How would this comment look to residency program directors?

[nh278]

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Hi all,

Current M4 here planning on going into anesthesia. I just received my general surgery sub-i evaluation back, and the attending noted that " _______ had a slow start at the beginning of the rotation, but took criticism well and made a significant improvement through the rotation. _______'s history taking, physical exam, case presentation and clinic notes were all excellent by the end of the rotation." I was just wondering, how damaging is it that the attending said that I had a "slow start"? Admittedly, I was a bit lost at the beginning of the rotation and made some mistakes, but felt that I really improved throughout the rotation. I'm just worried that this comment will not look very good to residency directors. This attending did end up giving me honors in the end.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Planes2Doc]

I think it should be fine. Everyone has to start somewhere. If you were fully capable of acting as an attending physician, you would not be where you are now. In fact, taking criticism and making positive changes is great. I think it will be well-received.

 

[VincentAdultman]

You’re teachable and respond to adversity well. And not everyone responds positively to criticism believe it or not.

 

[Rekt]

Hi all,

Current M4 here planning on going into anesthesia. I just received my general surgery sub-i evaluation back, and the attending noted that " _______ had a slow start at the beginning of the rotation, but took criticism well and made a significant improvement through the rotation. _______'s history taking, physical exam, case presentation and clinic notes were all excellent by the end of the rotation." I was just wondering, how damaging is it that the attending said that I had a "slow start"? Admittedly, I was a bit lost at the beginning of the rotation and made some mistakes, but felt that I really improved throughout the rotation. I'm just worried that this comment will not look very good to residency directors. This attending did end up giving me honors in the end.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

Shame on you. Did you not know what incredibly vague structure the surgeon was asking about or when you were quizzed on some non medical minutiae or asked about a procedure you've never even seen before?

Kidding aside, that is a pretty positive eval coming from a surgeon. You'll be fine, especially going into gas.

 

[Moko]

Agreed. This comment is actually quite positive. It shows that you are teachable and can take criticism.

 

[Merely]

Hi all,

Current M4 here planning on going into anesthesia. I just received my general surgery sub-i evaluation back, and the attending noted that " _______ had a slow start at the beginning of the rotation, but took criticism well and made a significant improvement through the rotation. _______'s history taking, physical exam, case presentation and clinic notes were all excellent by the end of the rotation." I was just wondering, how damaging is it that the attending said that I had a "slow start"? Admittedly, I was a bit lost at the beginning of the rotation and made some mistakes, but felt that I really improved throughout the rotation. I'm just worried that this comment will not look very good to residency directors. This attending did end up giving me honors in the end.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

It’s extremely damaging that you didn’t begin your m4 student rotation at the level of a mid year intern or higher. The fact that it took you a few weeks to become excellent is probably unacceptable too especially since you’re going into anesthesia and this is a general surgery evaluation. Good luck.

 

[Goro]

Hi all,

Current M4 here planning on going into anesthesia. I just received my general surgery sub-i evaluation back, and the attending noted that " _______ had a slow start at the beginning of the rotation, but took criticism well and made a significant improvement through the rotation. _______'s history taking, physical exam, case presentation and clinic notes were all excellent by the end of the rotation." I was just wondering, how damaging is it that the attending said that I had a "slow start"? Admittedly, I was a bit lost at the beginning of the rotation and made some mistakes, but felt that I really improved throughout the rotation. I'm just worried that this comment will not look very good to residency directors. This attending did end up giving me honors in the end.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

FTFY

 

[NYCdude]

I've been there man when I thought the smallest little statement was going to be taken the wrong way and ruin my career.

But you're more than fine.

 

[nh278]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! Really appreciate it. Now, another question, how would this look if I were to ask the attending for a LOR? I’m debating whether or not to right now and I know letters are super important, where maybe even a statement like this would have an impact.

 

[Freeinfinity]

It couldn’t hurt to ask. Surgeons are generally to the point if they feel they can’t write you a strong letter, they’ll say it up front. Go for it.

 

[DokterMom]

So many statements are so darned generic that they make no impression at all. I'd go so far as to say that the "slow start" bit is the only thing that makes the "were all excellent by the end of the rotation" believable. (And that's the memorable and important part)

 

[Philosopher Jagger]

Hi all,

Current M4 here planning on going into anesthesia. I just received my general surgery sub-i evaluation back, and the attending noted that " _______ had a slow start at the beginning of the rotation, but took criticism well and made a significant improvement through the rotation. _______'s history taking, physical exam, case presentation and clinic notes were all excellent by the end of the rotation." I was just wondering, how damaging is it that the attending said that I had a "slow start"? Admittedly, I was a bit lost at the beginning of the rotation and made some mistakes, but felt that I really improved throughout the rotation. I'm just worried that this comment will not look very good to residency directors. This attending did end up giving me honors in the end.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

A residency program you want to match should value what I emphasized above...not the specific phrasing you are worried about. Do you really expect to walk in first day of intern year and be a shining star? Don't you expect somewhat of a "slow start" in that regard?

We're constantly being thrown into new environments with new sets of expectations, knowledge bases, and direct superiors. Take all that into account and don't worry so much about 1 evaluation defining everything you've worked to become.

 

[Philosopher Jagger]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! Really appreciate it. Now, another question, how would this look if I were to ask the attending for a LOR? I’m debating whether or not to right now and I know letters are super important, where maybe even a statement like this would have an impact.

Ask the attending to write you a letter based on their exposure to you coming full circle after being given feedback/criticism. They saw you improve over the course of the rotation and that means something. It's better than some flowery nonsense note like most LoRs are.

 

[TheGoodDoc83]

I wouldn't get hung up on the "slow start" phrase. It's kind of ambiguous, like..what was "slow" exactly? Did you not have your 5 cups of coffee each day for a week at the start of your rotation? Do you think those mistakes you claimed to have made caused the attending to write "slow start"? Did you even ask him/her what "slow start" means? That's what I would have done if I was in your shoes. "Hey Mr./Mrs. Attending, what do you mean by 'slow start'? Did you know that the tortoise got a slow start and he ended up beating the hare?" I wouldn't let it phase you. It ended on a very positive note, which speaks of an improvement no matter which way you slice it (that is, if "slow start" is taken to mean something negative, which it may not be for all you know).

One further note about taking criticism, which some commenters alluded to above....speaking from my own experience, I always used to have knee-jerk reactions to criticism, whether positive or negative. Nowadays, if I get positive criticism, I just say "thank you very much." If it's negative criticism, I just nod my head and maybe give a few ok's, then say "thank you." It's almost like just brushing it off, in one ear and out the other, but I'm still processing it all inside. I don't react nastily to negative criticism like I used to. I internalize it, process it, and then see if their assessment of me is justified. If it is, then the criticism is justly served, the problem is me, and I strive to correct it. But if the negative criticism is not justified, totally inaccurate, or extremely petty (and it's the pettiness that REALLY gets me), you better believe that I will approach the person and start asking questions. The key is not to say "hey you're wrong about this!" or something like that. Always pose a question...i.e. "Why do you feel that I 'blah blah'?" Then just keep the conversation as civil as possible, maybe leading to more branching questions and ultimately, make the person criticizing you look completely baffled. Works like a charm!