Dear 'GMA' Advice Guru Top 20 Finalists: Ish Major

Nov. 26, 2010 — -- Ish Major from Greenville, SC, is a finalist in the Dear GMA Advice Guru Contest. Read his application below!

Essay

I grew up in a very small town in the South. I'm the sixth of seven children all born to a doting mother and father. I have five sisters and one brother. I've always excelled academically and noticed early on that people seemed drawn to me and wanted to share with me the intimate details of their lives. This, in part, led me to choose a specialty of psychiatry in medical school. I completed my undergraduate and medical school training at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. I am a board certified adult psychiatrist who specializes in children and families and my patient satisfaction rate is uncommonly high. I believe in getting results! I provide medications when medicine is needed. I offer a kind heart and a willing ear when they are needed as well. One of the interesting things I've learned as a psychiatrist is that no matter who we are or where we're from we all have similar problems. The problems can range from financial binds to family matters to health issues to dating dilemmas. There's no greater joy and privilege than to be able to help someone resolve such a difficult issue. I sincerely believe that people can achieve amazing things in life if they are simply able to successfully navigate the bumps in the road. Good advice helps people do just that by showing them a way around, over, under or through those roadblocks! ... As a psychiatrist, I'm used to helping people one at a time. How fabulous would it be to help not just the one at a time, but also the many!

What's the best advice you have ever given? What was the result?

Three years ago my Mom was admitted to the ICU for a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis. The survival rate can be alarmingly low. Coupled with the host of other medical problems my Mom has including lupus, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and a history of stroke, our chances were looking grim. Her doctor advised our family that we should come and say our goodbyes as my Mom's organs were beginning to fail one by one. My Mom couldn't speak at the time but the pain in her eyes spoke volumes. I remember telling one of my sisters that it felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces all at once. The night before efforts were withdrawn I advised her doctor to try one last round of steroids. The next morning, my Mom thanked me! When I see her tomorrow, I'll tell her she's very welcome -- again.