Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Clinical Trial Coordinator at UCLA Health
In a demanding healthcare career, the most significant lesson learned is the importance of self-care alongside professional dedication; finding "the type of balance" needed to avoid burnout and maintain passion, remembering that "you are important too," is key to long-term success and fulfillment.
Work-Life Balance, Healthcare, Clinical Research, Patient Care, Self-Care
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
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Traits
Cindy Tong
Sr. Clinical Trial Coordinator
UCLA Health, Hematology/Oncology
UCLA, 2017
UCLA FEMBA 2026
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Research and Development (R&D)
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for long-term career success and job satisfaction in healthcare, where a culture of self-sacrifice can lead to burnout.
2. Prioritizing self-care and personal well-being is essential to prevent burnout and maintain passion for the work.
3. Reflecting on the value and meaning of one's contribution to society and patients is an important aspect of finding fulfillment in a healthcare career.
Transcript
What's one lesson that you've learned that's proven significant in your career?
Working with the patients and clients I do, if you want to equate it to any other business sector in a cheesy, clichéd way, every movie says this. The most significant thing I've learned is that yes, a job is just a job, but your life is actually super valuable.
What I mean by that is the entire purpose of these types of videos I'm trying to convey to students like you, who are so excited about being an adult and exploring different career fields, is that there is so much excitement in trying to pick what you want to contribute to society. I wholeheartedly support all of you. It is an amazing feature to be ambitious, innovative, and curious.
However, I do think the only way I can even think about showing up to work another day is because I also value my own life. In healthcare, there tends to be a culture of sacrifice. We sacrifice birthday parties and going out with friends to study for tests. Then, once we study for those tests, there are so many gates we have to pass through to get where we want to.
Taking the time to be present and enjoy your life as is, knowing that if you're going to spend eight hours to make your 90% contribution to 91%, there has to be reflection on the type of balance you want to bring into your life. At some point, you not only burn out, but you also lose passion for what you originally wanted to do in this field.
A lot of people get lost along the way. It's not necessarily in a negative way, but it is difficult when your focus every single day is helping other people's lives that you kind of forget about yourself. I don't think this is spoken about a lot in traditional, capitalistic culture in America, but you are important too. Spending time with your hobbies and your families, and finding what you enjoy in your life, is very important to me.
That is one of my most treasured lessons in this industry. I love clinical research, science, innovation, and curiosity. But when you see enough patients who are bankers, consultants, doctors, physicians, surgeons, engineers, grandmas, moms, dads, and even children, you really do reflect on the type of contribution you want.
Just make sure it's worth it. If it is worth it to you, it's amazing, but you are also worth it. Balance, to me, is the key to success. Unfortunately, we're not AI yet; we can't run on 15 batteries in a row for 15 days with no breaks. It's nearly impossible for us.
Reminding ourselves of our humanity is the only way I can remember the humanity in the patients I work with.