“I really like surgery. To be able to take someone to the operating room, fix a problem, and discharge them a few days later seems rewarding. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” The medical student sitting across from me had just completed her surgical rotation and was grappling to find her niche. This was the […]
When you meet someone new, how do you introduce yourself? Do you mention your job, your family, or your hobbies? What do you usually share? Many of us often highlight the concrete aspects of our lives, like our professions. This is especially true for doctors, who dedicate a lot of time, effort, and money to […]
My Medical School Struggle: A Personal Story It has been nearly 30 years since I started medical school, but I remember my first semester well. As someone who struggled initially as a first-year medical student, I can relate to the overwhelming feeling many first-year students are experiencing right now. Trust me, I’ve been there! I […]
Welcome, first-year medical students, to the beginning of your extraordinary medical education journey! As an experienced physician and medical educator, I am thrilled to guide you through the transformative experience of medical education. You are embarking on a path that will shape your professional identity and profoundly impact your personal growth. The Essence of Medical […]
In medical education, it is essential to instill a growth mindset in students. A growth mindset emphasizes that talents and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. A fixed mindset, by contrast, sees these traits as inherent and unchangeable. Can a growth mindset be taught? There are several ways to teach a growth […]
Transitioning from medical school to residency is a critical step in the life of a physician. Every year on July 1st, thousands of new doctors begin residency and suddenly transition from being students to medical decision-makers. It’s widely recognized that this transition is one of the most stressful times in medical training. Changes to medical […]
