WHEN I GROW UP
I Want to Be an ER Physician:
Austin Harllee interviews Dosher Hospital Emergency Room Physician Joe Pat Hatem, MD
By: Emily Rea
Austin Harllee is a special 9-year-old who truly has a heart for helping others. He is in the fourth grade at Bolivia Elementary School, in Ms. Turner’s class, and he has two brothers: Bryson, 14, and Cameron, 15. Along with his favorite activities, such as soccer, Cub Scouts, reading, riding his bike and roller blading, Austin’s biggest dream is to become an emergency-room doctor one day.
“He likes to fix his brothers when they are hurt,” mom Elizabeth reveals. “He wants to learn how to do surgery and likes helping people when they are hurt.”
His dreams are perhaps inspired by his mom, who has worked as an administrative assistant in administration at Dosher Memorial Hospital for 10 years.
Austin says, “People that are hurt, sick or have a bad disease will need my help. I will always help people no matter how long it takes.”
Putting his dreams to practice, once Austin and his father had to aspirate blood from their sick dog’s ear with a needle. Austin’s dad, Bryant, reports, “He had no problem sticking the dog and removing the blood.”
Austin decided to interview Dr. Joe Pat Hatem of Dosher Memorial, a well-respected ER Physician who has served the community for nearly 20 years.
Austin visited the ER and sat down with Dr. Hatem for the following interview.
Austin Harllee: What is your favorite part about being an ER doctor?
Joe Hatem: Helping other people, and getting to meet new people each and every day I work.
AH: How many years of college did you have to go through to get this job?
JH: I did four undergraduate years and four medical-school years.
AH: What college did you go to?
JH: I went to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and UNC-Chapel Hill for medical school.
AH: What is your favorite type of case?
JH: I’d have to say children are my favorite people [to treat]. They are so vulnerable, and I really enjoy making them feel better.
AH: What inspired you to be an ER doctor?
JH: My grandfather always wanted me to be a doctor.
AH: Do you have to work a lot?
JH: We work shifts here at Dosher. I do about 10 shifts per month for 12 hours each shift. It may not seem like a lot of shifts per month, but they are a hard 12 hours.
AH: What’s the best part of being an ER doctor?
JH: The fact that I get to help people when they are at their worst. There is always something you can do to make them feel better.
AH: Did someone or something inspire you to be an ER doctor?
JH: I did my resident work at New Hanover, and we were asked to help Dosher with fill-in ER physicians. I liked it here, and that’s how I got started.
AH: Do people stop you in the street and ask for help?
JH: Yes, all the time, or they call me at home. I don’t mind helping a friend.
AH: Do you work anywhere else now?
JH: No, just here at Dosher.
AH: Have you helped anyone famous?
JH: Well, yes, I meet Mr. Anthony Duke this summer. He is related to the founder of Duke University and is 90 years old. He was visiting Bald Head Island, and I met some of his family while he was here. He called me one day and asked if I could remove some stitches he had. I enjoyed meeting him because he is also a World War II veteran.
AH: Have you helped your friends?
JH: Yes; one of the best parts of being a doctor is helping my friends. My neighbor called me one day with an allergic reaction from a bug sting, and I was able to make a house call to help her.
AH: What can I do to be an ER doctor?
JH: Listen to your mom and dad. They will help guide you through your life. Enjoy school, get good grades, and have a curious mind. Stay fit and active because this is a hard job. Go to college, and prepare for your pre-med coursework, and apply for medical school. You need to have a passion for it.
AH: What would you want everyone to know about [the ER]?
JH: That in the ER, we have to serve the most critically ill patients first and patients that are not [as] sick have to wait. That is just part of the process. We are here to see everyone.
AH: Do you think I could be an ER doctor?
JH: Absolutely! The fact that you are already interested is a good thing, and you should definitely follow your dreams, whether it’s being a pilot, a teacher or an ER doctor. You need to do your best. It’s a hard field.