Personality Types of Residents

[Napoleon1801]

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So I had an interesting discussion with an MS4 yesterday, he talked about the different types of Psych residents (what he's going into and what I'm on currently). He listed these as the different types of Psych residents, but I'm curious what everyone thinks are the different types of Path residents.

The Chill Resident - The person who doesn't worry, has fun with peers, likes to joke around, and takes work with moderate seriousness.

The Neurotic Resident - Actually has a mental illness him/herself and feels the need to help other mental patients. Takes work way too seriously, works too hard, doesn't get jokes.

The Money Grabber - Believes psych is going to be a cush lifestyle and takes work with little to no seriousness.

The FMG - This is a 4th category he gave to me as an example, but didn't really elaborate, but typically was a diff type of person than the other three.


And no, I'm not being turned to the astrology of medicine, I still love path, but I'm just curious what everyone thinks in the way of personality types?

 

[yaah]

In addition to the above:

The slacker: Does their work when they are on a service, but doesn't go beyond the minimum. Won't help anyone else out, yet asks for help a lot. Complains about being too busy. Only goes to conferences if they think it can help them get a fellowship. Usually wears scrubs at all times.

The anal-retentive (also known as the self-styled hero): Previews every case extensively with multiple open textbooks and pubmed searches. Has patient histories printed out on everyone as well. Stays late every day. Gets upset anytime another resident does anything that "encroaches" on their duties. Shows up at every conference with relevant literature searches. Comes in on weekends to read.

The stereotype: Hates people, hates interacting with people, has an odd sense of humor that no one else understands. Basically, the stereotype of the pathologist.

The mistaken career: Chose pathology for nebulous reasons (lifestyle) and had no clue of what it actually was. Spends most days confused and trying to find a way out, or pursuing their other hobbies. Often expresses a desire to do dermpath 😛

The non-pathologist researcher: Hates or dislikes pathology and wants to do only research. Every rotation is an exercise in finishing early and getting back to the lab.

The ersatz dermatologist: Spends every waking moment talking about either dermpath, getting a dermpath fellowship, doing a project in dermpath, following dermatopathologists around, or talking about how to spend the money they are going to make. States that they love skin. Ignores other parts of pathology extensively.

The cytologist: Hates cytology but did a fellowship anyway. Spends most of their day doing cytology but complaining about it.

The absentee: Is never around except during signout or when required. Never goes to conferences. You happen to see them once or twice a month, which coincidentally happens also to be the days they are on call.

 

[danaphosaurus]

I would like to add to the slacker-
They won't do work but make up for it in social colonoscopies, kind of like the fellowship comment- They will not open a textbook and are constantly asking for help- They will probably never learn any real pathology and will kill people but will get a great job due to their ability to say the right thing at the right time-

 

[Sean2tall]

The mistaken career: Chose pathology for nebulous reasons (lifestyle) and had no clue of what it actually was. Spends most days confused and trying to find a way out, or pursuing their other hobbies. Often expresses a desire to do dermpath 😛

This one definitely exists. I am surprised how many people I've come across who didn't know what to expect from Pathology residency, may not have even done a single Path rotation, and basically just didn't like anything else and/or didn't want to work hard.

 

[deschutes]

I was going to propose the "clueless" category, but am having a hard time writing up the description because it overlaps with so many of the other categories.

 

[cluecells]

In addition to the above:

The mistaken career: Chose pathology for nebulous reasons (lifestyle) and had no clue of what it actually was. Spends most days confused and trying to find a way out, or pursuing their other hobbies. Often expresses a desire to do dermpath 😛

The ersatz dermatologist: Spends every waking moment talking about either dermpath, getting a dermpath fellowship, doing a project in dermpath, following dermatopathologists around, or talking about how to spend the money they are going to make. States that they love skin. Ignores other parts of pathology extensively.

Great description 👍

 

[yaah]

They will probably never learn any real pathology and will kill people but will get a great job due to their ability to say the right thing at the right time-

Ain't that the truth? I am amazed at how some attendings will go out of their way to help out certain residents who really have not proven they deserve it. Some of our most slacker residents of the past few years have gotten the best jobs when they left, a couple because of blind luck, to be honest. It happens with fellowships too - being in the right place at the right time. Someone drops out, kind of too late to run a full candidate search, and the slacker who either wasn't good enough to land a spot first time around or just was lazy and missed it snaps it up.

 

[HRantz]

Will someone explain to me what's wrong with leaving work everyday at 5 p.m.? I imagine many residents spend a part of their evenings reading or working on projects, and some have families to go home to. Wanting to have dinner with your kids before they go to bed doesn't make you a slacker.

 

[docbiohazard]

Will someone explain to me what's wrong with leaving work everyday at 5 p.m.? I imagine many residents spend a part of their evenings reading or working on projects, and some have families to go home to. Wanting to have dinner with your kids before they go to bed doesn't make you a slacker.

I think it probably depends on the "standard of prractice" for the institution, and how hard a worker you're percieved to be by your fellow residents.

If you're coming in earlier than everyone else, and leaving at 5pm too have dinner with your fam while your fellow residents leave at 6pm, getting your work done, being prepared, helping out others, I doubt you'll be considered a slacker.

If you're constantly late, doing the bare minimum, shirking responsibility and leaving at 5pm while everyone else stays late, you're a slacker.

BH

 

[danaphosaurus]

Or leaving at 3 or 4 with tons of your work left undone-

 

[yaah]

Will someone explain to me what's wrong with leaving work everyday at 5 p.m.? I imagine many residents spend a part of their evenings reading or working on projects, and some have families to go home to. Wanting to have dinner with your kids before they go to bed doesn't make you a slacker.

Well duh, there doesn't have to be anything wrong with it. But when you make it a habit and leave some work to be done or leave it for others to do, that can be an issue. But if you shirk your duties just so you can leave at a certain time, there might be a problem with other residents who do not do this. Yes, many residents have families, and yes, it is nice that they go home to them. But you do not get a pass on doing work because you have a family (or if you just want to leave early!).

I like leaving around 5:30-6pm. So I generally get in around 6:30 am. Some people go home for a few hours in the evening and then come back to finish things. There are many strategies. You can also just be very efficient at what you do and be finished everything at 5pm.

 

[HRantz]

I like leaving around 5:30-6pm. So I generally get in around 6:30 am. Some people go home for a few hours in the evening and then come back to finish things. There are many strategies. You can also just be very efficient at what you do and be finished everything at 5pm.

Jesus man, what do you spend all that time doing? Seriously, fill me in. I seem to fall into the neurotic slacker category of resident.

 

[Hailey]

What about the "I can't get into anything else so let me try pathology" resident?

I came across an applicant that was made to repeat a year of med school, and a couple of others that were at the very bottom of their med school classes. They all figured that they were not going to get in anywhere else, so wound up in Pathology!

Jesus man, what do you spend all that time doing? Seriously, fill me in. I seem to fall into the neurotic slacker category of resident.

 

[yaah]

Jesus man, what do you spend all that time doing? Seriously, fill me in. I seem to fall into the neurotic slacker category of resident.

Lots of projects, lots of studying and reviewing things. Our days are also busy, so we don't often get much time to study or work on projects during the working day. That is probably different at many places. Currently I am trying to work on a book chapter, a couple of manuscripts, and a couple of ongoing projects in addition to boards study. Today I spent most of my time either previewing consults and transfer cases or signing them out, in addition to a couple of hours of conference. In the early morning I was working on a presentation.

 

[HRantz]

It's good you keep yourself busy. I have a tendency to take all that work home with me so even though I might spend less time at work I am still getting it done. Can't take home (most) service work though.

 

[mlw03]

this is why having a backbone is helpful.

fellow resident at 4:15pm: hey mlw, can you gross this BKA for me? i want to go home and see my kid?

mlw: nope, got my own work to do and i want to leave by 5:30 tonight so i can meet a friend for a run.

of course you help a friend out occasionally, but i ain't gonna be someone else's biyatch because i'm single and childless.

i'll also second the dermpath-related comments. USF has a fair number of dermpath-gunning residents at any given time because of a particular dermpath faculty member who is enthusiastic, publishes frequently, and appears to be pretty well connected. the residents are always working on some special stain for some esoteric skin tumor or inflammatory condition. i get a kick out of how gung-ho these people are for skin.

 

[rirriri]

this post reminds me of when we used to take Psych classes, and i would think that EVERY disorder or personality type they are describing was ME! There would then be that disclaimer that "if you think you fit into all these categories, then in reality you probably don't".


anyway, i think a piece of me belongs in almost every one of these categories. If i was to choose one, i'd probably lose my mind deciding.

cheers!

 

[Matte Kudesai]

The pontificate: Has figured out everything about everything ....might as well commit suicide because there is nothing new under the sun.

The cynic: Can be an outgrowth of the pontificator... done it all and it all sucks. Treats everyone like crap.

The Lumper: Likes to treat fellow humans like the entities interrogated on the scope stage. Does not like to bother with the nuances of individual human experiences or personalities but makes broad generalizations based on perceived notions caricaturized from ethnicity, external accoutrement (piercings, tattoos, hairstyle, clothes etc), and socio religious backgrounds (pedigree,etc.).

The sycophant: Exquisitely dexterous at massaging the egos of the powers at be. Speaks sugary topped gut wrenching BS that would wake up dead islets in a diabetic pancreas. Some attendings see through the BS.. others are mesmerized.

The situational ethicist: Usually has the ultimate target of wealth and power. Covets career path that will get to this end quickly. Will bend and break rules easily satisfying a fractured conscience to get to the cash FAST.

 

[cytoborg]

Crap, i'm some neurotic-slacker hybrid.

Dumping your work on others is just not cool. I have done plenty of favors and have been grateful for other people's help too. I am definitely willing to help somebody out if they're overwhelmed as long as I am reasonably sure they would do the same for me.

 

[yaah]

The pontificate: Has figured out everything about everything ....might as well commit suicide because there is nothing new under the sun.

The cynic: Can be an outgrowth of the pontificator... done it all and it all sucks. Treats everyone like crap.

The Lumper: Likes to treat fellow humans like the entities interrogated on the scope stage. Does not like to bother with the nuances of individual human experiences or personalities but makes broad generalizations based on perceived notions caricaturized from ethnicity, external accoutrement (piercings, tattoos, hairstyle, clothes etc), and socio religious backgrounds (pedigree,etc.).

The sycophant: Exquisitely dexterous at massaging the egos of the powers at be. Speaks sugary topped gut wrenching BS that would wake up dead islets in a diabetic pancreas. Some attendings see through the BS.. others are mesmerized.

The situational ethicist: Usually has the ultimate target of wealth and power. Covets career path that will get to this end quickly. Will bend and break rules easily satisfying a fractured conscience to get to the cash FAST.

Ooh those are good ones. I like that last one especially, although the last two are very often together.

 

[oko]

Hi, guys,

I just clarify: there are 16 personality types (this division was made on difference how people receive information) http://www.personalitypage.com/info.html
all other your classifications depend on personal consciousness

GL to everybody!🙂

 

[yaah]

Well, there are 16 personality types if you believe in Myers-Briggs as the only way to classify people. Others might philosophize that there are 3 billion personality types. Others might say there are two.

 

[Matte Kudesai]

Well, there are 16 personality types if you believe in Myers-Briggs as the only way to classify people. Others might philosophize that there are 3 billion personality types. Others might say there are two.

Believe it or not the world population is now about 6.6 billion. Do babies, toddlers, and preteens have personalities too?

How about dogs and dolphins.... wakadoo wakadoo

 

[Sean2tall]

Well, there are 16 personality types if you believe in Myers-Briggs as the only way to classify people. Others might philosophize that there are 3 billion personality types. Others might say there are two.

There are two kinds of people in this world: people who classify things into two groups, and people who don't.

 

[djmd]

Hi, guys,

I just clarify: there are 16 personality types (this division was made on difference how people receive information) http://www.personalitypage.com/info.html
all other your classifications depend on personal consciousness

GL to everybody!🙂

No, there are 10 types of people in the world.
Those who get this joke, and those that don't.

 

[Sean2tall]

No, there are 10 types of people in the world.
Those who get this joke, and those that don't.

Oh yeah, that's a better one, haha.

 

[Napoleon1801]

To recap:

1. The slacker: Does their work when they are on a service, but doesn't go beyond the minimum. Won't help anyone else out, yet asks for help a lot. Complains about being too busy. Only goes to conferences if they think it can help them get a fellowship. Usually wears scrubs at all times. They won't do work but make up for it in social colonoscopies, kind of like the fellowship comment- They will not open a textbook and are constantly asking for help- They will probably never learn any real pathology and will kill people but will get a great job due to their ability to say the right thing at the right time-

2. The anal-retentive (also known as the self-styled hero): Previews every case extensively with multiple open textbooks and pubmed searches. Has patient histories printed out on everyone as well. Stays late every day. Gets upset anytime another resident does anything that "encroaches" on their duties. Shows up at every conference with relevant literature searches. Comes in on weekends to read.

3. The stereotype: Hates people, hates interacting with people, has an odd sense of humor that no one else understands. Basically, the stereotype of the pathologist.

4. The mistaken career: Chose pathology for nebulous reasons (lifestyle) and had no clue of what it actually was. Spends most days confused and trying to find a way out, or pursuing their other hobbies. Often expresses a desire to do dermpath

5. The non-pathologist researcher: Hates or dislikes pathology and wants to do only research. Every rotation is an exercise in finishing early and getting back to the lab.

6. The ersatz dermatologist: Spends every waking moment talking about either dermpath, getting a dermpath fellowship, doing a project in dermpath, following dermatopathologists around, or talking about how to spend the money they are going to make. States that they love skin. Ignores other parts of pathology extensively.

7. The cytologist: Hates cytology but did a fellowship anyway. Spends most of their day doing cytology but complaining about it.

8. The absentee: Is never around except during signout or when required. Never goes to conferences. You happen to see them once or twice a month, which coincidentally happens also to be the days they are on call.

9. Politicians: Great delegaters...won't lift a damn finger to help anyone out. Leave everyday by 5 pm. They say the right things at the right time and really have a way with people. Eventually, their superficiality ends up to bite them in the A$$...hopefully, if the world is just.

10. The pontificate: Has figured out everything about everything ....might as well commit suicide because there is nothing new under the sun.

11. The cynic: Can be an outgrowth of the pontificator... done it all and it all sucks. Treats everyone like crap.

12. The Lumper: Likes to treat fellow humans like the entities interrogated on the scope stage. Does not like to bother with the nuances of individual human experiences or personalities but makes broad generalizations based on perceived notions caricaturized from ethnicity, external accoutrement (piercings, tattoos, hairstyle, clothes etc), and socio religious backgrounds (pedigree,etc.).

13. The sycophant: Exquisitely dexterous at massaging the egos of the powers at be. Speaks sugary topped gut wrenching BS that would wake up dead islets in a diabetic pancreas. Some attendings see through the BS.. others are mesmerized.

14. The situational ethicist: Usually has the ultimate target of wealth and power. Covets career path that will get to this end quickly. Will bend and break rules easily satisfying a fractured conscience to get to the cash FAST.