Cynthia Diane Brown, MD
Professor of Clinical Medicine, Director of Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program
Vice Chair for Faculty Development (Internal Medicine)
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Occupational Medicine
Indiana University
1. Three statements about you – two true, one false.
a) I enjoy cross-stitching, and I create patterns from photos. My family gave me a sticker that says, “I have the patience to stab things thousands of times.”
b) I am the “mom” to two munchkin cats that have short legs and big personalities.
c) My favorite vacation involved dog sledding and Northern Lights in Alaska with my husband. We left the kids at home.
2. Give us your ‘elevator pitch’ biography.
I started my career in pulmonary and critical care anticipating that I would be a traditional NIH-funded clinician-scientist. My research focus in fellowship was in understanding the pathophysiology and consequences of impaired sleep in individuals with COPD. My career started great. I completed a master’s degree in clinical research. I had an ALA award, an ATS Award, and even was awarded a K23, but I was unhappy and unfulfilled. I was offered the opportunity to lead the Adult CF program at University of Virginia in 2011. So I actually decided to return the remainder of my K award, and I thought my career as a researcher was essentially over at that point. Instead, I found my calling. Initially, it was the reward of working with a highly engaged and complex patient group within the construct of a specialized cohesive multidisciplinary team that was exciting for me. I always say that I found my “home” in CF and once that happened, I think the research questions came organically. I have been involved in numerous clinical trials over the years, and now have developed a research niche studying de-escalation of therapy in individuals benefiting from the CF modulator therapies.
3. What would you tell yourself as an early career professional?
Don’t be afraid to make changes if you are unhappy. Be willing to blow it all up and start over if you are not loving what you do every day because a career happens over decades.
4. If you weren’t in medicine, and were in a different industry altogether, what would you be?
In my dream non-medicine career, I’d be a photojournalist for National Geographic, but since I have zero skills in that area, it will have to remain a dream. In reality, I probably would have engaged in a social science career of some sort.
5. What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
My favorite way to spend time off is in nature. Hiking is great, but I will also take a lazy day on Lake Michigan with a good book and a campfire.
6. What areas of medicine are you most excited to see develop?
I’m excited to see how artificial intelligence could be used as a tool to make our daily lives better.
7. What is one advancement in your field you’d like to see in your career?
I am certain that we will see genetic therapies offer a cure for cystic fibrosis in my lifetime. We’ve made life with CF so much better with modulators but a genetic cure is the dream.
8. Which statement (in question #1) was false?
C is the lie but that trip is on my bucket list!