Medical school: The constant pursuit of approval

Medical school: The constant pursuit of approval

Medical school:

The constant pursuit of approval. One of the hardest parts about medical school for me has been the constant pursuit of approval.

Having a pass/fail system

during pre-clinical years helped ease things some, but there remains a personal desire to prove myself.

In front of attendings, all I can focus on is performing my physical exam just right, presenting in the perfect manner, and nailing the assessment and plan.

Unfortunately,

my strong desire to look good in my evaluators’ eyes has led to missing learning opportunities at times.

For example, I often passed up offers to do a procedure I really wanted to do, for fear that I would look bad if I messed up.

It’s tough feeling like you’re always in a position to be judged in medical school.

As I find myself in the middle of residency applications, I realize that this feeling of scrutiny has been elevated to a whole new level.

And from this point, I’ll be judged on what is already done and how I’ve been evaluated on my rotations over the last few years.

I can’t do anything more

to change the “me” that those who review my application see. Part of the process is an interview, but it seems as if the interview has been taking place since I began medical school.

I’m extremely grateful

for the training and preparation that Stanford Medical school has provided me, and I’m confident in my application — but the uncertainty is real.

And the way I see it, my success with residency applications isn’t just reflective of me:

I want to make my family and the Stanford faculty and mentors who have supported me along the journey proud.

As stressful as this process

and the worry about judgment are, though, I’ve been trying to re-focus myself and “check my privilege.”

To even be in the position of applying and interviewing for residency is huge.

I’m months away

from being able to put MD behind my name.

As much as I could complain about how hard medical school has been, I’ve been blessed with a wonderful opportunity to be in a position to care for people when they most need it.

And, in fact, of all the evaluations that we’re required to seek during a rotation, the ones I value most are from patients and their families.

For me,

medical school comes easiest when my patients and their health outcomes are front and center in my mind. Not whether I stand out to my team or answer a tough question correctly.

And so with my future patients in mind, it’s time to suit up (tie-clip and all). The work’s been done.

Medical school: The constant pursuit of approval

Medical school: The constant pursuit of approval

Study Medicine In Europe in English

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Slovakia

Slovakia officially the Slovak Republic is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The capital and largest city is Bratislava.
Slovakia is a high-income advanced economy with one of the fastest growth rates in the European Union and the OECD. The country joined the European Union in 2004 and the Eurozone on 1 January 2009. Slovakia is also a member of the Schengen Area, NATO, the United Nations, the OECD and the WTO.

Study Medicine in Slovakia : Comenius Medicine University , Pavol Jozef Safárik University of Medicine , Jessenius University of Medicine

Study Dentistry in Slovakia : Comenius University of Dentistry , Pavol Jozef Safárik University of Dentistry

Study Veterinary Medicine in Slovakia : University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice

Study Pharmacy in Slovakia : Comenius University of Pharmacy

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary MedicinePharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Bulgaria

Bulgaria officially the Republic of Bulgaria is a country in southeastern Europe.
It is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe; a founding state of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE); and has taken a seat at the UN Security Council three times.Study Medicine in Bulgaria in English : University of Medicine in Varna , University of Medicine in Sofia , University of Medicine in Plovdiv , St. Kliment Ohridski Medical University in Sofia

Study Dentistry in Bulgaria in English : University of Dentistry in Sofia , University of Dentistry in Varna , Plovdiv Medical University of Dentistry

Study Veterinary Medicine in Bulgaria in English : Veterinary Medicine in Sofia , Veterinary Medicine in Stara Zagora ,

Other Fields of Study in Bulgaria in English : Nurse Studies , Midwife Studies , Naval Academy

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary MedicinePharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Romania

Romania is the seventh most populous member state of the European Union. Its capital and largest city, Bucharest, is the sixth largest city in the EU.
It has been a member of NATO since 2004, and part of the European Union since 2007. Around 90% of the population identify themselves as Eastern Orthodox Christians, and are native speakers of Romanian. With a rich cultural history, Romania has been the home of influential artists, musicians, inventors and sportsmen, and features a variety of tourist attractions.

Study Medicine in Romania : Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu Medicine University, Ovidius University of Medicine

Study Dentistry in Romania : Gr. T. Popa University of Dentistry, Luliu Hațieganu University of Dentistry

Study Veterinary Medicine in Romania : University of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj Napoka

Study Pharmacy in Romania : Gr. T. Popa University of Pharmacy, Luliu Hațieganu University of Pharmacy

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary MedicinePharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Study Medicine In Europe in German | Austria

Austria officially the Republic of Austria, is a federal republic and a landlocked country of over 8.5 million people inCentral Europe. The majority of the population speak local Bavarian dialects of German as their native language, and Austrian German in its standard form is the country’s official language.
Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. The country has developed a high standard of living and in 2014 was ranked 21st in the world for its Human Development Index. Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955, joined the European Union in 1995, and is a founder of the OECD. Austria also signed the Schengen Agreement in 1995 and adopted the European currency, the Euro, in 1999.

Study Medicine in Austria in German :  Medical University of Vienna

Study Dentistry in Austria in German : Medical University of Dentistry

Study Pharmacy in Austria in German : University of Pharmacy

Study Veterinary Medicine in Austria in German : University of Veterinary Medicine

180 More Degree Programs: University of Vienna

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary MedicinePharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Study Medicine In Europe in English | The Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast. The capital and largest city, Prague, has over 1.2 million residents.
The Czech Republic also ranks as the 11th most peaceful country, while achieving strong performance in democratic governance. It is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the OECD, the OSCEand the Council of Europe.

Study Pharmaceutical Sciences in The Czech Republic :  University of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Study Veterinary Medicine in The Czech Republic : University of Veterinary Medicine

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary MedicinePharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Hungary

Hungary formally, until 2012, the Republic of Hungary  is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country’s capital and largest city is Budapest. Hungary is a member of the European Union, NATO, the OECD, the Visegrád Group, and the Schengen Area. The official language is Hungarian, which is the most widely spoken non-Indo-European language in Europe.

Study Medicine in Hungary : Semmelweis University of Medicine , University of Medicine in Szeged , University of Medicine in Pecs

Study Dentistry in Hungary : Semmelweis University of Dentistry , University of Dentistry in Szeged , University of Dentistry in Pecs

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary MedicinePharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Study Medicine In Europe in English| Serbia

Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia is a sovereign state situated at the crossroads between Central and Southeast Europe.
Serbia is a member of the UN, CoE, OSCE, PfP, BSEC, and CEFTA. It is also an official candidate for membership in the European Union which is negotiating its EU accession, acceding country to the WTO and is a militarily neutral state.

Study Medicine in Serbia : University of Medicine in Novi Sad

Study Dentistry in Serbia : University of Dentistry in Novi Sad

Study Pharmacy in Serbia : University of Pharmacy in Novi Sad