Show Notes: Episode 38
REBOUND with Researcher and Professor Dr. Ram Haddas
There’s no denying the fact that Covid19 changed the world. The illness and disease was bad enough, but it was almost overshadowed by the fear and uncertainty it brought. Without a doubt, there’s literally no one I know who wasn’t impacted in some way. Family members and loved ones were lost. Jobs dried up. Entire industries were changed almost overnight. But as bad as it was, it wasn’t all bad. For Dr. Ram Haddas, a promising and productive career as a rock-star academic was sidetracked when he was laid off from his job of several years. While he was just hitting his stride with publications, grants, and awards, everything came to a sudden and sobering stop. He tried to take some time off to process and prepare like he had done in his early teen years after the loss of a trusted mentor. But it didn’t stick. A week into his “month off,” he started researching MBA programs, and before he knew it, he was enrolled and studying in a whole new field. He finished in about a year, and the process had made him not just older but wiser. Better equipped and ready for new challenges. He’d used the temporary setback of being laid off not to sulk and pout but to study and improve. And it opened the door to a new and exciting position he enjoys today. Check out my friend Dr. Ram Haddas in Episode 38: REBOUND.
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Episode Summary
Former Israeli soldier and Krav Maga instructor turned professor and researcher shares his journey to success
SUMMARY
Dr. Ram Haddas’ story is one of resilience and perseverance. He emphasizes the importance of taking action towards your dreams and never stopping pushing. Comfort zones can be dangerous, and it’s essential to stay motivated and be responsible for your outcomes. Ram shares a personal story of taking on a new position during COVID and not having any data to publish. Instead of waiting for his lab to open, he contacted people with existing data and taught himself how to publish in areas he wasn’t comfortable with, resulting in his first systematic review papers. Ram also highlights the value of seeking feedback and learning from failures. He shares a story of getting a lower grade in class and taking responsibility for his outcome by identifying areas of improvement and working on them. Despite facing numerous challenges, Ram is a testament to the fact that it is possible to rebound from difficult situations and come out stronger on the other side. He has experience in various roles, including as an athlete, soldier, entrepreneur, researcher, and now a professor, and has learned that failure is a crucial part of the process and can teach valuable lessons.
| Timestamp | Summary |
|---|---|
| 0:00:00 | The importance of rebounding from setbacks and having a positive mindset. |
| 0:00:36 | The impact of COVID-19 on the world and how it affected people differently. |
| 0:02:46 | Introduction of guest speaker, Ram Haddas, and his impressive career in academia and biomedical engineering. |
| 0:02:52 | Ram Haddas’s childhood aspirations and his drive to make a positive impact. |
| 0:03:39 | Ram Haddas’s background growing up in Israel and his journey to the United States. |
| 0:03:49 | Ram shares his experience of losing his guidance as a teenager and going through depression, then joining the Israeli military for a fresh start. |
| 0:07:24 | Ram becomes a Krav Maga instructor during his military service and gains proficiency in the technique, which later serves him well in academic and professional pursuits. |
| 0:07:56 | Ram Haddas’s pursuit of his undergrad degree in biomechanics and posture, despite having a low GPA and feeling behind. |
| 0:10:48 | The double-edged sword of feeling behind and using it as motivation towards success, but also feeling inadequate and ashamed. |
| 0:11:13 | Ram’s experience of being a teaching assistant and the importance of mentorship and guidance. |
| 0:13:14 | Ram’s struggles with the GRE test, including failing the English portion twice and his journey to pursuing a master’s degree in North America. |
| 0:16:48 | Ram’s experience of dreaming in English and his determination to pursue a master’s degree in biomechanics, despite financial challenges. |
| 0:19:30 | Ram’s motivation to keep improving in sports and life, and the discipline and hard work that comes with it. |
| 0:21:56 | Ram discusses the advantages of having knowledge and experience in sports as he gets older. |
| 0:22:43 | Ram’s transition from athlete and soldier to academic and researcher, and the differences he’s seen in his various roles. |
| 0:22:51 | Ram’s decision to pursue a PhD in clinical program and his experience seeking feedback and improving his grades. |
| 0:26:12 | Ram’s determination to gain clinical experience and make an impact in patient treatment, specifically for low back pain. |
| 0:26:41 | The importance of learning over just getting a good grade. |
| 0:28:07 | Ram’s experience in different roles and what failure has taught him along the way. |
| 0:28:39 | The importance of taking action towards your dreams, avoiding comfort zones, and being responsible for your outcomes. |
| 0:31:51 | The importance of staying hungry and committed to getting better. |
| 0:32:35 | Ram’s experience with publishing papers and the importance of resilience and not giving up. |
| 0:34:05 | The process of developing skills and mastering them, and Ram’s experience of publishing papers. |
| 0:34:45 | The limited job opportunities in academia with a PhD, Ram’s experience with Texas Back Institute and Medtronic, and knowing when to move on from opportunities. |
| 0:35:32 | Ram’s experience with his current role at the University of Utah and the importance of being happy with what you’re doing. |
| 0:39:00 | Ram’s experience of applying for jobs after finishing his PhD and choosing between postdocs and a director position. |
| 0:41:51 | Ram finds himself on the fast track to success with publications, grants, conference presentations, and awards. |
| 0:42:09 | Ram decides to pursue his MBA degree during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 0:43:46 | Ram’s decision to pursue an executive position and his experience going back to school for his MBA. |
| 0:45:15 | The importance of gaining real-life experience before pursuing an MBA degree. |
| 0:47:19 | Ram’s passion for leading and taking an active role as an administrator, and the importance of adding to your skillset. |
| 0:48:34 | Ram’s experience building his own lab, growing his team, and receiving awards and recognition, before being laid off due to COVID-19. |
| 0:48:04 | Ram’s volunteer work in creating educational content and podcasts for patients and clinicians, and his social media presence. |
| 0:50:38 | Ram’s involvement in the innovation space in academia and private industry, and the importance of getting outcomes quickly. |
| 0:52:27 | Ram’s advice to young Ram and the importance of rebounding from setbacks and never giving up. |
| 0:54:42 | The importance of learning from failures and rebounding from them. |
| 0:55:51 | Ram’s choice of “Eye of the Tiger” as the representation of his life and his passion for staying motivated. |
| 0:56:53 | Ram’s advice to listeners on how to connect with him and his work. |
| 0:57:01 | Contact information for Ram Hadass. |
| 0:58:16 | Outro and upcoming guests. |
| 1:00:15 | End of transcript. |