Nancy Reau, MD

Professor  
Department of Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College
The Richard B. Capps Chair of Hepatology
Section Chief, Hepatology
Associate Director of Organ Transplantation
Role: Clinician
Joined Rush in 2015

Bio

My credentials include a BA in neuroscience from Oberlin College, an MD from Ohio State University (OSU), an internal medicine residency and a GI fellowship from OSU, and a liver yransplant Fellowship from Johns Hopkins University. I have served as an assistant professor at Rush University and as an associate professor at the University of Chicago, and I am currently a professor of medicine at Rush University.

What inspired you to get into your field?

I bounced around quite a bit before finding my groove, and it was only through a fortuitous accident that I discovered my profound love for hepatology. One of my first mentors taught me to fall in love with the mundane and not just the zebra, and I try to live by this solid advice.

What excited you about your work at Rush?

Rush is an environment of opportunity, and it works hard to support the success of everyone with a vision.

What is your opinion of mentoring and sponsorship? Please comment about your experiences.

Mentoring is the key to success. Without a compass to help direct your professional development, it is easy to find yourself making decisions that address your immediate needs but compromise your long term goals and ambitions. Mentors need not be gender-specific, and should always place their mentees’ interests above their own. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had several colleagues that have helped direct my career, and the most influential remain close friends of mine and have been directly responsible for my success.

Do you have tips or advice you would recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone. My field is rapidly evolving, and a clinician has to be willing and able to grow with his or her field.

What are your hobbies? How do you like to spend your free time?

I have three children. Driving them to sporting events and school activities is my only hobby.