience outcomes and patient satisfaction. If I had the tools I have today in my early days after graduating, I would probably be more confused and unable to learn how to use all these tools effectively. Today, I feel comfortable and confident using almost all the tools I have because they were introduced over a number of years.
The point I’d like to make is that it would be great if fellows and residents received proper training if they were to use any of these tools. Otherwise, they run the risk of complications. To avoid this, we should integrate specialties and subspecialties training during the fellowships.
How would you recommend a fellow get involved with clinical trials and/or establish collaborative research with other specialists?
Fellows should be integrated into clinical trials just as much as Principal Investigators. One of my biggest challenges was learning everything required to conduct complicated research, advanced research, and clinical trials. I had to learn it very quickly, and now I am grateful that I feel confident and comfortable running global trials. I had to learn most of it on my own, and I wish I had been more involved in the behind-the-scene research analysis protocol, writing an implementation of protocols, etc. My advice for fellows is to get involved while still in their fellowship.
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Fun, Insightful Interviews with the
World's Brightest Physicians
Delivered straight to your inbox. Completely free. No spam.
Fun, Insightful Interviews with the
World's Brightest Physicians
Delivered straight to your inbox. Completely free. No spam.
Who were your biggest mentors throughout your medical training, and what key learning did you gain from them? How should residents and fellows go about finding (and keeping) a mentor?
My biggest mentors are Dr. Query, Dr. Glancy, and Dr. Levine. It was an honor and privilege to have worked with such amazing individuals. They taught me always to examine the patient and establish a diagnosis before ordering any tests. They emphasized that cardiovascular health isn’t about a pulse in the foot or a murmur in the heart; it’s a systemic vascular disease that requires a full-body examination and medical therapy. Placing a stent or performing bypass surgery doesn’t stop the progression of the disease. Medical therapy, lifestyle modification, and patient education were introduced into my career from day one of my fellowship.
You speak on the podium at many conferences and do a fair amount of physician training. What are some of the important skill sets needed to be an effective leader in these types of initiatives?
Being on the podium is critical for anyone who wishes to advance their field or deliver a message they’re passionate about. If I didn’t have those, I wouldn’t want to be on the podium. The skills needed to be an effective leader in this field are transparency, hard work, resilience, and, most importantly, not becoming complacent. Facing adversity is a challenge everyone must overcome, especially when discussing new therapeutic frontiers or challenging the status quo. Leadership and podium presentations allow you to express your new findings, which might be accepted by some and rejected by others, but if you believe in it and have enough scientific evidence behind it, you stand on a podium and send your message.
In terms of finding an ideal clinical practice to join, what 2-3 pieces would you give to fellows and residents? Any tips for how a fellow or resident can learn about the real “behind-the-scenes” of a practice they join?
I’m not sure if I can answer this in a way that can give a solid direction to someone who would like to join a group and have a satisfactory outcome because what goes behind the scenes will be different in every practice. Compromise is an important part of your career, and you should be willing to do it. Everybody has to take their turn; there is no perfect world or perfect practice. Just find the place you want to be in and an acceptable compromise for you, and take it from there. Time and the people around you will give you enough hints. Once you find that spot, go for it. This is precisely what I did.
So-called “turf wars” are inevitable in almost any workplace setting, including healthcare. How do you approach this challenge, and what’s your advice for graduating residents and fellows?
Turf wars are becoming extremely despicable, and it is embarrassing to see what professionals are doing to each other. I have been on the receiving end many times. Although it hasn’t affected my career or my license, it breaks my heart that physicians go the extra mile to hurt another physician to the point of trying to take their license away or ruin their reputation. If it hadn’t happened to me, I would have never believed it existed. As healthcare providers, we should all have the same goal of working with, not against, each other. My advice is, if it ever happens to you one day, never give up or never give in. You can call me too, and I’ll help you. And for those of you that have been doing this to other physicians, remember, it can happen to you as well.
When it comes to personal finance, what do you wish you knew coming out of your fellowship?
Personal finance is never a priority for physicians when they first get their fellowships training. We all want to give our best to help our patients, make a difference, and improve the quality of life for others. Throughout my entire career, I’ve always tried to change, slow down, and work less to focus on myself, my financial status, and my family. It’s just ingrained in us to be dedicated to our patients, our careers, and the passion that runs through our blood. Therefore, we always put ourselves last. For what it’s worth, I couldn’t follow this advice when I got my fellowship. Maybe you can compromise; give your patients the best and focus on your finances, yourself, and your family at the same time.
Which mobile app are you addicted to — personally and professionally?
If you could reach every single resident or fellow with one message, what would it be?
Never say anything negative or condescending about another doctor; always take the high road and stay focused on what’s important, which is the patients and patient care.
Do you have any conferences, symposia, or other resources that you’re trying to raise awareness for?
Conferences like the Amputation Prevention Symposium, which I founded myself and continue to run in the United States and Europe, empower physicians to learn about real-world medicine for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limit schema (CLI). It’s a meeting where great minds come together and speak their minds, regardless of what others might think. We go into the conference knowing that we’ll have great discussions with our friends and colleagues, and nothing is personal.
This multidisciplinary meeting includes all specialties. Apart from this, all other meetings are excellent; just look for what you are the most passionate about, and you’ll find it in one of those meetings. While I can’t specifically recommend any of these meetings, I can speak about the Amputation Prevention Symposium since it’s a conference I have founded, and yes, I am biased for a very good reason — I make sure I am always up to date with the latest data.
Where’s the best place fellows and residents can connect with you online?
I always make myself available online via LinkedIn and my personal e-mail and mobile phone. Texting me directly, mailing me, or sending me a message on LinkedIn is the best place to start. I enjoy building new relationships with up-and-coming fellows from various specialties, as well as new graduates from fellowships. I look forward to hearing from anyone interested and PAD and CLI, regardless of their specialty. To pursue these two elements with a passion, you must undergo additional training in complex PAD therapy and CLI therapy. I look forward to hearing from those interested in advancing their careers in complex PAD and CLI.
Who were your biggest mentors throughout your medical training, and what key learning did you gain from them? How should residents and fellows go about finding (and keeping) a mentor?
My biggest mentors are Dr. Query, Dr. Glancy, and Dr. Levine. It was an honor and privilege to have worked with such amazing individuals. They taught me always to examine the patient and establish a diagnosis before ordering any tests. They emphasized that cardiovascular health isn’t about a pulse in the foot or a murmur in the heart; it’s a systemic vascular disease that requires a full-body examination and medical therapy. Placing a stent or performing bypass surgery doesn’t stop the progression of the disease. Medical therapy, lifestyle modification, and patient education were introduced into my career from day one of my fellowship.
You speak on the podium at many conferences and do a fair amount of physician training. What are some of the important skill sets needed to be an effective leader in these types of initiatives?
Being on the podium is critical for anyone who wishes to advance their field or deliver a message they’re passionate about. If I didn’t have those, I wouldn’t want to be on the podium. The skills needed to be an effective leader in this field are transparency, hard work, resilience, and, most importantly, not becoming complacent. Facing adversity is a challenge everyone must overcome, especially when discussing new therapeutic frontiers or challenging the status quo. Leadership and podium presentations allow you to express your new findings, which might be accepted by some and rejected by others, but if you believe in it and have enough scientific evidence behind it, you stand on a podium and send your message.
In terms of finding an ideal clinical practice to join, what 2-3 pieces would you give to fellows and residents? Any tips for how a fellow or resident can learn about the real “behind-the-scenes” of a practice they join?
I’m not sure if I can answer this in a way that can give a solid direction to someone who would like to join a group and have a satisfactory outcome because what goes behind the scenes will be different in every practice. Compromise is an important part of your career, and you should be willing to do it. Everybody has to take their turn; there is no perfect world or perfect practice. Just find the place you want to be in and an acceptable compromise for you, and take it from there. Time and the people around you will give you enough hints. Once you find that spot, go for it. This is precisely what I did.
So-called “turf wars” are inevitable in almost any workplace setting, including healthcare. How do you approach this challenge, and what’s your advice for graduating residents and fellows?
Turf wars are becoming extremely despicable, and it is embarrassing to see what professionals are doing to each other. I have been on the receiving end many times. Although it hasn’t affected my career or my license, it breaks my heart that physicians go the extra mile to hurt another physician to the point of trying to take their license away or ruin their reputation. If it hadn’t happened to me, I would have never believed it existed. As healthcare providers, we should all have the same goal of working with, not against, each other. My advice is, if it ever happens to you one day, never give up or never give in. You can call me too, and I’ll help you. And for those of you that have been doing this to other physicians, remember, it can happen to you as well.
When it comes to personal finance, what do you wish you knew coming out of your fellowship?
Personal finance is never a priority for physicians when they first get their fellowships training. We all want to give our best to help our patients, make a difference, and improve the quality of life for others. Throughout my entire career, I’ve always tried to change, slow down, and work less to focus on myself, my financial status, and my family. It’s just ingrained in us to be dedicated to our patients, our careers, and the passion that runs through our blood. Therefore, we always put ourselves last. For what it’s worth, I couldn’t follow this advice when I got my fellowship. Maybe you can compromise; give your patients the best and focus on your finances, yourself, and your family at the same time.
Which mobile app are you addicted to — personally and professionally?
If you could reach every single resident or fellow with one message, what would it be?
Never say anything negative or condescending about another doctor; always take the high road and stay focused on what’s important, which is the patients and patient care.
Do you have any conferences, symposia, or other resources that you’re trying to raise awareness for?
Conferences like the Amputation Prevention Symposium, which I founded myself and continue to run in the United States and Europe, empower physicians to learn about real-world medicine for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limit schema (CLI). It’s a meeting where great minds come together and speak their minds, regardless of what others might think. We go into the conference knowing that we’ll have great discussions with our friends and colleagues, and nothing is personal.
This multidisciplinary meeting includes all specialties. Apart from this, all other meetings are excellent; just look for what you are the most passionate about, and you’ll find it in one of those meetings. While I can’t specifically recommend any of these meetings, I can speak about the Amputation Prevention Symposium since it’s a conference I have founded, and yes, I am biased for a very good reason — I make sure I am always up to date with the latest data.
Where’s the best place fellows and residents can connect with you online?
I always make myself available online via LinkedIn and my personal e-mail and mobile phone. Texting me directly, mailing me, or sending me a message on LinkedIn is the best place to start. I enjoy building new relationships with up-and-coming fellows from various specialties, as well as new graduates from fellowships. I look forward to hearing from anyone interested and PAD and CLI, regardless of their specialty. To pursue these two elements with a passion, you must undergo additional training in complex PAD therapy and CLI therapy. I look forward to hearing from those interested in advancing their careers in complex PAD and CLI.
Who were your biggest mentors throughout your medical training, and what key learning did you gain from them? How should residents and fellows go about finding (and keeping) a mentor?
My biggest mentors are Dr. Query, Dr. Glancy, and Dr. Levine. It was an honor and privilege to have worked with such amazing individuals. They taught me always to examine the patient and establish a diagnosis before ordering any tests. They emphasized that cardiovascular health isn’t about a pulse in the foot or a murmur in the heart; it’s a systemic vascular disease that requires a full-body examination and medical therapy. Placing a stent or performing bypass surgery doesn’t stop the progression of the disease. Medical therapy, lifestyle modification, and patient education were introduced into my career from day one of my fellowship.
You speak on the podium at many conferences and do a fair amount of physician training. What are some of the important skill sets needed to be an effective leader in these types of initiatives?
Being on the podium is critical for anyone who wishes to advance their field or deliver a message they’re passionate about. If I didn’t have those, I wouldn’t want to be on the podium. The skills needed to be an effective leader in this field are transparency, hard work, resilience, and, most importantly, not becoming complacent. Facing adversity is a challenge everyone must overcome, especially when discussing new therapeutic frontiers or challenging the status quo. Leadership and podium presentations allow you to express your new findings, which might be accepted by some and rejected by others, but if you believe in it and have enough scientific evidence behind it, you stand on a podium and send your message.
In terms of finding an ideal clinical practice to join, what 2-3 pieces would you give to fellows and residents? Any tips for how a fellow or resident can learn about the real “behind-the-scenes” of a practice they join?
I’m not sure if I can answer this in a way that can give a solid direction to someone who would like to join a group and have a satisfactory outcome because what goes behind the scenes will be different in every practice. Compromise is an important part of your career, and you should be willing to do it. Everybody has to take their turn; there is no perfect world or perfect practice. Just find the place you want to be in and an acceptable compromise for you, and take it from there. Time and the people around you will give you enough hints. Once you find that spot, go for it. This is precisely what I did.
So-called “turf wars” are inevitable in almost any workplace setting, including healthcare. How do you approach this challenge, and what’s your advice for graduating residents and fellows?
Turf wars are becoming extremely despicable, and it is embarrassing to see what professionals are doing to each other. I have been on the receiving end many times. Although it hasn’t affected my career or my license, it breaks my heart that physicians go the extra mile to hurt another physician to the point of trying to take their license away or ruin their reputation. If it hadn’t happened to me, I would have never believed it existed. As healthcare providers, we should all have the same goal of working with, not against, each other. My advice is, if it ever happens to you one day, never give up or never give in. You can call me too, and I’ll help you. And for those of you that have been doing this to other physicians, remember, it can happen to you as well.
When it comes to personal finance, what do you wish you knew coming out of your fellowship?
Personal finance is never a priority for physicians when they first get their fellowships training. We all want to give our best to help our patients, make a difference, and improve the quality of life for others. Throughout my entire career, I’ve always tried to change, slow down, and work less to focus on myself, my financial status, and my family. It’s just ingrained in us to be dedicated to our patients, our careers, and the passion that runs through our blood. Therefore, we always put ourselves last. For what it’s worth, I couldn’t follow this advice when I got my fellowship. Maybe you can compromise; give your patients the best and focus on your finances, yourself, and your family at the same time.
Which mobile app are you addicted to — personally and professionally?
If you could reach every single resident or fellow with one message, what would it be?
Never say anything negative or condescending about another doctor; always take the high road and stay focused on what’s important, which is the patients and patient care.
Do you have any conferences, symposia, or other resources that you’re trying to raise awareness for?
Conferences like the Amputation Prevention Symposium, which I founded myself and continue to run in the United States and Europe, empower physicians to learn about real-world medicine for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limit schema (CLI). It’s a meeting where great minds come together and speak their minds, regardless of what others might think. We go into the conference knowing that we’ll have great discussions with our friends and colleagues, and nothing is personal.
This multidisciplinary meeting includes all specialties. Apart from this, all other meetings are excellent; just look for what you are the most passionate about, and you’ll find it in one of those meetings. While I can’t specifically recommend any of these meetings, I can speak about the Amputation Prevention Symposium since it’s a conference I have founded, and yes, I am biased for a very good reason — I make sure I am always up to date with the latest data.
Where’s the best place fellows and residents can connect with you online?
I always make myself available online via LinkedIn and my personal e-mail and mobile phone. Texting me directly, mailing me, or sending me a message on LinkedIn is the best place to start. I enjoy building new relationships with up-and-coming fellows from various specialties, as well as new graduates from fellowships. I look forward to hearing from anyone interested and PAD and CLI, regardless of their specialty. To pursue these two elements with a passion, you must undergo additional training in complex PAD therapy and CLI therapy. I look forward to hearing from those interested in advancing their careers in complex PAD and CLI.
