"Otherwise, you need to take initiative with your studies."
Without giving Priscilla a chance to explain, he continued, "Alright, I know you are both incredibly dedicated students."
"A smart horse only needs a light tap of the whip. Next time, if you lose focus, just ensure you aren't distracting the rest of the hall."
"I've put together a reading list. If you truly want to make a mark in clinical surgery, you need to devour these."
"Surgery requires more than just flawless fundamentals. It demands elite on-the- spot improvisation and the ability to instantly manage catastrophic complications." "Honestly, if you two weren't so young, I'd have already recommended you for hospital residencies."
"For now, familiarize yourselves with every text on this list. And here these are my personal surgical journals."
Professor Vance pulled out two heavily bound copies of his personal notes.
Claire and Priscilla stared in shock.
They had walked in fully expecting a brutal dressing-down, but their imaginations had run completely wild.
He was actively fast-tracking their education!
Suddenly, aiming for the absolute top felt like a superpower.
Look at how aggressively the professor was backing them. This was elite,
personalized mentoring!
The rest of the class would have killed for this kind of treatment.
"Thank you so much, Professor! We will pour everything we have into this. We won't let you down!"
Clutching the surgical journals, Claire expressed their profound gratitude.
Snapping out of her daze, Priscilla quickly mirrored the gesture.
If she didn't study until she bled after the professor handed them a gift like this, she'd have to slap herself.
"Professor, if I come across anything in the notes I don't understand, may I come to you for clarification?" Claire asked.
She wasn't sure how many books on the list she had already conquered, but these personal journals were entirely unique.
Professor Vance's gaze softened with pride. "Of course, my door is always open."
"Claire, I've heard your skills in traditional medicine are
phenomenal. Since you've chosen to major in modern clinical surgery, you need to push yourself even harder."
"I'm not telling you to abandon your roots. I'm telling you to master the integration of both disciplines. When utilized properly, the patient benefits immensely."
Claire completely understood the weight of his advice.
"I will never abandon my traditional roots, and I will study modern surgery with
everything I have. You have my word, Professor."
Hearing this, Priscilla
enthusiastically backed her up. "You
don t have to worry at all, Professor, Claire's mentor is one of the
greatest surgeons in the country!"
"She's trained intensely in both disciplines since she was a child. She's miles ahead
of the curve!"
Is that so?
Professor Vance hadn't fully reviewed Claire's background yet.
But the moment he heard Claire had been personally mentored by Mary, his confidence in her skyrocketed.
"No wonder the old guard in the department is so obsessed with you. Did they already know you were Mary's granddaughter?"
As an active surgeon who only lectured once or twice a week,
Professor Vance spent most of his time in the OR Consequently, he was usually out of the loop on campus gossip.
"Did they? I honestly have no idea," Claire replied, preferring not to be the sole center of attention.
She gestured toward Priscilla. "Actually, Professor, Priscilla is Mary's great-niece. Her grandfather is Mary's biological brother."
"As for me, it's more accurate to say I'm Mary's hand-picked protégé."
She was the legacy, but more importantly, she was the chosen successor.
In the medical world, lineage mattered, but true apprenticeship held far more weight than blood.
Being the hand-picked protégé was the ultimate endorsement!
"Incredible. I have two absolute prodigies on my hands!"
Professor Vance laughed, genuinely thrilled.