A Fellowship Well-Spent
This summer, while arguably the best and most well-spent I have had in a long while, has passed in a blur. I recently reviewed all of the doctors I shadowed throughout my time at Saint Mary’s Health Clinics (SMHC) and was astonished how some clinics feel like they happened years ago, and others just yesterday. They say time flies when you are having fun, but for me it seems to go even faster when learning about something you are passionate about. After a summer at SMHC, I not only have a better idea what clinical work is really about but confirmed that my passion for a career in healthcare is powerful and real.
SMHC helped further illuminate the vision I have for my future. It gave me perspective into my own blessings and furthered my determination to put my whole self into serving others. When I consider how lucky I am, the result is not guilt like before, but a desire to give back. I had great examples of clinicians and of good patients: both demonstrated exemplary forms of gratitude in how they give and receive. I can clearly see my place in the future of this dichotomy, and frankly cannot wait to take it up.
More specifically, this summer I gained essential knowledge that will shape the type of clinician I would like to become. Having worked in the administrative building, I am now more aware of the time, dedication, and energy it takes simply to get a patient into the clinic for an appointment. Between proper note taking, calling, and texting for confirmations, and mountains of paperwork required for each file, the time that goes into preparing a clinic behind the scenes has not been lost on me. Further, I have seen many different examples of how clinicians approach their visits. There are some that are high energy and full of smiles, and here are others that are very cut and dry. Some that insist on physical exams, others that find them a waste of time. I was lucky enough to be able to ask them questions about their methods between visits, and through their examples I believe I have a much better sense of how to act as a compassionate yet effective doctor.
Finally, learning about leadership in a healthcare setting has been eye-opening. First and foremost, as a physician, respect is very often granted by their role before any interactions occur. This means two things: the first being that a good physician will see, understand, and respect this dichotomy. Many physicians easily abuse it and disrespect the other members of their team, which makes for a very toxic and ineffective healthcare ecosystem. I only ever observed respect and collaboration at SMHC, which helped to define the latter either by comparison or through the physicians’ anecdotes. Understanding the respect attributed by the nature of one’s status as an “M.D.” means being able to better understand one’s colleagues and how to treat them with the dignity and respect that they also deserve. Secondly, inherent respect it means that there is also inherent pressure being a physician. The metaphorical buck stops with them, and one must have both the confidence and humility to accept that responsibility in a healthy way. Understanding these things will be essential to finding my place as a physician, and even more important when it comes to treating patients effectively.
I am extremely grateful for all the staff at SMHC that helped me discover the person I want to be, and I will certainly take all their teachings with me in my journey to develop into that person.