Brenton L. Black, MD
General Internal Medicine Physician
Emory Clinic Downtown Decatur, GA
— MEDICAL SCHOOL & INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY —
Emory University School of Medicine
What is your current position?
I am a general internal medicine physician with the Emory Clinic at the Downtown Decatur Clinic location in Decatur, GA.
Where did you attend medical school and post grad training?
I attended Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, for both medical school and internal medicine residency.
Why did you choose to become a physician?
I chose to become a physician as I wanted to positively impact people's lives. Being a physician allowed me to combine my science background with bedside or clinic applications.
What field of internal medicine did you select and why?
I chose to become a general internal medicine physician in an academic setting. Growing up in rural south Georgia, I appreciated how important generalists were to that community. They were vital to the health and well-being of myself and my neighbors. Staying in an academic setting allows me to treat patients while intermittently precepting medical students.
Please describe a typical day in your practice.
I start seeing clinic patients at 8 a.m., and I typically see them every 20 to 40 minutes until about 4:30 p.m. I then answer patients' messages and clinic calls or write lab letters for another 90 minutes. The use of AI has helped dramatically with generating notes.
What are some of your special interests professionally?
My special interest is Klinefelter syndrome and other sex chromosome aneuploidies. My son, Matthew, was diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome prenatally. After his diagnosis, I learned all that I could, so I could help him and other patients who have this syndrome. It has been challenging but rewarding work.
What are your interests and hobbies outside of medicine?
I love running even though I am slow. I have done several half marathons and plan to do another one this fall. I also enjoy reading especially books about history. I feel that history books show commonalities about people across time.
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?
I advise trying to get more education and advice regarding the business of medicine. While I wish it was not important, it is. I finished training and had to learn a lot of coding and billing on the job. Knowing more about both subjects would have made the transition to an attending easier.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish that I could play any instrument well. I tried playing the piano, but I was not very good. I think it would be so cool to play some of my favorite songs well.
Who is your hero of fiction?
My favorite character in all of fiction is Gus McCrae from the novel Lonesome Dove. The novel is one of my favorites. Gus is ornery and often drunk, but he is brave, emotionally open, and funny; he almost always does the right thing in relation to the people around him. I wish that I were as brave as Gus.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I identify with historical figures who almost unexpectedly rose to the occasion. One of these figures is Ulysses S. Grant. Earlier in his life, no one would have expected him to be the winning general of the Civil War or a president. He brought reconciliation to the nation and tried to bring more civil rights to African Americans.
What is your motto?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I don't ever live completely up to it, but that is the goal every day.
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