This piece launches a new series in which former Synapse editors-in-chief look back on experiences, priorities and decisions that shaped their time leading the paper.
I recall my time as Editor-in-Chief at Synapse as a major highlight of my first two years of medical school (1979-1981). At that time, the UCSF School of Medicine curriculum consisted primarily of all day lectures on basic sciences, and then clinical sciences.
There was very little integration with clinical care and it was hard to see the connections between what we were being taught and our future as physicians.
Working at Synapse connected me to health policy and public health, bringing out the realities of how my medical education could impact people and populations. I was able to write articles to explore my interests in these areas and recruit my fellow students to contribute articles as well.
In addition to opening my eyes to a broader perspective of health care, the experience of working as a team to put out the paper was a delight. At the time Andy Evangelista was the managing editor and Charles Piller was the staff reporter. They were key to making Synapse a functional, interesting and consistent source of information.
Working at Synapse was a formative experience for me, and I went on to a career in academic Family Medicine, focused on evidence-based medicine, public health, and health policy.
