The challenges and rewards of being an introvert in medicine

More than two years ago, I wrote about some of the obstacles — as well as the opportunities — that introverted medical students face during training. Now that I have many rotations under my belt, it’s time for an update about my experiences on rotations, along with some helpful advice to newcomers. The challenges First, the challenges: Medical school rotations are very fast-paced, and our team members (co-workers and superiors) tend to change very frequently. This means that, for better or for worse, first impressions matter significantly, and there is sometimes very little opportunity to really get to know one another before you’re being evaluated or working together in a critical situation. I do think that introverted students have a particularly tough time in this regard, as we often tend to want time to settle in, gather information, and get to know people so we can best adapt to the environment. Unfortunately, we’re not always afforded that luxury, and our initial quietness can often be mistaken for a lack of enthusiasm or interest, which is a big no-no on rotations. One of my more embarrassing moments on surgery was when I hesitated too long before answering a question, and the attending surgeon snapped sarcastically, “You need to actually talk in the operating room!” Another challenge that introverts face in some clinical rotations is that the evaluation system gives students strong incentives to impress our superiors by advertising every littl...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Education Medical school Practice Management Source Type: blogs