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Besides medical knowledge, there were many life lessons I learned while I interacted with medical professionals on my off service months.
From a radiologist: Where you go for residency ultimately does not matter. An average residency will teach you 95% of the field. The top ones will open up that last 5% for you. The bar for medicine is so high already that the lowest graduating doctor is still minimally competent.
From an orthopedic surgeon: Never take call for free. The stress on your life will be much lower if you just decide to show up for clinic the next morning.
From a general surgeon: Look at what other healthcare professionals are paid for the level of work they do. Decide your monetary value based on that.
From an internist: Don’t be afraid to involve another specialist or even a doctor of the same specialty if a pathology is not your expertise. We specialized for a reason.
From an infection doctor: Sometimes you have to be cynical and understand human behavior. It will explain how patients end up in the mess they are in. Accept it and understand not everyone can be cured.
From an anesthesiologist: Know your strengths and what procedures you like to do. Stick to those. There is almost always someone else who is happy to take it off your hands.
From an office manager: When you work for a podiatrist, they will act like they know the field and will judge you for your residency and training. When you don’t, they will judge you on your personality, work ethic, and talent.
From a psychiatrist: Salary transparency is a great topic to make friends over. Not a measuring contest. Helps people know what to aim for and what to avoid. It is just money after all.
From a podiatrist: When you are a student, you are a student, not “just a student”. The youngest, freshest, most positive minds in the field. Exercise your mind and pretend you are already a doctor. Your diagnosis can help the patient and the team in a pinch.
Some of these can have deeper interpretations relating to podiatry, others not so much. Please post more below. Open to some comedy too!
From a radiologist: Where you go for residency ultimately does not matter. An average residency will teach you 95% of the field. The top ones will open up that last 5% for you. The bar for medicine is so high already that the lowest graduating doctor is still minimally competent.
From an orthopedic surgeon: Never take call for free. The stress on your life will be much lower if you just decide to show up for clinic the next morning.
From a general surgeon: Look at what other healthcare professionals are paid for the level of work they do. Decide your monetary value based on that.
From an internist: Don’t be afraid to involve another specialist or even a doctor of the same specialty if a pathology is not your expertise. We specialized for a reason.
From an infection doctor: Sometimes you have to be cynical and understand human behavior. It will explain how patients end up in the mess they are in. Accept it and understand not everyone can be cured.
From an anesthesiologist: Know your strengths and what procedures you like to do. Stick to those. There is almost always someone else who is happy to take it off your hands.
From an office manager: When you work for a podiatrist, they will act like they know the field and will judge you for your residency and training. When you don’t, they will judge you on your personality, work ethic, and talent.
From a psychiatrist: Salary transparency is a great topic to make friends over. Not a measuring contest. Helps people know what to aim for and what to avoid. It is just money after all.
From a podiatrist: When you are a student, you are a student, not “just a student”. The youngest, freshest, most positive minds in the field. Exercise your mind and pretend you are already a doctor. Your diagnosis can help the patient and the team in a pinch.
Some of these can have deeper interpretations relating to podiatry, others not so much. Please post more below. Open to some comedy too!
