“I didn’t want to say it in front of your peers and make things tough for you, but I’m only here because of your research.”
My jaw dropped. Had I heard him right? I shook my head, blinking. Keith Richards basically just told me he sought me out because of my guitar solo. I could have died right then and there and been happy about it.
“Excuse me?”
“Where you took your grant. It was brilliant. Well, don’t get too cocky. It was brilliantfor a resident.”
Was this man trying to tease me? My hero. Teasingme? Here forme? I must be dreaming. And had my boss just called me cocky?
“We can do great things together, Dr. Ramirez. You are wrapping up year one of the trial, right?”
He saidtogether.I relaxed in my chair, realizing my earlier fears were unfounded. They had to be. I wrote them off as parasitic ideas deposited by one Dr. Keach.
Dr. Medina was here to mentor me.
“Yes. It’s a five-year grant.”
“I have a feeling it will be successful.”
“We won’t have statistically significant data until at least the conclusion of year three.”
“Yes, yes, I know. But I’m confident. You should be too.”
My heart swelled with pride. If my mother could be here now, she would be so happy. I refocused my attention before my eyes became watery at the thought. I couldn’t very well cry in the presence of my boss.
“I would like to propose that we write your follow-up grant together. Dr. Ramirez, what you are doing with this trial reminds me of why I got into medicine in the first place.”
“I’m honored, Doctor. I honestly don’t know what to say.”
“Say thank you. With my name as a co-investigator, you will get as much funding as you want. Once we get year three data, I want us to write a proposal for lifetime follow-up with the patients from this trial. We can design other trials as well if you’d like, but that’s the one I’m most interested in.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you.”
“That is all, Dr. Ramirez.” He opened his laptop, dismissing me as if he hadn’t just changed my life.
As I turned the knob to the door, he called after me. “Oh, before I forget, Dr. Ramirez, if anyone asks, just say I wanted to be brought up to speed with your trial.” He put his index finger to his mouth conspiratorially before saying, “Our little secret for now.”