Dear Colleague,
As you gear up for the transition to a supervising resident role, I’d like to share some reflections that extend beyond the conventional teachings found in textbooks, databases, or lectures. While you are likely inundated with advice on the clinical and technical facets of your upcoming responsibilities, it’s crucial not to overlook the less-emphasized yet equally vital moral dimension of your practice. Mastering the clinical intricacies is essential, but cultivating qualities like patience, compassion, and humility is equally paramount. Having recently navigated this promotion myself, I offer a few considerations to ponder as you embark on this significant transition.
Empower Your Learners:
The intern role often involves substantial responsibility with limited agency, creating stress without the corresponding fulfillment of making consequential decisions. Your role is not only to teach or supervise but also to inject agency into the interns you work alongside. Foster an environment that nurtures their sense of worth and self-efficacy within the intricate framework of medical teamwork. While entrusting unsupervised decisions to a new intern may not be prudent, you can gradually build their confidence by inviting their input during rounds, encouraging open discussions on ambiguous medical decisions, and seeking feedback for your own improvement.
Embrace Uncertainty with Integrity:
Clinical medicine inherently grapples with uncertainty and ambiguity. A wise clinician learns to act in the face of complex information, demonstrating a humility often absent among practitioners and trainees. Resist the common notion that admitting uncertainty is a weakness; instead, acknowledge the limits of your knowledge, seek help when necessary, and proceed despite imperfect solutions. This honesty not only preserves your intellectual integrity but sets a crucial example for your trainees. Acknowledging uncertainty liberates you from the pressure of always having definitive answers and fosters a healthier approach to decision-making.
Shift Focus from Memorization to Process:
Challenge the traditional evaluation of medical knowledge, moving away from antiquated practices like “pimping.” Rather than emphasizing rote memorization of facts easily forgotten, invest your time in understanding the intricate processes underlying the pathophysiology you encounter. This shift requires dedicated practice and time, but it ensures a more enduring investment of intellectual effort, enabling you to comprehend the “how” behind medical phenomena, not just the “what.”
Reflect on Intern Year Challenges:
Finally, don’t lose sight of the challenges faced during intern year. Recognize that shortcomings in medicine often stem from memory lapses rather than malice. Remember the vulnerability of being unwell and in a position of disempowerment. True empathy flourishes in these uncomfortable spaces, serving as a potent motivator in your journey.
Best regards,
A Very Humbled Resident
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