Chapter 06: Guidance for Future Clinicians and Researchers

Authors

• Carin Hagberg M.D., FASA, FACHE, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Jose Javier Garza, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Files

Description

Dr. Hagberg describes the best advice she has received: say yes to opportunities but know your values. No matter what opportunities arise, principles and priorities help make decisions clearer.

For junior faculty, she offers three pieces of advice: 1) it is important to build credibility before visibility; 2) seek mentors, coaches, or sponsors; and 3) protect your integrity, as an asset that you have for your entire career.

Discussing her accomplishments, she indicates that she is proud of building programs and spaces that help people succeed. Specifically, she highlights faculty career communities, promotion processes, career development pathways, and expansion of the Advanced Scholars Program. She also mentions the faculty collaborative space in the Pickens Academic Tower as a space for fostering community across the institution. As a clinician and administrator, she also mentions leading the Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Management during the COVID-19 pandemic as a career accomplishment.

Dr. Hagberg concludes the interview with the following sentiment: “Institutions don’t endure because of buildings or organizational charts. They endure because they invest in people—their development, their well-being, and their potential.” By focusing on people, the institution’s mission will move forward.

Identifier

HagbergC_20260224_C06

Publication Date

2-24-2026

Interview Session

Carin Hagberg MD, FASA Oral History Interview, February 24, 2026

Topic Covered

Character, Values, Beliefs, Talents; The Educator; The Mentor; MD Anderson Culture; This is MD Anderson; Building/Transforming the Institution; Faith, Values, Beliefs

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Disciplines

History of Science, Technology, and Medicine | Oncology | Oral History

Transcript

Jose Javier Garza

Yeah, so with the time we have left for the interview, there’s just a few more questions that I have. So, what would be the best piece of advice you received that has impacted your career? And what advice would you give to junior faculty?

Carin A. Hagberg, M.D., FASA, FACHE

Ah, the best advice I ever received was very simple: Say yes to opportunities but know your values. You know, early in my career, I was encouraged to stretch, to step into roles. That felt slightly uncomfortable, to say yes before I was completely ready. I actually wasn’t anticipating becoming a chair, or I wasn’t even thinking about becoming a division head. I thought I was actually going to retire at UTHealth, but that advice to me opened doors that I might not have walked through otherwise, so—but equally important is the second part: Know your values. Opportunities are gonna come, but not all of them are going to align with who you are or the impact you want to have. If you’re clear about your principles, your priorities, and your purpose, decision-making becomes much easier. For junior faculty, I would offer—okay, I’m gonna do it again. I’m gonna do three. So, first, I think it’s very important to build credibility before visibility, right? You have to be credible. Focus on being excellent in your craft. Deliver consistently. You know, once you achieve a reputation, it sticks, and your reputation does compound over time.

Secondly, I would say seek mentors, coaches, and even sponsors. It truly takes a village. No one succeeds alone. And I always say this—you know—asking for guidance is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of maturity and strength. Ask for help. Don’t be shy. And then, third, protect your integrity. Your skills will evolve; your titles will change, but your integrity is the one asset you carry throughout your entire career. So, if you say yes thoughtfully, stay grounded in your values and surround yourself with wise counsel—have many. Your career will unfold in just meaningful ways.

Jose Javier Garza

Wow! So, with that, how do you balance all of your administrative, clinical, and educational responsibilities?

Carin A. Hagberg, M.D., FASA, FACHE

Oh, my gosh, did you have to ask me this one? Okay, well, I’ll be honest. It’s always a work in progress. I’ve come to think less about balance and more about alignment. I think there are seasons in life when certain responsibilities demand more attention. In my younger years, in my early career, I was the mom of three young children, right, so working mom. That had responsibilities, as well as my work. And I didn’t take on—you know—that book that now I have, the Hagberg and Benumof’s Airway Management, when they asked me to write a chapter in the first iteration of that book, the first edition, Benumof’s Airway Management, I said no. I was already writing a book chapter. And I was—I just had had a baby. So I wasn’t going to take on more, but I think the key for me is really making sure that what I’m investing my time in aligns with the mission and with my values. So, when decisions compete, which they always will, I make prioritization of the mission, the people, and sustainability.

You know, does this advance our purpose? Does it support the people around me? Is it sustainable over time? And that framework really helps me say yes and sometimes say no. And I also—someone always said this to me, too—they didn’t always say it to me. They said it to me once. If you’re saying yes to something, you’re saying no to something else. You just don’t realize what it is. And that stuck with me. And it’s true. So I also try to be very intentional about protecting what matters mostly outside—my work, my family, my friends, even my pets are incredibly important to me. And, Javier, they really do help provide perspective, grounding and joy. Without them, none of the professional accomplishments would mean very much. I wouldn’t describe it as a perfect balance. I try to find balance in my work. And even research shows that if you can get twenty percent of what you do in your work in your joy bucket, the stuff you really like to do, if you can get that twenty percent, then you’re going to get balance in your work. So, I think it’s more about thoughtful alignment, clear priorities, and remembering that leadership is a marathon, not a sprint.

Jose Javier Garza

Wow! Well, thank you. So far, what would you consider your biggest accomplishment?

Carin A. Hagberg, M.D., FASA, FACHE

(laughs) That’s always a very difficult question because no accomplishment is ever individual, is it, right? The work that matters most is always done in partnership with others. So I guess as I step back, what I’m most proud of is really building systems and spaces that help people succeed. Throughout my career, whether as a division head or now, as chief academic officer, I focused on creating environments where faculty trainees and students feel supported, valued, and able to grow. And that has included strengthening career development pathways, formalizing promotion processes, launching initiatives like the faculty career committees, and expansion of the Advanced Scholars Program, as well as embedding professionalism and wellbeing into the foundation of academic life. And I can give you one tangible example of that commitment—was the creation of the faculty collaborative space at MD Anderson over in Pickens.

And that space was designed intentionally. Not just as offices or meeting rooms or a space to grab a coffee, but as a physical embodiment of community, a place where faculty from different disciplines can connect, collaborate, mentor, and build relationships across silos. Culture is shaped not only by policies but by proximity and shared space. I don’t know how many times I get tapped in the hallway by people who are so glad that we have that space. And they use it.

Jose Javier Garza

And it’s important.

Carin A. Hagberg, M.D., FASA, FACHE

Yeah, it’s important particularly now. And, boy, it became even more important after COVID, right? And on the clinical side, I guess I would say I’m particularly proud of leading our division of anesthesiology, critical care and pain medicine through COVID. Those were tough times. I was actually serving in both roles for a period of time there during COVID. But that period tested resilience and leadership at every level. I think I was able to help strengthen our culture in that division, develop emerging leaders, and advance both academic and operational performance really during an extraordinarily challenging time. I think if I had to summarize everything, I would say my biggest accomplishment has been helping build sustainable structures, programs, and communities that will endure beyond any one role. And when systems are strong and people feel connected and supported, I’ll go right back to where I was before in the beginning of this conversation with you, they thrive, not just survive. And when they thrive, the institution thrives and is able to advance its mission. That’s what gives me the greatest sense of fulfillment.

Jose Javier Garza

Well, thank you. So, as we conclude the interview, are there any closing comments you would like to provide?

Carin A. Hagberg, M.D., FASA, FACHE

Well, when I reflect on my career, I am reminded that titles fade, but people endure. Roles and reporting structures change. Responsibilities evolve. I’ve talked about my evolution in this interview, but what remains constant are the people, the patients who trust us at their most vulnerable moments, the trainees who grow into leaders, the faculty who dedicate their lives to discovering care, and lastly, the colleagues who walk alongside you. Institutions don’t endure because of buildings or organizational charts. They endure because they invest in people and their development, their wellbeing, and their potential. And that’s what gives me the greatest optimism about the future of oncology education and leadership. And if we continue to focus on the people, supporting them, challenging them, and believing in them, the mission will always move forward. 

Jose Javier Garza

Wow! What a wonderful way to conclude the interview. So, Dr. Hagberg, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down for the interview and for providing—and just providing the interview for us. Thank you so much.

Carin A. Hagberg, M.D., FASA, FACHE

It’s truly been a pleasure, Javier. Thank you.  

Jose Javier Garza

Thank you.

Recommended Citation

Hagberg, Carin M.D., FASA, FACHE and Garza, Jose Javier, "Chapter 06: Guidance for Future Clinicians and Researchers" (2026). Interview Chapters. 1618.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1618

Conditions Governing Access

Open