Many people told me that my third year of medical school would be the most challenging and the most difficult. It was about choosing a future specialty and finding my specific path in medicine. This job seemed exciting and daunting at the beginning of the year. Little did he know that during his junior year of medical school, he would learn as much about himself as he learned about patient care and medical practice. As I progressed through each clerical position and specialty, I tried on different hats…does this fit? I reimagined my future in 100 different ways, forming a new understanding of my strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. I hope to receive advice and that they collectively lead me to the right area of expertise.
During my internal medicine rotation, I saw complex patients and participated in the management of chronic diseases. When discussing my interests, my supervisor asked, “Do you like your problems solvable or unsolvable?” He then explained that surgeons are happy to see patients with correctable problems like bad hips, appendicitis, or breast masses and intervene quickly. Physicians and GPs focus more on operating room techniques and skills than on the nuances of diagnosis and treatment, he said. managing patients who are progressing through They should enjoy working on problems that may not have a clear solution.
My surgical rotation has been two of the most exciting and exhausting months of the year. I was fascinated by the conditions I saw in the operating room and wanted to help. I was consistently amazed at what the surgeons were able to accomplish in the short time they were in surgery. explained. Quickly acknowledging my enthusiasm, he watched me practice my suturing technique, contracting and tightening the operative field to visualize the anatomy. By the end of my surgery rotation, he announced, “You’ll find out you’re a performer.”
When I started my paramedic rotation, I asked a resident what it was like to work in the emergency department. “First, you have to figure out if you like seeing patients at the EMR with a cup of tea at your desk, or if you want to see them in the moment and think on their feet.” This was true when comparing emergency and inpatient care, but I later found out that home care in an outpatient clinic also requires quick thinking. I loved evaluating and counseling patients in the clinic, even though I was busy, because I could get to know them a little better than I could in the emergency department. Also, many of the skills I learned during my rotation in emergency medicine were common medicines.
Prior to my third year, I had never considered a career in neurology and entered the rotation with no expectations. By the third week, I was feeling inspired. I love my patients and their stories, and I found neurological examinations enjoyable. I worked hard to extract relevant information from a patient’s medical history and was rewarded to see the patient’s condition improve over days and weeks. I spent evenings reading about the basic neuroscience behind their pathologies. But one doctor warned that neurology, which involves many degenerative diseases, should accept that many patients never fully recover and, in fact, get worse despite their best efforts. gave me pause and prompted me to ask other neurologists about their experiences. I concluded that internal medicine was not for me.
In processing the information I have collected so far, I have tried to actively listen and evaluate new information myself. I also learned that I need to contextualize the advice I receive. I realized that no matter how smart I am, no one understands me better than I do. Everyone along the way generously shared their wisdom on the strengths and weaknesses of each area. As soon as I feel a sense of familiarity with a particular field, people ask me, “Have you ever considered obstetrics and gynecology?” and “You should apply to an otolaryngologist!” Every doctor has an understanding of medicine shaped by his own experience and has his own two cents to put in.
My favorite piece of advice actually comes from my mother, who is a doctor. She is a psychiatrist and was of course optimistic that I would follow in her footsteps and one day join her busy private practice. Did. But within weeks of my inpatient rotation, I realized that psychiatry wasn’t my calling. The cases were difficult and frustrating because I didn’t feel a strong connection with them and often didn’t foresee a meaningful recovery. This came as a surprise to me and made me wonder how well I knew myself.On the last day of my rotation, when I puke at her mother on her phone, my mother I said a piercing word. Your specialty chooses you. That’s when you need to be careful. “
When I finished my third year and started thinking about applying for a residency, I finally saw the path to internal medicine. We value teamwork and collaboration with consultants to coordinate patient care. I work with many different organ systems and love being able to treat each patient from head to toe. I recently expressed my trepidation about making choices to one of my mentors. Assured me, “There is always room for improvement.”
If I could give any advice to juniors, it would be to make the most of each clinical learning experience and be flexible with yourself as your interests and identities develop and evolve. Let’s make time to think about something. Actively seek out different perspectives and filter the advice you receive, not a sponge. Much of the guidance I received on this journey was invaluable. Even when my seniors were just voicing their thoughts and casually stating their opinions on the way to the next project, their opinions made a big impact. I feel lucky to be part of a community full of generous mentors. I want to transform their advice and pass it on to my mentee.
Contributor
California North State Medical College
I am a fourth year medical student at the University of California North State and will be pursuing internal medicine as a resident. I grew up in Santa Cruz, California and attended college at UC Santa Barbara. I am interested in gastroenterology, nutrition, and the mind-gut connection. In his spare time, he enjoys running and reading historical fiction.
