Stories of Leadership: Shawn Evans

Shawn Evans graduated from San Diego State University in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in biology. After graduating, he obtained both a master's degree and a doctorate and was board certified in Emergency Medicine in 1998. Now Evans is the chief of staff for Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif. 

1. Tell us the highlights of your professional career.  What are your proudest achievements?

The highlight of my career has been the practice of emergency medicine in a large, urban, emergency department at Scripps Memorial, La Jolla. 

The contemporary practice of resuscitation, intervention and applied critical care gives me the opportunity to optimize the outcome of San Diego’s most ill and injured, in addition to guiding 12,050 providers and more than 130,000 patient encounters annually.

2. What’s your favorite college memory?

The day head football coach Doug Scovil and defensive coordinator Bernie Miller approached me on the football field and suggested that I should focus on academics. People are comfortable in the here and now and need to be directed towards their ultimate success. Collegiate athletics were a waste of time for me and the advice was humorously accurate.

3. Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class?

Sociology 101, a make up class necessary to graduate taught by Gordon Johnson. He was direct, accurate, and inspired me to look at my world from a very different perspective. He confronted politics, media and the choices of students.

4. If you were to give current SDSU students some advice, what would you say?

Don’t waste your time while in college. Too many degrees issued at graduation have no relevance to a career. Begin with a career end point in sight, take the most challenging path and avoid the temptation of “easy.” Easy promotes lack luster performance and the belief that it will be rewarded in your future profession.

5. What are you currently reading? What’s your favorite book?

"The River of Doubt" by Candice Millard portraying Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey. Most favorite, "Sea Wolf" by Jack London.

6. What quality do you value most in friends and colleagues?

Absolute trust in one another. Trust is confidence expressed over time.  It embodies reliability and the unspoken understanding that each party will perform and express loyalty to friendship and purpose.

7. What is your passion?

Advancing the practice of emergency medicine with today’s technology, customer service, and racing the Baja 1000 on my dirtbike!

8. What is your motto?

Make it happen, don’t be afraid to fail first and quickly adjust toward success. Errors of omission are more detrimental than commission.

9. If you won the lottery, what would you do with your winnings?

Establish a mentoring program to partner successful, enterprising, business and program leaders in the community with at risk teens. The program would finance education sessions, lectures, and skill building to ensure their success.