Name: Getinet Ayalew, MD Nick Name: “Get”
Position/Where: Board-certified hematologist and oncologist with SSM DePaul Health Center.
Education/Honors: Medical degree from Gondar College of Medical Sciences in Ethiopia, where he graduated in the top of his class and was recruited to serve as a junior faculty member.
Residency and fellowship at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York; chief fellow SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York.
Member of the American Societies of Hematology and Clinical Oncology, American College of Physicians.
Personal: My wife, Roman, and I are members of Debre Nazareth St. Mary and St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christian church in St. Louis.
St. Louis Connection: I grew up in Ethiopia and came to the United States for my residency and fellowship training. I moved to St. Louis for a position with DePaul Health Center for several reasons including the fact that the professional opportunities and approach to medicine at DePaul Health Center are a good fit for me. Adding to St. Louis’ appeal – my wife has good friends in St. Louis, plus I discovered that a cardiologist I know from my residency training practices at DePaul Health Center. Last but not least, I was practicing in Minnesota and both my wife and I found the prospect of St. Louis’ milder winters appealing.
Journey to Success:
I have been blessed with many opportunities and have, at the same time, faced the unique challenges of beginning a career in a new country. Medicine is an honorable and challenging practice many aspire to. I have always envisioned working closely with people in an intellectually stimulating environment where analytic thinking is blended with compassionate patient care.
I had the opportunity to work at the busiest hospital in New York City with a very large patient volume and diversity. This gave me hands-on skill in the high level care of patients and renders a unique opportunity of learning how to manage a wide array of blood and cancer problems. I came to the United States from a different culture and background and I envisioned my training in this country not only as an expansion of my knowledge, but also an expansion of my horizons.
I have been blessed with many wonderful friends and colleagues that made my experience more interesting but still I found it required a great deal of mental strength to push through and be successful. Along my journey, I have found this is a wonderful country, where, if you work hard, you can achieve your goals.
