Hi everyone:
We expect a lot from our interns, eventually. You’re accomplished. You know a lot. You have grit. You radiate potential. You’ll be brilliant internists, one day.
I began internship on a bone marrow floor, largely helpless. I didn’t know how to replete potassium, so nurses showed me. I thought a patient had “tombstones” on his EKG, until a resident taught me to recognize a bundle branch block. I’d heard of neutropenic fever, but it took a fellow to teach me how fast a patient can crash.
At Yale, we promote graduated autonomy. When you start internship, your resident will teach you the basics: pre-rounding, calling consults, entering orders, and keeping your cool. You may have done a Sub-I, but internship brings more patients, higher stakes, and bigger responsibilities. So, on day one, we’ll hold your hand.
But the days whiz by, and soon your seniors will step back so you can show what you’ve learned, from choosing antibiotics to tapping bellies to breaking bad news. The days and nights are long, but the year is short, and when next summer comes, you’ll be the one holding an intern’s hand.
For now, we have simple expectations: Work hard, stay humble, take care of yourselves, and listen. Build on the skills you already have: Be a good teammate, be kind to your patients, and treat everyone with respect.
You will often doubt yourselves, as all physicians do, even PGY38s. But never doubt how grateful we are that you’re here. In a tumultuous world, you’ve entered a sanctuary of healing and learning, and we welcome the contributions each of you will make, beginning on day one.
Enjoy your last 5 days of orientation everyone, and Happy Father’s Day to all!
Yours,
Mark
P.S. Thinking of vulnerable people, everywhere, in the U.S., the Middle East, and around the world.
P.P.S. What I’m reading, watching, and listening to:
- I’m a Vaccine Expert. Here’s What Keeps Me Up at Night About Kennedy’s Policies. By Michael Mina
- Like father, like son: How this local family is building a legacy of care at Yale New Haven Hospital By Cris Villalonga-Vivoni
- Connecticut Pizza Team Heads to NYC to Claim Superiority. Here’s What They Found. By Dan Haar
- Connecticut’s New York Pizza Ploy
- Antisemitism Is an Urgent Problem. Too Many People Are Making Excuses. By The Editorial Board
- Father’s Don’t Just Protect—They Prepare By Daniel Kellman