American College of Physicians: Inspirational Stories: Christopher Mays, MD

As a teenager, Dr. Christopher Mays had long blond hair that hung to the middle of his back, little academic ambition, and notions of becoming a rock star or professional athlete. But by the time he graduated from high school, that boy was long gone, replaced by a reflective, deeply faithful, and purposeful young man who dreamed of doing something useful with his life. That something turned out to be internal medicine.
The catalyst for the transformation was a failing kidney which landed him in the hospital for four major operations between the ages of 12 and 18. The experience was trying yet defining, as it served as his introduction to the field of medicine. "I was in the hospital a lot," he says, "and so I ended up developing a relationship with my surgeon. I liked him and knowing him had a positive effect on me. Around the same time I also began to grow in other ways. Religious faith became important to me, and I saw in medicine the opportunity to serve people and utilize my faith as well."