ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Daniel Leon Bedney ’12

My trip to Zambia between my first and second years was one of my best medical school memories. It was a beautiful country with amazing people. Often, we focus on our differences when we travel, but in this trip, I saw all the similarities between myself and the people I was interacting with.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND HELPS YOU BUILD RESILIENCE OF LIFE/WORK BALANCE?

I schedule time for those things that give me energy and balance. My wife is a family physician too, and we have two boys. We are busy, but we schedule family time, date nights, vacations, and other important events to ensure we prioritize them.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?

My dad told me that every man puts on his pants the same way, one leg at a time. That small phrase humanizes everyone I interact with.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT TRANSITIONS IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW EARLIER?

You do not always know the right decision is correct, immediately. When I finished my fellowship, I prayed about what job I should take. I felt called to the Orlando area, but the job was not exactly what I wanted. Two years later, I was contacted to be a team physician for the G League team of the Orlando Magic. God simply put me in a position to achieve my dream, but I didn’t know that for two years.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU AND KEEP YOU GOING ON ROUGH DAYS?

Being clear on my calling. I have my personal mission statement in my phone and will remind myself why God put me on this earth.

WHAT IS A MOMENT IN YOUR PROFESSION WHEN A PERSON’S KINDNESS IMPACTED YOU AND HOW?

My wife, Lauren M. Bedney ’12, and I couples matched. While we were still dating, I offered that we separate for the match, not wanting to hold her back as I felt she was a stronger applicant. She thought that was silly and wanted to couples match. Her support is an anchoring force in my life.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PHYSICIANS?

“You know enough to take the next step.” I was told this by Leonard Werner—FAC at LLU when I didn’t do as well as I wanted on step 1. I was scared that I didn’t know enough to start third year. Anxiety was rising; however, with his words, my anxiety began to dissipate. In this profession, there is pressure to know it all, which is impossible; however, if at each moment of transition you realize that you know enough to take one more step, learn, and then take the next step, you will look back one day and have come a long way.