Professionalism

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
rolltidedoc

rolltidedoc

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
29
Reaction score
19
Points
4,671
  1. Pre-Medical
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I recently created a thread asking for any tips/advice when observing a surgery for the first time. I got some great feedback and later commented that I would like to get a picture with the surgeon following the completion of the surgery. That comment got a lot of backlash from a couple of users, stating it would be "unprofessional" and "ridiculous" to get my picture with the surgeon. Only reason being, this surgeon was on a medical TV show for many seasons and is now releasing a book. I want to document this experience of getting the privilege and honor to shadow her by getting a quick picture. I don't want a picture to post on social media and flaunt at who I get to shadow. More for my own personal memories as this is the very first step on my path of being a pre-med student. What are everyone's thoughts? Unprofessional or just being human?
 
I will tell you here what I said in your original thread. If you truly want to document this for your memories....write about it in a journal. Trust me...when you are older, you will understand why a written documentation of your experience will be far more memorable (and possibly useful) than a pic of the Doc.
 
rolltidedoc said:
Why icky?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
TV docs are the personification of sensationalism and self-promotion (with rare exceptions).
As long as we don't know about it, it's your business, though.
 
gyngyn said:
TV docs are the personification of sensationalism and self-promotion (with rare exceptions).
As long as we don't know about it, it's your business, though.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I see. I believe the series was only local to where I live as it aired on our news channel. Who knows.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
rolltidedoc said:
I recently created a thread asking for any tips/advice when observing a surgery for the first time. I got some great feedback and later commented that I would like to get a picture with the surgeon following the completion of the surgery. That comment got a lot of backlash from a couple of users, stating it would be "unprofessional" and "ridiculous" to get my picture with the surgeon. Only reason being, this surgeon was on a medical TV show for many seasons and is now releasing a book. I want to document this experience of getting the privilege and honor to shadow her by getting a quick picture. I don't want a picture to post on social media and flaunt at who I get to shadow. More for my own personal memories as this is the very first step on my path of being a pre-med student. What are everyone's thoughts? Unprofessional or just being human?
Click to expand...

All depends on how it's approached. I think the primary disconnect is everyone is imagining you taking a selfie with her in the OR or the PACU which would certainly be perceived as unprofessional, primarily because that isn't the proper place. I doubt you intended this, but one can never tell! You're not there as a tourist; you're there as a student who intends to enter the profession. And if I recall from your other thread, this is step 2 in a staged repair of a hypoplastic LV - the professionally minded student would be focused on more important things, of which there are many.

If you're going to do it, wait for an opportune time away from the OR after everything is all done. Ideally you'd wait for some kind of informal setting like lunch or coffee and ask her if she'd mind if the waiter took your picture. That's assuming you could read the dynamic and tell it would be okay. Many people aren't so good at that. If the right situation doesn't present itself, let it go.
 
rolltidedoc said:
I recently created a thread asking for any tips/advice when observing a surgery for the first time. I got some great feedback and later commented that I would like to get a picture with the surgeon following the completion of the surgery. That comment got a lot of backlash from a couple of users, stating it would be "unprofessional" and "ridiculous" to get my picture with the surgeon. Only reason being, this surgeon was on a medical TV show for many seasons and is now releasing a book. I want to document this experience of getting the privilege and honor to shadow her by getting a quick picture. I don't want a picture to post on social media and flaunt at who I get to shadow. More for my own personal memories as this is the very first step on my path of being a pre-med student. What are everyone's thoughts? Unprofessional or just being human?
Click to expand...

OP, I used the words so I'll out myself. I never really understood this generation's trend of taking pictures of every experience as if it didn't really happen if it didn't get posted on facebook. I've had plenty of memorable experiences where due to certain circumstances I couldn't take pictures or could only post pictures weeks or years after they happened. They still happened. I still learned from them. Taking a picture with this doctor (assuming he or she is willing) won't accomplish anything except get you a few likes on facebook. It certainly won't ingratiate you with the physician you will be shadowing. And presumably, if you get accepted to medical school and perhaps enter surgery someday then all this will become somewhat routine and a case like this will be interesting and not a significant event in one's life.
 
Full disclosure: second-year premed, I couldn't tell a med-school application from...something that isn't a med-school application, so take the below with a grain of salt.

I think I get the "icky" comments.

My dad used to be a stage director, as such, I did some acting in my youth. I got to work with some names in theater and TV, people that I looked up to, people I thought were stars, at least locally. My dad would always say "Never ask for a photo with them, never ask for their autograph - they are your peers, they are your co-workers, you are behind the curtain, just like they are."

Other than that, I got nothing.

GK
 
If he doesn't mind then go for it.
 
Acoustica said:
ha what a troll
Click to expand...
Actually... this one is not. I can tell it's a genuine question and I'm normally the first person to start sounding the troll alarm.

OP, I think it's pretty awkward in general to ask people for pictures... but that's just my opinion honestly. Also "solely my use" is a bit awkward from a phrasing standpoint 😛
 
I personally think you should take the picture and make your own customizable fathead and put it in your room to remind you why you want to be a doctor...for all the adoring fans :bow:
 
Goro said:
My first thought? "How typical of your generation."
Click to expand...

My 90 year old grandfather has thousands of photographs of important memories, starting from when he was in elementary school. I hate photos so much and never take them, but I know when I'm old and I want to look back a photo along with some written notes will be really cool to jog your visual memory.

Honestly, take the photo. Just don't be stupid about it and take it in the right place.
 
DingoPingo said:
My 90 year old grandfather has thousands of photographs of important memories, starting from when he was in elementary school. I hate photos so much and never take them, but I know when I'm old and I want to look back a photo along with some written notes will be really cool to jog your visual memory.

Honestly, take the photo. Just don't be stupid about it and take it in the right place.
Click to expand...

Although I have received some objective feedback, I must say I would rather hear it from this forum rather than the real world.

With that said, DingoPingo, I appreciate your comment. It explained the entirety of what I was trying to convey in my original post. From what I read, your grandfather and I are similar in that we always document things. Big or small, it's documented and we always look back on it. Especially if it's the very start of "getting my foot in the door" to the journey of a career in medicine. I'm not dumb. I won't take it at all if I don't feel the time is appropriate. Not a big deal in my books. Thanks for all the comments.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
osckey said:
If he doesn't mind then go for it.
Click to expand...
OP stated the doctor was a female. But you assumed that the person was a male. Not getting on your ass or anything its just something I notice I do alot as well, maybe its our bias ?
 
Chelsea FC said:
OP stated the doctor was a female. But you assumed that the person was a male. Not getting on your ass or anything its just something I notice I do alot as well, maybe its our bias ?
Click to expand...

Possibly, I think it's different two women taking a picture rather than a young woman taking a picture with an older male physician. Then it would sound kind of odd.
 
Is it slightly unprofessional? Yes a bit. But is there a huge reason not to ask for a photo? No.

By reading these comments I get the feeling that most people think you want to whip out your cell phone as soon as the patient is out of the room and take a selfie. I'm assuming you mean later before you leave and have someone else take the photo.

I would recommend asking him before the surgery if it is okay to get a photo after, instead of surprising him after its finished.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
Chelsea FC said:
OP stated the doctor was a female. But you assumed that the person was a male. Not getting on your ass or anything its just something I notice I do alot as well, maybe its our bias ?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I just used he instead of she because I know OP is female and I assumed that a difference in gender was the source of OP's uncertainty. I don't attribute it to the "patriarchy".
 
osckey said:
Honestly, I just used he instead of she because I know OP is female and I assumed that a difference in gender was the source of OP's uncertainty. I don't attribute it to the "patriarchy".
Click to expand...

Nope. She's a mentor to me and I will be working with her again in the summer. I had uncertainty due to all the backlash I received when I just had mentioned it in another post.
 
rolltidedoc said:
Nope. She's a mentor to me and I will be working with her again in the summer. I had uncertainty due to all the backlash I received when I just had mentioned it in another post.
Click to expand...

How was the surgery? Or have you not gone yet?
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I don't see a problem with this at all. Even esteemed neurosurgeons document all the famous people that they've met through the years!


carson-and-jesus.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
SDN Article: Professionalism as an Engaged Applicant and Incoming Student: More than the “Traffic Rules”
Replies
0
Views
1K
Emil Chuck, PhD
E
K
Profanity Online
Replies
7
Views
1K
Angus Avagadro
Angus Avagadro
Princeton Medical Student
Why do med schools expect professionalism from premeds when they do things like this...
2 3 4
Replies
165
Views
9K
Tyrese
Tyrese
AAAmeds
What does professionalism mean to you?
Replies
39
Views
9K
LivMoore
LivMoore
E
Professionalism among patients
Replies
18
Views
2K
crossfit4lyfe
crossfit4lyfe
Top Bottom