6 pieces of advice for pursuing a career in medicine2 min read

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Click on the image above (or link below) to watch the video!

https://youtu.be/XdhEu-aSJ1k

I went to an anesthesia resident conference recently and was approached by students who had come across my blog or watched my YouTube videos. It reminded me that maybe some of the content I put out there is useful and inspired me to record this video. Here are the 6 pieces of advice for those pursuing a career in medicine:

You have to love it 

  • Do not give into familial/peer pressure to pursue a career in medicine
  • Ultimately, medicine is a passion of mine, which makes it feel less like a job and more like a hobby [at times]
  • Remember that something has to motivate you to get out of bed in the morning for long, stressful days

Humanity

  • Do not forget that your patients and healthcare team members are all humans with personalities, passions, and loved ones
  • Even when things get tough, try to remember that we are all human doing the best that we can with what we have 

Humility will serve you well 

  • Medicine is complex and there is no way for a single person to know everything
  • Asking for help in the clinical setting is not a sign of weakness; I do it all of the time to ensure that my patients get the best possible care
  • Remember that everyone comes with their own experience and can contribute to the practice of medicine – patients, students, other team members, etc

Perspective

  • You get to leave the hospital each day (or after a call) but some patients do not get that luxury
  • Remember to maintain perspective on the little luxuries you have, but may take for granted

Recognizing when you need a break

  • You cannot pour from an empty tank
  • Taking care of others requires taking care of yourself
  • I started to feel a bit burned out after a couple close weeks in the ICU…and gave myself permission to take a break from work to recharge 

Courage 

  • Sometimes it’s hard or unpopular to do the right thing but you need to be courageous 
  • The internet vitriol is painful but I’m trying to heed my own advice and keep coming back here because even if I only help a handful of students/medical professionals with my words, it’s worth it