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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
April 13th, 2022
A Glimpse of Being an IMG
Khalid A. Shalaby, MBBCh
“God on high, Hear my prayer In my need, You have always been there He is young, He’s afraid Let him rest, Heaven blessed Bring him home” Jean Valjean praying for Marius in Les Misérables I was back in my childhood bedroom on the outskirts of Cairo when I first met our wonderful executive editor and my fellow chief […]
April 5th, 2022
#MedTwitter: The Good, the Bad, and the Surprisingly Useful
Madiha Khan, DO
“Does this look professional enough for Twitter?” My co-resident holds up her phone to show me her newly minted Twitter profile. A picture of a distant, shadowy figure in sand, framed by a circular thumbnail, is her profile picture. Underneath this vague portrait is what could only be presumed to be her twitter handle: her initials […]
May 17th, 2021
“Feel the Musicality”: How Do Surgeons Learn?
Vivek Sant, MD
My friends and I spent Thanksgiving 2018 attending surf school in Jacó, Costa Rica. We spent that week fully immersed in twice-daily surf sessions interspersed with conditioning, balance exercises, and of course, downtime to explore the town and rainforests of Jacó. Having been on a surfboard only a handful of times previously, this was a […]
April 14th, 2021
Top 21 Thoughts for ’21
Sneha Shah, MD
What I Wish I’d Known Here is my advice for medical students, interns, and senior residents. These are things I wish someone had told me. I write from the perspective of an outgoing Internal Medicine Chief. Many thanks to my co-chiefs for their input and their support throughout this year. Medical Students Be honest about your […]
March 5th, 2021
The Season of the Second Year
Stephanie Braunthal, DO
Chief year has taught me that, although residents progress through training linearly, the educational year itself is cyclical, with predictable “seasons” that are marked by specific events and focus on different populations within the residency body. With the completion of intern orientation, the fellowship match, and residency recruitment, there is a palpable shift to the […]