Last week, the Department of Medicine welcomed the new class of PGY1's to the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medical Residency Program. Embarking on a journey of this magnitude can be exciting and overwhelming. Faculty and current chief medical residents offered words of wisdom to help the incoming interns transition to their new phase of medicine.
Ryan Kramer, M.D.
Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program
No one expects perfection on day one. We simply expect a zeal for learning, collaborative attitude, and determination to take great care of your patients. And while your mentors seem to so effortlessly have all the answers, remember that they once were in your shoes. When you aren’t sure what to do, take a look around to find a friendly face to point you in the right direction. Nurses, unit secretaries, social workers, physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists have tremendous expertise in their areas and through effective collaboration, you can ensure your patients get exactly what they need.
Don’t forget that it is the patient in the bed that inspired you to become a physician. Afternoons are a perfect time to sit at the bedside with your patients. It is amazing what insights are learned when you and your patient have a little extra time to spend together each day.
Finally, don’t forget to be a person while you are growing as a physician. Prioritize the activities outside of the hospital that bring you wellness and joy. Follow this advice and you will survive your intern year, and who knows, you might even find yourself thriving!
Ashita Tolwani, M.D., Professor, Nephrology
2022 Top Ten Teacher by Divsion Awardee
Embrace a growth mindset, prioritize self-care, and above all keep your passion for medicine alive and don’t forget to have fun! These keys will help you navigate residency successfully and become a compassionate and accomplished physician.
Alonso Heudebert, M.D., Assistant Professor, GIM
2022 Top Ten Teacher Awardee
“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Theodore Roosevelt
You are entering an amazing time in your life. Residency offers a tremendous opportunity for growth. Never forget we have the incredible privilege to work in a field that is full of meaning, full of significance. It is precisely this meaning that lifts this from a job to a profession; from something that you can master into something that can ennoble you.
It is also a challenging time that will test you in ways you cannot imagine. This is the life of a doctor: hard but enriching, elevating yes but also taxing. Take care of yourself. It cannot be overstated: you cannot take good care of your patients if you do not take care of yourself. Go on a hike, read a book, go to a nice restaurant. Whatever it is that lets you recharge.
Luckily, you are not on this journey alone; your co-residents are a source of support and your shared experiences are the seeds that can sprout into life-long friendships. Victories will be sweeter and failures less painful because you achieve them together. This is the key to success in residency: working hard on ALL aspects of being a great physician.
Christina Cheng, M.D., Chief Medical Resident
Never forget that it is a privilege to share these patients' journeys with them. Cherish this opportunity. And remember to continue living your life outside of the hospital.
Brian Westbrook, M.D., Chief Medical Resident
As you step into the hospital on your first day as a doctor, know that this was not by chance. Your dedication, your work, your humanity, your intelligence, possibly even your tears for four years earned your title as a doctor. Congratulate yourself and be excited! Intern year will be some of the best and, much more rarely, hardest times of your life. You will bring about amazing cures, and you will hold patients' hands when that is your only therapy. You will soar, and you will be humbled. There is no greater privilege than being a doctor.
When you get five hours in, don't forget to eat and drink, even if it's fast! Hypoglycemia and an AKI won't make you a better doctor. Take a quick bathroom break if you need to!
On the days you are exhausted, remind yourself why you went into medicine. Remind yourself this is the calling you spent countless hours working toward, the calling you applied for, the calling you (hopefully) were excited to match into.
On the good days (and there will be far more good days than hard days), enjoy and don't forget them! Celebrate them! You're doing amazing work! It it easy to remember hard days. We have to work harder to remember the wins.
Welcome to UAB! Our residents are truly amazing, including each and every one of our new interns. You are not here by chance, and we are lucky to have you! Have a fantastic year, and, yes, it is totally appropriate to pump your fist after you put your first order in.
Julie England, M.D., Chief Medical Resident
Be compassionate. Be curious.
Be compassionate to your patients - you often meet them in quite difficult circumstances. Be compassionate to your team members - you will lift each other up. Be compassionate to yourself - sleep, food, and loved ones are important!
Be curious about your patients - listen to their stories. This is not only how you build good patient relationships, but also how you become a stronger clinician. Be curious about medicine - ask why we made a certain diagnosis, ask why we chose a certain treatment, ask how we can do things better. In my experience, curiosity helps guard against burnout.
Residency is a wonderful, exciting, yet sometimes difficult journey. Soak it up! And don't forget you have a whole team of people behind you. We care about you, and we want you to thrive!