Photo provided by Rohan P.
If you’re reading this, I encourage you not to judge your potential as a physician by the discomfort of repeatedly being a beginner.
In medical school, each time you gain confidence, you encounter new challenges. You may become comfortable taking a history, only to then present it. Recognizing a diagnosis leads to understanding the complexities of treatment. As you build skills in one area, you transition to another that tests you differently. There is always a new beginning.
As an M4, I appreciate that medicine always gives us chances to learn and grow. Still, it’s easy to focus on what I haven’t mastered yet and forget about the skills that now feel natural.
We often fail to notice when a once-challenging task becomes routine. As we move on to new challenges, we may not recognize our progress. Tutoring allows me to revisit material that was once unfamiliar, and teaching it reinforces that understanding develops over time. Yet, as senior medical students, we frequently expect ourselves to master new concepts quickly. These expectations can be exhausting. If you don't have all the answers it can be very easy to feel like you're falling short. Even on a good day you can find yourself thinking about the things you didn't know. I want to be ambitious and not have every learning experience become a case of self-flagellation. I can take feedback on board and still be proud of what I've done. Not knowing everything doesn't in any way mean that you don't belong.
If you have been hard on yourself lately, consider something you can now do that once felt intimidating. Be specific. Perhaps you can give a presentation, explain a difficult physiology concept to a classmate, or have a goals-of-care conversation with a patient. That is progress! If you are under pressure, do not wait until you are overwhelmed to ask for help. A friend or mentor can support you, even if everything seems normal.
I will be starting as a PGY1 soon and will take on many new responsibilities. I look forward to this next step and am reminded that asking for help is essential for growth. There will always be new firsts in medicine. Embrace them with an open mind, and remember to acknowledge how far you have come.
I’m with you in this,
Rohan P., Fourth Year Medical Student
Q: How do you/did you manage the pressure of clinical training, such as frequently changing environments and balancing clinical performance with studying for shelf exams?
A: I try to give myself structure even when my environment changes. At the start of a rotation, I focus on understanding the team’s expectations and how I should contribute. For studying, I’ve found that manageable daily goals work better than expecting myself to study for hours after every shift. Connecting practice questions to patients I’ve seen also makes studying more meaningful. I’m still learning to balance everything, but I’ve gotten better at adjusting my expectations without treating that adjustment as a failure.
Q: What advice do you have for incoming medical students regarding mental wellness?
A: Don’t make taking care of yourself something you have to earn by finishing your work; the work will always be there! Keep the friendships, hobbies, and routines that make you feel like yourself. For me, that includes cooking, playing pickleball, and spending time with people I care about. Also, ask for help early. Through mentoring and tutoring, I’ve realized how often students think they’re the only ones struggling. You can be capable and hardworking, but still need support.
Q: What do you wish other people knew about the stressors of medical school/medical training?
A: I wish people understood how much pressure comes from being constantly evaluated while you’re still learning. You’re adapting to different teams, caring for patients, preparing for exams, and thinking about your future, all at the same time! Even during time off, it can be difficult to quiet the feeling that you should be doing more. Being grateful to pursue medicine and feeling overwhelmed can coexist- and do. Sometimes the most helpful support is simply listening without expecting us to immediately put a positive spin on everything.
Several studies have revealed that medical students, physicians, and healthcare professionals experience mental health symptoms at rates significantly higher than the general population. Stethos[Cope] is a chapter of IfYoureReadingThis designed to help medical students and professionals cope with the unique stressors of medical training and change the narrative of mental health in medicine.
To read more letters and interviews from students, and to learn more about mental health in the medical community, visit the Stethos[Cope] home page.