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Sven Peter Oman, MD

— OCCUPATION —
Hospitalist, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

— MEDICAL SCHOOL —
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

— INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY —
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL

— INTERNAL MEDICINE CHIEF RESIDENCY —
Naples Community Hospital, Naples, FL

— MEDICAL SIMULATION FELLOWSHIP —
Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
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What is your current position?

I am a hospitalist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I have worked in this position for 4 years.

Where did you attend medical school and post grad training?

I went to the University of South Florida and was in the first class of the SELECT program (Scholarly Excellence. Leadership Experiences. Collaborative Training.). This program focused on leadership training and scholarly projects. Mindfulness was also a part of the program, and we were encouraged to reflect on and journal our experiences.

My residency was at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Jacksonville, Florida. I also completed a chief residency at Naples Community Hospital in Naples, Florida, and a medical simulation fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

Why did you choose to become a physician?

I had a few role models in my family who inspired me to pursue this career. My Mom is a gastroenterologist, and my father is a clinical psychologist. I felt proud of their roles in the community when my classmates or friends would ask me what they did. My great grandfather also practiced ophthalmology, and my Mom always spoke highly of him and his philanthropical work.

I also enjoyed my science classes in middle and high school. My first “A” was in biology, and I am still really proud of that! I am inquisitive, love to learn (one of my favorite books was The Way Things Work), and am detail oriented. These attributes pointed me in the direction of a medical career.

What field of internal medicine did you select and why?

I am a hospitalist, and I got involved in this field because it offers a lot of variety, including patient care and opportunities to teach, conduct research, and perform administrative tasks. There are many opportunities to do this since I am part of a large group in a teaching hospital. One of my goals is to use my background in simulation to instruct medical students and residents and conduct research. I learn a lot in hospital medicine, and it keeps me on my toes. It offers a good patient mix between high-acuity, bordering on ICU-level, care and more routine, stable medical problems. You do get to see your hard work pay off when patients recover. I also like this field because it offers the ability to travel and explore the world!

Please describe a typical day in your practice.

The Forrest Gump quote comes to mind: “…Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.” Hospital medicine is highly unpredictable, so I never quite know what I will see that day. That being said, my routine is to chart review patients in the morning and enjoy my coffee; then I round on patients and discuss their care and plan with allied health—particularly case management with whom we work closely. Next, I carry out the plan for the day with orders, consults, phone calls, and complete clerical work/documentation. In the afternoon, I see new patients with our nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The day is generally busy and sometimes hectic.

What are some of your special interests professionally?

My interest is in medical simulation. I have used it to teach medical students and residents and conduct research. During the pandemic, I worked closely with my research team using simulation to develop and test drape designs to mitigate the aerosolization of COVID-19 particles during intubation. My next goal is to use virtual reality to improve patient safety.

I am also interested in integrative and lifestyle medicine. I tend to practice many of the tenets of these fields on my own as I am quite active and interested in a healthy lifestyle. I think I would be a good role model for patients interested in learning more about these fields.

What are your interests and hobbies outside of medicine?

I enjoy running and am planning to run my first marathon later this year. I participate in a local running club and attend road races from 5K to half marathons. I also play tennis—I started playing regularly during the pandemic, and I am learning a lot about the game by watching the slams and YouTube videos, taking lessons, participating in clinics, and playing matches. The game requires mental focus, strategy, and in-match adjustments, which is something I am learning to do and find interesting.

My interests also include travel, adventure, and history. This year, I went to Peru and hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I learned about the history of Peru, the people, culture, art, languages, food, and so forth. I absolutely loved this trip. I also went skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and did a snowmobile trek through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. As I mentioned, hospital medicine does allow for regular travel, which is great.

What advice would you like to share with medical students or what do you wish someone would have told you while you were in medical school?

It is hard to understand what a career in medicine is like until you experience it firsthand. That said, I would recommend following your passion. The next thing would be to think carefully about what kind of lifestyle you want as certain fields cater toward certain types of lifestyles. For instance, some fields have routine hours during weekdays that may or may not involve call; meanwhile, others have erratic schedules and long hours or require work on the weekends and holidays. Third, maintain your outside interests, when possible, because medicine is a difficult career, and you need things there to counterbalance it.

Which living person do you most admire?

I admire my parents. They modeled a healthy lifestyle and encouraged my participation in athletics. They supported me in pursuing my passions. They let me explore, and I never felt pressured into anything.

Which talent would you most like to have?

My trip to Peru inspired a desire to become fluent in Spanish. I took Spanish in high school, so I did have some background in the language. In my time off, I use a language-learning program called Babbel to take classes.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I am learning to slow down. Hospital medicine is a fast-paced field and requires attention to many tasks. Nevertheless, I am learning the importance of taking breaks. Earlier this year, I listened to a webinar by Jay Shetty who recommended three W's: walk, (drink) water, and window (that is, look out one or get outside). There are moments to do this as it only takes a few minutes, and I find it does help with focus when I return to work.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement was graduating from residency. There were long days and tough rotations. I had moments when I questioned my ability and place in medicine. I was fortunate to have my family and mentors who guided me along the way. That is important in any challenge. I grew a lot from the experience.

Back to the September 2024 issue of ACP IMpact

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