Like most physicians, I have a “Wall of Knowledge”; a collection of various undergraduate, graduate and medical degrees, decorated with various board certifications and advanced education certificates.
On the one hand, I am proud of these awards. Each represent varying degrees of effort and time, and several have significant financial implications.
On the other hand, they can be limiting, because each in their own way represents a narrowing or verticalization of knowledge, a potential for silo-based thinking – the enemy of innovation and creativity.
For me, at least, I am beginning to see that the real value of these degrees isn’t necessarily in the specific content they represent, but rather the connections I can make between them – and that’s a skill which won’t be found in a frame.