Jealousy :(

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fidiasss

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Hello colleagues!
I am a fourth year resident in Spain and I am currently doing an external rotation (a kind of fellowship) in a hospital different from mine, but also in Spain. The reception has been good, but I have some doubts about the "adaptation" to this new hospital.

The first is that I like grossing and I consider that losing the macroscopic study is losing a large part of the pathology. However, being that a large hospital, all macroscopy is for the small residents. I have offered to do the macroscopy as a way of "help", especially as a gesture of deference towards the first-year resident who spends all day grossing!! However, the chief resident did not like it and scolded the group of residents for letting me grossing, instead of scolding me directly, which I would have preferred, because now I feel bad for the group of residents. I just wanted to help.

And the second issue is that they usually do case sessions under the multihead microscope, which I really like, but the residents do not dare to talk and comment with the pathologist, even though the pathologist encourages them to do so. I have tried to participate by commenting on what I think, but judging by the faces of the residents, I get the feeling that they feel bad that I say something. Which makes me sad because I wish there was more feedback.

So, the question is: is it better to say anything and remain silent, looking like an idiot so as not to generate discord/jealousy?

Thanks a lot
Best regards
 
It's hard to see a 4th year resident still retaining this kind of enthusiasm. Usually by that time all one wants is a job to start collecting that bi-weekly paycheque.
Judging by your personality, stale environments like universities and large academic hospitals are probably not the right fit for you.
 
Hello colleagues!
I am a fourth year resident in Spain and I am currently doing an external rotation (a kind of fellowship) in a hospital different from mine, but also in Spain. The reception has been good, but I have some doubts about the "adaptation" to this new hospital.

The first is that I like grossing and I consider that losing the macroscopic study is losing a large part of the pathology. However, being that a large hospital, all macroscopy is for the small residents. I have offered to do the macroscopy as a way of "help", especially as a gesture of deference towards the first-year resident who spends all day grossing!! However, the chief resident did not like it and scolded the group of residents for letting me grossing, instead of scolding me directly, which I would have preferred, because now I feel bad for the group of residents. I just wanted to help.

And the second issue is that they usually do case sessions under the multihead microscope, which I really like, but the residents do not dare to talk and comment with the pathologist, even though the pathologist encourages them to do so. I have tried to participate by commenting on what I think, but judging by the faces of the residents, I get the feeling that they feel bad that I say something. Which makes me sad because I wish there was more feedback.

So, the question is: is it better to say anything and remain silent, looking like an idiot so as not to generate discord/jealousy?

Thanks a lot
Best regards
You’re grossing as a 4th year dude? 4th years here in the USA basically chill, check out completely and study for the pathology boards starting January.
 
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Thank you for replying to my post, I really appreciate it. I can't go to another hospital, I have to stay here for 3 months. Therefore, I would like some advice on how to act in such environments.
And yes, I still grossing, and in my home hospital I have decided grossing every day of the week since the first year of residency. And the truth is that every week I learn something new. No two specimens are the same.
 
I think that you just need to tune everyone out, at least when it comes to the multi-headed scope sessions. Residents should be encouraged to give their thoughts/opinions on cases being presented. If you don't speak up, then no one will know where you stand in terms of knowledge-base.

It's really hard to say what you should do based on what you've posted, but I think this is your opportunity to just try to "read the room" and see where you can interject your comments when you're being prompted to do so by your attending. Try to not dominate the scope session, but if you're the only one with a pair of balls to speak up... it is what it is. You're not there to make friends, but if you see an opportunity to help guide your juniors, then by all means make the attempt. Your job is to learn and get as much experience as you can. If you have the time to set aside in helping out your fellow residents, then it's all the better for everyone. Take care of yourself first and foremost.

Regarding the grossing issues... maybe the best approach is to help by showing the residents how to gross without doing the actual job. You can still learn from these teaching moments. The residents below you need to also understand how to gross, and the only way to learn is by actively engaging in that task. Let them do the manual labor.
 
By all means, speak up if you have something worthwhile to say! Remember, most of your fellow residents are milquetoasts who would not say s*** if they had a mouthful. This field does NOT attract alphas.
 
Do you think there is camaraderie in your services? I don't necessarily mean going out for coffee together, but camaraderie when it comes to work. Generosity. Giving without expecting anything in return.

I have thought about writing about this topic. Curiously, even though we are health workers - we are supposed to be there to help others - in hospital services it is common to see high levels of conflict between colleagues, especially related to ego and envy. And I don't know if these conflicts are accentuated in pathology.
 
From my observations, camaraderie is uncommon.
Under most funding models, pathologists are constantly advancing their own interest to either make more $, or do less work for the same $. I have seen some very innovative and nimble maneuvers to increase one's calculated "workload" without actually doing more cases.
Small cliques are common in large departments, be it based on ethnicity, gender, new grad vs old timers, IMG or not IMG, etc.
Who to accept for residency and which resident allies with which group of attending is also of top importance.
Remember, there are no eternal allies or eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
 
I saw it in residency and I see it in my current group, but in different ways.

In residency there was a small group of "cool" attendings who were friendly with the residents and the more experienced ones helped out the newer attendings. They would often go to lunch together, sometimes even with us as residents. Most of the rest just kind of hung out in their offices and did their own thing.

In my current group no one goes to lunch / coffee together, but most people are willing to cover for procedures and the like if someone needs to come in late or leave early for an appointment. People will chat sometimes, but mostly everyone just does their own work unless they need a second review for something.

The first had some mild drama, but was a little more lively. The second is fairly drama-free, but some might consider it cold. In both cases it's pretty rare to have more than superficial in-person interactions with anyone outside the department.
 
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