October 17th, 2017
Be Human. Be Memorable.
Karmen Wielunski, DO
My dad died on May 11, 2003. It was Mothers’ Day. I was 18 years old. Those are the easy facts. The more difficult ones are those detailing the events that led to his death. My dad was so many things — a brilliant geologist, a loving father, an inventor, a pilot, and a Vietnam […]
October 6th, 2017
We All Give Up Something
Cassie Shaw, MD
We all give up something, usually many somethings, to become doctors. It all starts with medical school where we spend hours listening to lectures, studying books, reviewing slides and reading notes. It continues into residency where we have little control over our schedules, working weekends and holidays; cherishing each of our 4 days off per […]
September 27th, 2017
Thoughts on Caring for Sexual-Minority Patients
David Herman, MD
According to recent polling, approximately 4% of the population of the U.S. identifies as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, which equates to more than 10 million people scattered from coast to coast. In truth, this number likely underestimates the true prevalence. Despite the progress that we have made as a nation towards LGB acceptance and equality, […]
August 29th, 2017
Procedures in Residency
Karmen Wielunski, DO
Hi. My name is Karmen, and I’m a fainter. It’s true. I am one of those people who occasionally falls victim (pun intended) to vasovagal syncope at its finest. It tends to happen at inopportune times and places. For example, the first time I passed out, I landed in a Christmas tree. I was in high […]
August 23rd, 2017
Is Transferring a Patient to the ICU a Failure?
Cassie Shaw, MD
As I sit with one hand wrapped around a greasy diner cheeseburger, eating my feelings — I mean, my dinner — it sure feels like failure. It’s 7:22 pm, and the first patient with my name listed as the attending is being packed up to roll into his new room in the intensive care unit. Did I […]
June 27th, 2017
Four-Oh-Wonk. The Reboot.
April Edwards, MD
At the beginning of the year, I wrote about the rude awakening I was experiencing with regard to my own finances. I heard from more than a few other imminent or recent resident graduates who expressed some degree of similar feelings of being inadequately prepared in the financial realm. At the risk of being incredibly rudimentary, I […]
May 31st, 2017
What I Love About My Medical Students
Kashif Shaikh, MD
We all start with medical school I still remember the day I got the welcome letter from my medical school. I was super excited and proud. My dreams of becoming a physician were now a reality. So, I pushed myself during my two basic science years and awaited my clinical years. I bought my first stethoscope and white […]
May 16th, 2017
Constructive Criticism
Joseph Cooper, MD
Here are some questions that are still on my mind as I approach the tail end of my chief year. I’m thinking about the best ways to offer constructive feedback. What is the best way to approach a struggling learner? What is the best way to give guidance and feedback without being perceived as a tyrant […]
March 20th, 2017
Resident Wellness in Graduate Medical Education
Kashif Shaikh, MD
Happy Endings: Living in Orlando, one cannot escape Disney. Disney movies are a delight, because one subconsciously anticipates that the happy ending is going to make up for the rest of the characters’ struggles. It works for me! Be it Simba, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, or Elsa, every Disney fairy tale gives us the desired ending of a happy and […]
February 24th, 2017
Z71.1: Worried Well
April Edwards, MD
I took my dog to the vet today. You’d think this would be a straightforward sort of thing for a medical professional. You’d be wrong. When I woke my dog up at 5:15am (my new daily start time, as it’s apparently the only way I can find time to do board questions, and is also the […]
2017-2018 Chief Resident Panel
David Herman, MD
John Junyoung Lee, MD
Cassie Shaw, MD
Karmen Wielunski, DO
Resident chiefs in hospital, internal, and family medicine
Learn more about Insights on Residency Training.
