reflection
Navigating Science Policy as a Medical Doctor: Strategies for Engaging Beyond the Clinic
By Sewar Banimusa, MS3 In the realm of healthcare, the influence of medical doctors transcends the boundaries of clinicalsettings. Beyond diagnosing ailments and administering treatments, there lies a realm wheremedical professionals wield the power to shape policies that profoundly impact the health andwell-being of entire populations. Engaging in science policy empowers medical doctors toharness their expertise and advocate for evidence-based solutions to pressing health challenges. Science policy encompasses the intersection of science, technology, and society - guidingdecisions that affect research funding, healthcare delivery, public health initiatives, and regulatory frameworks. For physicians, involvement in science policy represents an opportunity to contribute to the greater good and drive positive change beyond individual patient interactions. Navigating the landscape of science policy can seem daunting at first, but there are numerous opportunities to start navigating your passion. Here are some ways to start your science policy career: Joining professional organizations dedicated to health policy...
Tackling Imposter Syndrome by Embracing Failure
By: Rachel Akers Failure is something I’ve become intimately acquainted with throughout my career. I’m not alone in this. We can all recall instances in our professional lives where things haven’t gone our way, and we’ve failed to reach the expectations set by our educators, mentors, colleagues, families, or ourselves. Failure can be painful, embarrassing, and even harmful for those in the medical profession, and it’s not easy to talk about with others. As students transition to residents and eventually become attending physicians, our understanding of failure changes in tandem with our values. New responsibilities like parenthood, caring for your own aging parents, repaying gargantuan loans, and being directly in charge of patients’ well-being supersede the worries of passing exams or confidently blurting out a wrong answer. Regardless of the nature of a mistake or the level of training you’re at, failures shouldn’t be seen as something shameful to hide...
Mindfulness as a Tool to Build Confidence
By: MaryAnn Ulasi I spotted a number 5 on the concrete street. By number 5, I mean the stage of a particular “bug” that was made famous by the swarm that landed in NYC last year. Its growth curve is visualized in order of the clockwise circuitous pathway of a quarter; it reminded everyone what they were looking at. As I continued to gaze at the nymph stage of the dead lanternfly with its mangled red body, crushed under spotted black and white wings, I was sucked into a moment of time that I rarely experienced - the present. It was gross and painful, and the exposure was a little too much for real life. After all, for most of us, real life is not the present but rather the past or the future and the irony is hardly ever obvious to us. I certainly have been guilty of living...
Brushstrokes and Incisions: Exploring the Artistic Aspect of Surgery and Drawing in Human Exploration
By Alessandra Yasumi Rodríguez Cárdenas In exploring the profound relationship between art and surgery, it becomes evident that their interconnected narratives extend far beyond the realms of canvas and operating theaters. To comprehend the significance of art, surgery, and their relationship, it is imperative to delve into their origins. First, most writers describe that the birth of art started in Europe with cave art, but most do not attribute these origins to one art genius. It is noteworthy that the development of art and drawings is often viewed as a result of cultural evolution and the dynamic interaction between artists and viewers. Indeed, Gombrich proposed that “art and drawings develop through artistic expression shaped by the continuous dialogue of various cultures”. On the other hand, the roots of surgery can be traced back to pioneering anatomists like Galen [129 – 210 AD], who dominated the first era of surgery in...
Optimizing Your 3rd and 4th Years of Medical School: Resources for Networking, Mentorships, and Continuing Research
By Kayla Martinez, MS4 Approaching the final years of medical school is a paradox of fulfillment and stress. While students eagerly anticipate the conclusion of their academic journey, the looming task of applying for residency introduces a new layer of reality and pressure. Third and fourth years of medical school are opportunities to further your career by networking, finding mentors, and continuing research. Drawing from my experience as a current general surgery applicant, I have curated valuable resources that I believe can greatly assist prospective applicants navigating the uncertainties of what steps to take next. Networking: Networking provides access to various opportunities, such as research collaborations, clinical experiences, and mentorship. Building a network allows medical students to connect with professionals who can offer valuable insights and guidance. Attempt to make strong connections with residents and attendings in your specialty of choice. For example, if you connect or bond with a...
Beating Burnout: Tips
By Dra. Elizabeth Perazza Valentin, FACS Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication- Leonardo Da Vinci Greetings esteemed colleagues: Surgeons have long experienced a culture of silence when it comes to their personal pain. We have a reputation as stoic, determined, and driven. What can we do to prevent burnout and more importantly if we have suffered it what do we do to recover? How do we heal? In a field where we dedicate ourselves to caring for others, it's easy to overlook our own needs. Over the next few moments, I invite you to explore a series of transformative tips designed not only to manage burnout but to invigorate our commitment to exceptional patient care and personal fulfillment. Let's embark on this journey together, discovering how we can cultivate resilience, restore balance and ultimately enhance the quality of both our professional lives. Welcome to our discussion that I believe will resonate...
Fear of Applying or Fear of Rejection: Finding The Courage to Apply to New Opportunities: Part 2
By Denise Nemeth Rejection, once an unwelcome guest, has transformed into a catalyst for growth and redirection in my career. While my initial reaction to rejection was reluctance, I now am incredibly grateful for the role rejection has played in shaping my professional journey. I have evolved to not only make peace with it but actively seek and advocate for it among others. Growing up under the influence of my brilliant mother, who consistently expected nothing but the best from me, I naturally became an overachiever, albeit sometimes to my own detriment. As a child, I constantly strove to be at the top of my class and even school, including upperclassmen. Truthfully, I never struggled with academics, but I was not one to not put in the work. As my mother would say, it was my “only job”. And so, when the time to perform well in college came, I...
Fear of Applying or Fear of Rejection: Finding The Courage to Apply to New Opportunities: Part 1
By Morgan Hopp Applications for on-campus opportunities, national opportunities, tuition scholarships, travel stipends, research, the list of applications goes on and on. As a medical student, the opportunities sound wonderful and important for matching into the right residency program, but there is limited time to take advantage of all the opportunities, even if you are selected for them. After a few rejections, it becomes overwhelming just to figure out if you are a reasonable candidate and should put the effort in to apply. It is overwhelming to ask your mentor to submit another letter for an opportunity you are applying for…especially when the last few were straight rejections. Then, you might hit a spiral - one I wish I was not as familiar with - if none of these applications turn into opportunities. Without any of these amazing opportunities, will I have a chance in the match, let alone match...
On Being Latina Enough
By Sarah Suhood I was born on the island of Sri Lanka in the middle of the Indian Ocean, but I was also born Latina, thanks to my Guatemalan mom. Growing up bi-racial, I experienced the casual identity crisis many immigrants feel. I’ve lived in the states since I was five, so am I American? We make tamales for Christmas, so am I Latina? I don’t eat pork since my dad is Muslim, does that make me more South Asian? It was only in the last couple of years that I began to understand and embrace that I am all of the above. With the rise of the “no sabo” kids in social media, we are seeing a beautiful move to embrace the second and third generation Latin-Americans. Both earlier and current generations faced much discrimination for having accents or not speaking English “well enough.” I remember my ESL (English...
Heels of Steel, Hands of a Healer, Heart of a Mother
By Dr. Smruti K Patel 7:30 am. 15 blade. Incision. Bovie. Bipolar. Number one Penfield. Drill. Irrigation. Suction. Bipolar. 11 blade. 7 suction. Bipolar. The words, the commands, they are automatic. The muscle memory of opening, turning a craniotomy, hemostasis, irrigation, closing - it is all automatic. From start to finish, before every surgery, I am prepared. I have played this out in my mind. What I need, what I want, what the anatomy is supposed to look like, what I’m supposed to do if something untoward happens, what all the possibilities are. These are what neurosurgeons’ dreams are made of. These are what our nightmares are made of. Some may say it is unhealthy. I say - for some of us, the night before surgery is the when I can close my eyes and see what I need my hands to do tomorrow. 3:30 am - I hear the...
