Matthew S. McKinney, MD, emphasizes the importance of mentorship and focus for new faculty and investigators, and stresses the value of building strong networks at local, regional, and national levels to guide clinical and research development.
He encourages identifying specific areas of passion within the field — such as cell therapies, precision medicine, or health disparities — and dedicating time to skill-building through formal or informal training programs. Dr McKinney underscores that mentorship, institutional support, and protected time are critical for success in the early stages of a career.
