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Moving Us Closer To Osler
A Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence Initiative

What advice do you have for the incoming med school class?

Takeaway

Explore, be kind, and be yourself.

 

Passion in the Medical Profession | August 14, 2020 | <1 min read

Highlights

As long as you're not hurting anyone or being bigoted: You be you, boo!

Chase Anderson, MD, UCSF

Explore every specialty without bias and see if it fits you!

Zainab Obaidi, MBBS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Try to enjoy where you are right now.

The Physician's Guide to Doctoring Podcast

Take breaks when you need to (including making time for the hobbies you love—these will become helpful outlets) and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it!

Michelle Gyenes, med student, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

Enthusiasm can take you a long way!

Taranjeet Ahuja, DO, Melville, New York

Don't be afraid to fight for something you believe is important, because you know more than you think you do.

Harry Paul, MD-PhD student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Constantly remind you're self that you're good enough.

Howard Chang, med student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Don’t let anyone, including yourself, say you’re “just a medical student.”

Chandan Khandai, MD, University of Illinois

Meet regularly with a trusted therapist, even when you think things are going well.

Kara Pepper, MD, Atlanta, Georgia

You belong here.

Anil Jagtiani, MD, California

Learn from other disciplines—shadow a psychologist if you can.

Kathleen Alto, PhD, Cleveland, Ohio

Be humble in the face of the responsibility and privilege that you're being invited to take on.

Schmuel Shohan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Be kind to yourself and to others.

Carl Streed Jr., MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center

Don't be afraid to ask "why?"

Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Accept that no matter how intelligent or resourceful you are, you will fail, at one point or another.

Awais Aftab, MD, Cleveland, Ohio

It's a marathon, not a sprint!

Aparna Shreenath, Tennessee

Remain true to yourself.

Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, Boston University Medical Center

Be kind to yourself and others.

Irene Mestores, MD, University of Florida

Never worry alone.

Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD, Mass General

Learning is a lifelong process, so enjoy the journey.

Kristy Schwartz, MD, MPH, University of California San Diego

Medicine is a loooonnggg road, so don't put off living your life during it—keep in touch with friends & family, (post-pandemic) go to those weddings, maintain your self-care and hobbies and things that make you feel like a person and not just a med student.

Nicole de Paz, MD, Boston Children's Hospital

Chase Anderson, MD, UCSF

As long as you’re not hurting anyone or being bigoted:

You be you, boo!

Zainab Obaidi, MBBS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Explore every specialty without bias and see if it fits you!

What do you think?

Do you want to add to the conversation? Please share!

The Physician's Guide to Doctoring Podcast

Try to enjoy where you are right now.

Michelle Gyenes, med student, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

Take breaks when you need to (including making time for the hobbies you love—these will become helpful outlets) and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it! You got this!

Taranjeet Ahuja, DO, Melville, New York

Enthusiasm can take you a long way!

Harry Paul, MD-PhD student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Don’t be afraid to fight for something you believe is important, because you know more than you think you do.

Howard Chang, med student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Constantly remind you’re self that you’re good enough.

Read more here: “Ten Anchors For Med24.”

Chandan Khandai, MD, University of Illinois

Don’t let anyone, including yourself, say you’re “just a medical student.” You’re re sacrificing your youth to save the lives of your fellow humans. You belong in this room.

Kara Pepper, MD, Atlanta, Georgia

Meet regularly with a trusted therapist, even when you think things are going well.

Anil Jagtiani, MD, California

You belong here.

Kathleen Alto, PhD, Cleveland, Ohio

Learn from other disciplines—shadow a psychologist if you can.

Schmuel Shohan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Be humble in the face of the responsibility and privilege that you’re being invited to take on. Learn from everyone, including from yourself. Celebrate your victories. Serve others. Alleviate suffering. Show up, even when not in the mood—that’s part of being a professional.

Carl Streed Jr., MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center

Be kind to yourself and to others.

Unless you’re tackling racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist systems, policies, and persons—then do what you have to make right.

Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Don’t be afraid to ask “why?” Truly no one will judge you and everyone else likely wants to know the answer to the same question. Be brave!

Awais Aftab, MD, Cleveland, Ohio

Success is never guaranteed, even to those who may deserve it the most. Accept that no matter how intelligent, powerful, or resourceful you are, you will fail, at one point or another.

“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness, that is life.” Jean-Luc Picard

Aparna Shreenath, Tennessee

It’s a marathon, not a sprint!

Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, Boston University Medical Center

Remain true to yourself.

Irene Mestores, MD, University of Florida

Be kind to yourself and others.

Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD, Mass General

Never worry alone.

Kristy Schwartz, MD, MPH, University of California San Diego

Learning is a lifelong process and we’ll never achieve knowing everything, so enjoy the journey.

Nicole de Paz, MD, Boston Children's Hospital

Medicine is a loooonnggg road, so don’t put off living your life during it—keep in touch with friends & family, (post-pandemic) go to those weddings, maintain your self-care and hobbies and things that make you feel like a person and not just a med student. You’ve got this!