June 22nd, 2022
In a Digital World, Is “Legwork” Obsolete?
Khalid A. Shalaby, MBBCh
Our 2021 class of interns was the first in our institution not to receive good old pagers. Many institutions around the country are following suit. This marks a milestone in the advancement of how we communicate in medicine. Gone are the days when residents had to step on toes as they left from the middle […]
June 16th, 2022
Dear Chief Year …
Madiha Khan, DO
If you ask anyone on Reddit or SDN (Student Doctor Network) about pursuing Chiefdom in residency, you’ll find numerous opinions about it being an undertaking not worth the burden of additional responsibilities, even if it is considered an honor. I was also advised gently — and accurately, in my opinion — by mentors that focusing […]
June 9th, 2022
Building Possibilities in Family Medicine
Mikita Arora, MD
June is such an exciting month. As the academic year ends, I cannot help but reflect on my PGY-2 year. It was filled with adventure, because I had a leadership role with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). I was elected as the National Resident Delegate to the Congress of Delegates last July. You’re […]
June 2nd, 2022
The Importance of Psychological Safety
Brandon Temte, DO
Even before starting residency, I knew I wanted to be a critical care doctor. I chose my residency program and drove halfway across the country to get a solid hands-on clinical experience. As an intern in the ICU, I was eager to get involved in every possible way. One morning after team rounds, fully caffeinated […]
May 25th, 2022
The Pandemic Through a Rearview Mirror
Abdullah Al-abcha, MD
Throughout medical school, the word pandemic was something distant from our world of advancements. We truly believed we had reached the epitome of a future where a virus is something we could contain. COVID-19 proved us wrong. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic. An unprecedented event that would change our […]
May 18th, 2022
Will Interviews Stay Virtual? Hopefully, Yes.
Madiha Khan, DO
About 10 minutes into my virtual fellowship interview, I hear a whimper from under the desk. Confusion turns quickly into panic as I feel the tiny paws of my puppy grab at me for attention, and I realize she has somehow escaped her playpen and sneaked into my interview room. I try to keep my […]
May 10th, 2022
“Look at Me …”: The Problem with Clinical Documentation
Khalid A. Shalaby, MBBCh
It was a couple of months into my second year of internal medicine residency. One of my patients canceled a 4 pm appointment. The spot was immediately filled with an urgent visit by another patient in our clinic. I had been working on improving my efficiency in the clinical setting since the start of my […]
May 4th, 2022
Insights from the AAFP Physician Health and Well-Being Conference
Mikita Arora, MD
Physician well-being has long been an issue in all medical fields, but especially in primary care — the concept of well-being is to heal the healers. Right now, this is especially important to those who have are burdened with burnout and the COVID-19 pandemic. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the […]
April 26th, 2022
Enjoy the Journey – You Deserve It
Brandon Temte, DO
A few years back, I was a third-year medical student, exhausted on my general surgery rotation. I woke up at 4 am to the sound and smell of my coffee maker, muttering to myself, “only 1 week left.” I did not intend to become a surgeon, but I showed up early each day to get […]
April 19th, 2022
Calling out Impostor Syndrome
Abdullah Al-abcha, MD
As chief resident, I have been in a position to observe and mentor students, interns, and residents. I have always believed in the importance of recognition and support in a workplace. On a recent encounter with an intern, as I was praising her for her work, she responded rather unexpectedly! She thanked me for recognizing […]