Developing physician qualities

[Google_was_my_idea]

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Hey everyone!

What do you believe makes a good physician and what are some ways to develop or improve those qualities? Does reading certain books help to improve doctoring skills? How can you develop into being a better physician and person in general? I feel we should always be trying to improve ourselves and was curious on your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[bluepeony]

Hey everyone!

What do you believe makes a good physician and what are some ways to develop or improve those qualities? Does reading certain books help to improve doctoring skills? How can you develop into being a better physician and person in general? I feel we should always be trying to improve ourselves and was curious on your thoughts. Thanks!

U develop these soft skills by working with people in clinical and nonclinical settings, and also through teaching and leadership experiences. You can't really develop these skills through reading books.

 

[Google_was_my_idea]

U develop these soft skills by working with people in clinical and nonclinical settings, and also through teaching and leadership experiences. You can't really develop these skills through reading books.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, so really you just develop them with age and being put into new and uncomfortable situations. I believe you can learn some things from books but it’s probably not very effective.

 

[bluepeony]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, so really you just develop them with age and being put into new and uncomfortable situations. I believe you can learn some things from books but it’s probably not very effective.

Yup, thats why adcoms like nontrad/ older applicants because of the life experience and maturity they bring.

 

[deleted688779]

I believe you can learn some things from books but it’s probably not very effective.

It's like learning how to be sociable at parties. You can read all the books you want but nothing compares to actually socializing with people at parties. Those books will only give you ideas but you develop the basics.

 

[Google_was_my_idea]

It's like learning how to be sociable at parties. You can read all the books you want but nothing compares to actually socializing with people at parties. Those books will only give you ideas but you develop the basics.

Makes sense to me! So perhaps getting as much experience as possible by watching other physicians interact with patients and then applying it in your own clinical job or volunteering would be the most effective way to improve these skills. Soft skills are definitely important, but sometimes it’s harder to formulate the actual path to developing them.