Natural recognition of my genius, no need to kneel, my good man/woman, kissing the ring will suffice ;->
sorry, couldn't resist. had to throw some ribald humor on a very disturbing, serious topic. We, as a profession, need to look after our own. We preach that patients need a warm, supportive, comforting environment in order to find help. Why would we maintain an abusive, unhealthy environment with our own colleagues -- and make no mistake, medical students are our junior colleagues -- there is a rite of passage that all must go through in learning the healing arts and while certain teaching methods are antiquated, morphing someone from outside, interested observer to attending physician requires some shaping that can only occur through some hard, sometimes excruciating experiences. When you're young, it is very difficult sometimes to put into play the necessary coping skills. It is incumbent on us, as attendings, to be mindful and correct without derision, train without belittling, use sarcasm mildly and always to a teaching point and select the proper training method for each trainee as people respond differently. This is what a true teacher does but sadly, just because you're good at something, does not mean you can teach it.
Having walked a high school friend through the suicide of his 19 year old kid brother over a broken relationship, this is devastating to all concerned, both family members and classmates. I only hope the culture changes for the better without the sterile, academic environment that is so prevalent in medicine.
Keep the faith and determine to be the generation that begins the change when it's your turn to teach/mentor. See the actual reality of the situation and apply common sense along with medical acumen -- patients will love you and you will develop those relationships with them that most of us strive to achieve.