Hi Everyone,
The best among us believe we’re flailing. Talented residents ruminate on mistakes and brood over near misses. We set unrealistic goals that predictably elude our reach.
Learning reinforces what we don’t know. Colleagues seem omniscient. A nurse says your supposedly stable patient is about to crash, and she’s right. A pharmacist advises you to revise a dangerous order. Your senior steps in to prevent an error. Your ego is bruised, and you wonder if you belong.
It’s so easy to lose perspective. Interns doubt they’ll ever be ready to lead teams. PGY2s feel the weight of responsibility. PGY3s can’t believe they’re nearing graduation. For years, long after I became an attending, I walked into the MICU each day, quietly praying not to screw up.
Maybe in some fantasy world we’d all see what others see in us. Maybe some of you do see yourselves as capable physicians, but many more of us secretly dwell on our shortcomings, silently and without visible signs of self-doubt.
Physicians can and should embrace humility. A little humility helps us recognize the awesome responsibility of our profession, the skills demanded, and the knowledge to be mastered. The more we care and the harder we work, the more glaring the gap grows between the physicians we are and the ones we strive to be. But let’s stop treating ourselves so harshly. With the cold, gloomy days of winter upon us, let’s cut ourselves some slack.
You are all developing into smart, skilled, compassionate physicians, even if you don’t see what we see. You are among the most talented physicians I’ve trained, and even at this early stage of your careers, you are healing and saving lives. So, go ahead and embrace your imperfections as a motivation to learn, but at the same time, embrace the progress you’ve made. Your patients and attendings are thrilled to watch you grow into the fine physicians you are destined to become. You are all on track.
Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. I’m headed out for a winter hike before settling in to read personal statements for Tuesday’s interview day.
Yours,
Mark
P.S. Our hearts go out this morning to the latest victims of gun violence, at Brown University and against the Jewish community in Australia.
P.P.S. Wishing light and joy to all those who celebrate Hanukkah
P.P.P.S. What I’m reading:
- Lamont, lawmakers outline plans to reduce homelessness after ‘heartbreaking’ CT Insider investigation. By Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
- $27,000 a Year for Health Insurance. How Can We Afford That? By Zack Cooper
- The top US health director who stood up for science — and was fired. By Max Kozlov
- Is Times New Roman Better Than Calibri for the State Department? By Jonathan Corum
- Oliver Sacks Put Himself Into His Case Studies. What Was the Cost? By Rachel Aviv
- Internal Medicine Goes to Therapy with Dr. Glaucomflecken
- How to Tell A Story By The Moth (Multiple Authors)