They said, “Third year of medical school is better.” It wasn’t nearly good enough.

Everyone says that medical school gets better, especially third year. The traditional four-year curriculum covers basic science in the classroom for the first two years. Then suddenly, third year plunges us into clinical rotations in the hospital, where we’ve all dreamed of working for so long. Third year is when we transition from learning how to be scientists; we finally learn how to become doctors — except for one critical, necessary piece. Like my non-medical friends who’ve really been living life, third year should finally have allowed me to say the same. After all, I’ve delivered babies, consoled surgical patients before going under anesthesia, successfully convinced people to quit smoking … I’ve even had the chance to tell a man he had brain cancer — and then be there to help him process that for hours. For most people, these probably sound like experiences of a lifetime. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve felt deeply humbled and privileged to share these vulnerable moments with people who trusted me, a complete stranger. Regardless, these experiences simply could not make up my despair at all the things I couldn’t do. My patients’ medical problems were inextricably intertwined with preventable social problems, which my superiors all too often dismissed as “beyond our scope.” This drove me up the wall because, in my previous career, seeing every problem as within my locus of control was the key to success. Continue readin...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Education Medical school Source Type: blogs