End of clerkship thank you cards.

[Katniss Everdeen]

Hi Everyone!

If you've known me for a decent amount of time in real life, chances are you're received a thank you card from me. I'm obsessed with stationary and thank you cards 🙂 I was planning on writing some thank you cards for my attending and two residents who really went out of their way to teach me during my clerkship.

I was wondering if this was appropriate or not.

Thanks <3

~ Katniss

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[Tenk]

I mean it’s fine but probably more effective to just say it in person.

 

[IMGASMD]

If that’s your thing, sure.

Usually cheap breakfast items are appreciated too. A box of donuts for the “team”. And specific cards for those who made an impression on you.

TBH a verbal thank you and something specific to remember the students by would be more memorable. A case, a specific teaching point, something that I did, something I may have inspired you to do, to look up.

It’s nice to get a card , sure. But for YOU, you may want a letter out of the rotation. You may want the residents to speak up for you during resident selection. I don’t need another generic thank you. YOU don’t want another generic thank you either.

 

[LunaOri]

I love to get thank you cards from my students! It's nice to be appreciated.

 

[Dr G Oogle]

I like getting thank you cards. Do it if it’s your thing, you’ll probably make someone’s day, especially if they seemed to go out of their way to teach, people like that like thank you cards but don’t expect them or need them to continue to teach.

 

[Katniss Everdeen]

If that’s your thing, sure.

Usually cheap breakfast items are appreciated too. A box of donuts for the “team”. And specific cards for those who made an impression on you.

TBH a verbal thank you and something specific to remember the students by would be more memorable. A case, a specific teaching point, something that I did, something I may have inspired you to do, to look up.

It’s nice to get a card , sure. But for YOU, you may want a letter out of the rotation. You may want the residents to speak up for you during resident selection. I don’t need another generic thank you. YOU don’t want another generic thank you either.

Definitely not writing a generic Thank you 🙂 Each one took me ~2 hrs to write. Thanks for the info!

 

[studentxx8800]

Definitely not writing a generic Thank you 🙂 Each one took me ~2 hrs to write. Thanks for the info!

Seriously? I mean if it makes you feel good then do it but I would have the expectation that your letters don’t mean anything to the residents and attendings. Now that might not be true for some but for the vast majority, I think a 2hours thank you letter is a little bit much and can also be too touchy-feely for some.

 

[NonTrad16]

Definitely not writing a generic Thank you 🙂 Each one took me ~2 hrs to write. Thanks for the info!

Are you a calligrapher in training? What could be taking 2 hours?

 

[deleted645092]

My girlfriend wrote personalized thank you cards talking about the things they taught her at the end of our third year to all of her preceptors. They definitely appreciate it especially if they know there isn’t an ulterior motive.

So make sure you ask them for letters of rec FAR before you write thank you cards.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I also agree, a thank you note will be appreciated. But don't spend 2 hours on them! 4 sentences max, they'll start skimming (or stop altogether) if it's any longer than that.

 

[IMGASMD]

ulterior motive.

 

[libertyyne]

If that’s your thing, sure.

Usually cheap breakfast items are appreciated too. A box of donuts for the “team”. And specific cards for those who made an impression on you.

TBH a verbal thank you and something specific to remember the students by would be more memorable. A case, a specific teaching point, something that I did, something I may have inspired you to do, to look up.

It’s nice to get a card , sure. But for YOU, you may want a letter out of the rotation. You may want the residents to speak up for you during resident selection. I don’t need another generic thank you. YOU don’t want another generic thank you either.

Cards are one thing, but IMO lets not give trainees anymore ideas about bringing food. It seems inappropriate considering they are already 100's of thousands in debt and without any source of income. Any encouragement will just lead to added stress. One of the rotating students did this on my rotation, dick move to every other person who did not buy any food. Not cool especially if you are just trying to get an H as that person was not even interested in the field.

 

[ciestar]

Cards are one thing, but IMO lets not give trainees anymore ideas about bringing food. It seems inappropriate considering they are already 100's of thousands in debt and without any source of income. Any encouragement will just lead to added stress. One of the rotating students did this on my rotation, dick move to every other person who did not buy any food. Not cool especially if you are just trying to get an H as that person was not even interested in the field.

So many people picked up baking as a hobby and now have lots extra to share lol

i dont see it as a dick move. Nobody is obligated one way or the other.

 

[IMGASMD]

Cards are one thing, but IMO lets not give trainees anymore ideas about bringing food. It seems inappropriate considering they are already 100's of thousands in debt and without any source of income. Any encouragement will just lead to added stress. One of the rotating students did this on my rotation, dick move to every other person who did not buy any food. Not cool especially if you are just trying to get an H as that person was not even interested in the field.

Munchkins is 6, 8 dollars a box. Costco bag of candy is 10 bucks.

I know what you’re saying.

I’ve always thought I was 350K in debt, another 10 bucks won’t kill me. Residents don’t get paid well either. I don’t think you will hit your attending for money to pay for snacks. I am just not THAT touchy feeling, and also want the whole team to have something we can do together.

I did have one attending, who took the whole team to the city for sushi! That was a good night!

Good luck op.

 

[ciestar]

Munchkins is 6, 8 dollars a box. Costco bag of candy is 10 bucks.

I know what you’re saying.

I’ve always thought I was 350K in debt, another 10 bucks won’t kill me. Residents don’t get paid well either. I don’t think you will hit your attending for money to pay for snacks. I am just not THAT touchy feeling, and also want the whole team to have something we can do together.

I did have one attending, who took the whole team to the city for sushi! That was a good night!

Good luck op.

My OB rotation was like that. The attending when i was on night float bought everyone dinner. And when i was in clinic the one week, everyone brought in stuff to share and food was catered as well. It was awesome.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

So many people picked up baking as a hobby and now have lots extra to share lol

i dont see it as a dick move. Nobody is obligated one way or the other.

Yep, I'm someone who brings in food a lot because I enjoy baking and live alone so I need people to eat it for me. I would never expect others to bring anything in return though. It would be a bit weird to me if a student regularly purchased pre-made food though (unless it's like a class/team potluck or something). Attendings are more than welcome to buy me food always lol

 

[libertyyne]

So many people picked up baking as a hobby and now have lots extra to share lol

i dont see it as a dick move. Nobody is obligated one way or the other.

do you think there is a reason for stopping reps from bringing in food? Even small things like that have influence. I think its a dick move to every other student on that rotation. Unless everyone was told about it in advance. Even then its just wrong to even put the idea in trainee's minds that its appropriate for them to be paying for **** for the team.

Munchkins is 6, 8 dollars a box. Costco bag of candy is 10 bucks.

I know what you’re saying.

I’ve always thought I was 350K in debt, another 10 bucks won’t kill me. Residents don’t get paid well either. I don’t think you will hit your attending for money to pay for snacks. I am just not THAT touchy feeling, and also want the whole team to have something we can do together.

I did have one attending, who took the whole team to the city for sushi! That was a good night!

Good luck op.

Just because the value is small doesnt make it any better. If it is wrong in principle it is wrong. When I am a resident and any student pulls the bought food schtick at the end of the rotation trust me I am going to be giving them all threes.

 

[GoSpursGo]

do you think there is a reason for stopping reps from bringing in food? Even small things like that have influence. I think its a dick move to every other student on that rotation. Unless everyone was told about it in advance. Even then its just wrong to even put the idea in trainee's minds that its appropriate for them to be paying for **** for the team.

Just because the value is small doesnt make it any better. If it is wrong in principle it is wrong. When I am a resident and any student pulls the bought food schtick at the end of the rotation trust me I am going to be giving them all threes.

This seems like something that really doesn't deserve anyone's outrage. If someone has the money and wants to spend it on feeding the team, it's their money and they can spend it how they want. It's not going to affect how I evaluate them, or their peers who didn't bring food--if they're doing it because they are a dick who's trying to brown-nose, that will probably be evident in their interactions on the rest of the rotation; if they're doing it because they're nice and want to share, that also probably would be evident in their interactions on the rest of the rotation.

 

[ciestar]

do you think there is a reason for stopping reps from bringing in food? Even small things like that have influence. I think its a dick move to every other student on that rotation. Unless everyone was told about it in advance. Even then its just wrong to even put the idea in trainee's minds that its appropriate for them to be paying for **** for the team.

Just because the value is small doesnt make it any better. If it is wrong in principle it is wrong. When I am a resident and any student pulls the bought food schtick at the end of the rotation trust me I am going to be giving them all threes.

Okay giving a student a bad eval for bringing in food is the real dick move here

 

[ciestar]

Yep, I'm someone who brings in food a lot because I enjoy baking and live alone so I need people to eat it for me. I would never expect others to bring anything in return though. It would be a bit weird to me if a student regularly purchased pre-made food though (unless it's like a class/team potluck or something). Attendings are more than welcome to buy me food always lol

Perhaps i missed an earlier reference to pre-made food. Yes, probably over the top. Ive been on a bunch of rotations where a student i was rotating with baked something and brought it in.

My husband wont eat chocolate so if i ever make anything with chocolate in it I either have to eat it all by myself, or bring it in to share.

 

[libertyyne]

Okay giving a student a bad eval for bringing in food is the real dick move here

Bringing in food to influence evals is the real dick move.

This seems like something that really doesn't deserve anyone's outrage. If someone has the money and wants to spend it on feeding the team, it's their money and they can spend it how they want. It's not going to affect how I evaluate them, or their peers who didn't bring food--if they're doing it because they are a dick who's trying to brown-nose, that will probably be evident in their interactions on the rest of the rotation; if they're doing it because they're nice and want to share, that also probably would be evident in their interactions on the rest of the rotation.

Look, most studies that have looked at small gifts and food from someone as obvious as pharma has shown influence. Everyone thinks they are immune to outside influence but studies show otherwise. Medical education is cutthroat as it is for trainee's. Next thing you know everyone is going to feel pressured to buy food for teams. Its a not a good precedent. Dont encourage medical students to be paying for food.

 

[IMGASMD]

do you think there is a reason for stopping reps from bringing in food? Even small things like that have influence. I think its a dick move to every other student on that rotation. Unless everyone was told about it in advance. Even then its just wrong to even put the idea in trainee's minds that its appropriate for them to be paying for **** for the team.

Just because the value is small doesnt make it any better. If it is wrong in principle it is wrong. When I am a resident and any student pulls the bought food schtick at the end of the rotation trust me I am going to be giving them all threes.

This is question is sort of related, but not exactly the same.

Will you go to a resident dinner before your interview day? If you believe the idea/principle of it is wrong? Or is it wrong? Is it different? Are they trying to influence you, or just a time to get to know your better or have some “together” time?

We barely get time to know your colleagues at the hospital. Maybe a potluck here, a birthday cake there. People then move onto whatever their responsibility is. What brings people together like no others.... whatever your answer is, it ain’t two heart felt thank you notes. (Sorry op).

If I can spend five-ten bucks and give people an excuse to slow down and talk to one another, it’s money well spent.

I agree with @GoSpursGo if your residents and attendings can be “influenced” by cookies and coffee.... they should not be your role model, and probably doesn’t deserve any munchkins either.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Look, most studies that have looked at small gifts and food from someone as obvious as pharma has shown influence. Everyone thinks they are immune to outside influence but studies show otherwise. Medical education is cutthroat as it is for trainee's. Next thing you know everyone is going to feel pressured to buy food for teams. Its a not a good precedent. Dont encourage medical students to be paying for food.

I'm not encouraging anyone to pay for food. I'm just not going to consider it negatively if someone chooses to. We've all been in that situation where we have some massive amount of baked goods after some sort of celebration and are forced to choose between sharing or getting fat.

Your analogy doesn't really work, because unlike a pharma company who I only meet during the course of the meal, I've got 2 weeks to get to know a student. I'm going to get a reasonable assessment in that timeframe.

Again, this just shouldn't rise to the level that anyone should get that outraged one way or the other.

 

[libertyyne]

This is question is sort of related, but not exactly the same.

Will you go to a resident dinner before your interview day? If you believe the idea/principle of it is wrong? Or is it wrong? Is it different? Are they trying to influence you, or just a time to get to know your better or have some “together” time?

We barely get time to know your colleagues at the hospital. Maybe a potluck here, a birthday cake there. People then move onto whatever their responsibility is. What brings people together like no others.... whatever your answer is, it ain’t two heart felt thank you notes. (Sorry op).

If I can spend five-ten bucks and give people an excuse to slow down and talk to one another, it’s money well spent.

I agree with @GoSpursGo if your residents and attendings can be “influenced” by cookies and coffee.... they should not be your role model, and probably doesn’t deserve any munchkins either.

I am not in a position of power as a student. I am absolutely going to go to the resident diners, they are in a position of power they are paying fine.
Potlucks are fine as long as everyone knows about it. Random students buying expensive artisanal cookies the last day of rotation is not.
And look at the literature, why do you think hospitals have started to roll out policies of no food from reps, it is because we are humans and are influenced by small tokens, nothing wrong with the residents or attending, just being a human predisposes us to that.

 

[libertyyne]

I'm not encouraging anyone to pay for food. I'm just not going to consider it negatively if someone chooses to. We've all been in that situation where we have some massive amount of baked goods after some sort of celebration and are forced to choose between sharing or getting fat.

Your analogy doesn't really work, because unlike a pharma company who I only meet during the course of the meal, I've got 2 weeks to get to know a student. I'm going to get a reasonable assessment in that timeframe.

Again, this just shouldn't rise to the level that anyone should get that outraged one way or the other.

I am not outraged, merely stating that i dont think its right to encourage medical students to bring in prebought food at the end of a rotation.

The anaology works even better because if with small gifts and such little time reps are able to influence people positively buying food on the last day on service is bound to leave a positive influence.

I have already seen people spend greater than 20 bucks buying cookies for a team just to brownnose. lets not encourage this nonsense.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I am not outraged, merely stating that i dont think its right to encourage medical students to bring in prebought food at the end of a rotation.

The anaology works even better because if with small gifts and such little time reps are able to influence people positively buying food on the last day on service is bound to leave a positive influence.

I have already seen people spend greater than 20 bucks buying cookies for a team just to brownnose. lets not encourage this nonsense.

Not encouraging. Just don't care one way or the other. And you sound pretty outraged to me

Agree to disagree on the analogy. If someone is mediocre across 2 weeks and brings food on the last day, we all know what they're doing.

 

[NonTrad16]

I brought food to several of my rotations. I really appreciated the people, love to bake, and people like food (including myself, and I shouldn’t eat as many cookies as I can bake). Everyone wins. I also used to bring baked goods to work for my team when I was employed (not my employees, but coworkers). If you can only see manipulation in a simple kind gesture... Jesus... this process must have really gotten to you. Or you’re just naturally pessimistic?

That said, anything done on the last days and/or immediately before asking for an eval is a bit suspicious. I just don’t think you should throw all bakers into the same group.

 

[Damson]

Just natural, genuine, yet not overly sentimental expressions of gratitude, in whatever form you see fit.

 

[Oso]

If I'm getting a thank you note from students, it better have some $$$

Kidding of course!

A six-pack will do

 

[AlteredScale]

Hi Everyone!

If you've known me for a decent amount of time in real life, chances are you're received a thank you card from me. I'm obsessed with stationary and thank you cards 🙂 I was planning on writing some thank you cards for my attending and two residents who really went out of their way to teach me during my clerkship.

I was wondering if this was appropriate or not.

Thanks
~ Katniss

It’s fine to do. Just don’t go out of your way to tell other class mates who are rotating on service with you cuz that can be perceived as brown nosing per them. Just keep the whole thing simple, genuine, and under the radar.

 

[7331poas]

Definitely not writing a generic Thank you 🙂 Each one took me ~2 hrs to write. Thanks for the info!

You know you are a redneck gunner when...

 

[SpoiledMilk]

What's the opinion on a "Dear All" email if you've worked with several attendings and NPs during the rotation?

 

[7331poas]

What's the opinion on a "Dear All" email if you've worked with several attendings and NPs during the rotation?

Just tell them thank you on the last day and leave.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Wouldn't need to consider email if saying thanks on last day was an option. All attendings except one I worked with were either on vacation or off on my last day at the clinic...

 

[7331poas]

Wouldn't need to consider email if saying thanks on last day was an option. All attendings except one I worked with were either on vacation or off on my last day at the clinic...

Okay, then don't say thank you to them. Its really just that simple. Besides, if I were on vacation why the hell would I want to get a thank you email from some M3 who shadowed me for a week or two?

 

[Neopolymath]

This thread is awesome. It makes me feel like the most normal, congenial person in the world. It definitely puts my rotations grades/evals into perspective and reinforces the idea that being normal and not annoying are the most important aspects of succeeding M3.

To any rising M3s reading, just shake hands and say thank you for the opportunity and then leave.

 

[libertyyne]

This thread is awesome. It makes me feel like the most normal, congenial person in the world. It definitely puts my rotations grades/evals into perspective and reinforces the idea that being normal and not annoying are the most important aspects of succeeding M3.

To any rising M3s reading, just shake hands and say thank you for the opportunity and then leave.

I was always grateful, and if someone went above and beyond in teaching or giving me autonomy i would bring that up and talk about how i really enjoyed and learned from that. Done. Clinically honored every rotation.

 

[GoSpursGo]

To any rising M3s reading, just shake hands

... after the pandemic 😉

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Okay, then don't say thank you to them. Its really just that simple. Besides, if I were on vacation why the hell would I want to get a thank you email from some M3 who shadowed me for a week or two?

You must be a blast to work with.

 

[samac]

The whole students-bring-the-food thing is complete horse ****. It makes the least sense for the person who is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to be paying for food for people that have a net worth in the millions. I mean, c'mon. If I'm an attending and a student does this, they're getting a $20 bill and being told to keep the change. I have extenuating circumstances that especially strain me financially during med school, and I can't afford to eat out for myself, much less buy food for other people. Attendings need to nip this stuff in the bud. If SDN want to get all SJW about it, it actually benefits privileged students who can afford to waste money.

DO school, for the small community preceptors who took me I usually brought them something on the last day. Especially the ones where I had to beg to get a rotation. I did not do this on rotations where I actually worked with residents. It was being nice, hoping they’d continue to take students in the future. It was usually more for the staff than the doc.

 

[NonTrad16]

The whole students-bring-the-food thing is complete horse ****. It makes the least sense for the person who is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to be paying for food for people that have a net worth in the millions. I mean, c'mon. If I'm an attending and a student does this, they're getting a $20 bill and being told to keep the change. I have extenuating circumstances that especially strain me financially during med school, and I can't afford to eat out for myself, much less buy food for other people. Attendings need to nip this stuff in the bud. If SDN want to get all SJW about it, it actually benefits privileged students who can afford to waste money.

Students being expected to bring food is nonsense and shouldn’t happen — that’d be on the resident/attending in my book. That’s an unfair expectation and expense on a group already building massive debts while under the thumb of subjective evaluations.

Students bringing food to suck up... well... residents, attendings, and other students still benefit from free food? And presumably people can tell.

Students bringing food because they really appreciate their team and wanted to do something nice, or because it had been a hard week for someone/the group, etc... what’s the big deal? Are you suggesting they NOT bring in food because it MAY (though doubtfully) slightly change an evaluation or because other people may not have the financial ability to do the same? That seems totally unnecessarily restrictive.

If I can maybe make another persons ****ty 3rd/4th year/intern/other day slightly better for a moment with a cookie or muffin or whatever else... I might try. Assuming I have the energy, time, and they seem like normal people (ie they haven’t cursed at me or made me feel like garbage).

I hesitated early in M3 to bring stuff because SDN made me worried people would see an ulterior motive... fortunately people were receptive and the haters either ate their food (or not) and kept their mouth shut or didn’t exist.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I’m being facetious by saying the part about privilege and SJW. If you want to do it that’s obviously on you. But I’ve actually seen attendings/residents say things to students hinting at them bringing donuts/other food. It’s just inappropriate and puts a very bad taste in my mouth.

Yes, that shouldn’t happen and it’s garbage if it does.

 

[7331poas]

Students bringing food because they really appreciate their team and wanted to do something nice, or because it had been a hard week for someone/the group, etc... what’s the big deal? Are you suggesting they NOT bring in food because it MAY (though doubtfully) slightly change an evaluation or because other people may not have the financial ability to do the same? That seems totally unnecessarily restrictive.

Easily one of the most naive takes I have seen. Dont you think that every student who brings in food will claim they are "really appreciative" of the team?

You are literally paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to shadow doctors and qualify for the match, what is the point of bringing in food?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Easily one of the most naive takes I have seen. Dont you think that every student who brings in food will claim they are "really appreciative" of the team?

You are literally paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to shadow doctors and qualify for the match, what is the point of bringing in food?

Last time I checked, the hundreds of thousands of dollars isn’t going to the residents, nurses, and attendings on the team. Most people appreciate food as a thank you. Why do you have such a weird chip on your shoulder about students expressing thanks? You’d be annoyed if a student sent you a thank you email? You’d just assume someone bringing in food is doing it for the evals? Who hurt you?