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INFORMATION FOR

Matchmaker

November 07, 2020
by Mark David Siegel

“To work well, a hospital must be a tightly-knit community of people who respect one another and enjoy working together”

-Paul Beeson, Chairman, Yale Department of Medicine, 1952-1965

“As good as any, nicer than most.”

-Fred Kantor, Paul B. Beeson Professor Emeritus of Medicine

Hi everyone,

With the presidential match behind us, it’s time to match some residents. We start this week with our first two interview days.

The applicants are spectacular- all at the top of their class and all with superb grades, letters and board scores. Each has the potential to become an exceptional clinician, teacher, and scholar.

The applicants can choose from plenty of great residencies, all offering excellent clinical training, research opportunities, fellowship matches, and job opportunities- just like ours. Residents can succeed anywhere, but the salient question is where will they thrive, and is Yale that place? Who, specifically, should match here? Here are some thoughts:

  • All for one and one for all. We seek talented people, but not individual all-stars. We seek residents who value teamwork- those who know that for the program to succeed we all must succeed. Success compels us to teach one another, to applaud one another, and to support one another. As the immortal football coach, Vince Lombardi, said, “Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” And, I’ll add, that’s what makes a residency work.
  • A larger mission. Yale residents recognize a fundamental obligation to the New Haven community, which is one of the most diverse in the United States. We are committed to caring for the underserved, the marginalized, and the victimized. We believe all patients, no matter who they are or where they come from, deserve our skill and compassion. That same commitment extends to the wider world, as we advocate for universal healthcare, common sense gun control, efforts to fight global warming, and policies to correct the social inequities that undermine our nation’s health.
  • Fostering leadership. Our residency offers countless ways to contribute through committees and working groups. Your opinions matter. Your leadership improves the program in infinite ways because residents understand best what works and what doesn’t. Beyond that, fostering leadership is central to our mission. If we aim to develop academic leaders, then training to lead has to start the moment you arrive in New Haven, as you learn to articulate your vision, to listen, to plan, and to inspire.
  • A commitment to kindness. This is core to who we are. We embrace patience and compassion. We value diversity. We see the good in others. We treat each other like brothers and sisters. We trust each other to do the right thing. We focus on the greater good. In a country reeling from anger and polarization, we aim to showcase what can be accomplished when we cooperate, when we treat each other with respect, and when we embrace the power of kindness.

With interviews just beginning, we have no idea yet who will match with us. But we do know this: the ideal candidate will know Yale is right for them as soon as they meet you. Our applicants are talented enough to train anywhere, but those destined to join us will know instantly that your passions resonate with theirs, and that the mission that fuels your work fires them up too. So, in the days ahead, please welcome these special applicants, gush about your colleagues, tell them what you cherish about our institution and community, and share what you love about this one-of-a-kind residency family.

And with that, it’s time for a long bike ride.

Mark

PS What I’m reading now as we prepare for a winter of COVID:

MDS

Submitted by Mark David Siegel on November 08, 2020

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