My experience as a family medicine resident in 2021

Summary: Imagine finishing years of medical school, but instead of walking across a stage to get your diploma, you just log onto a Zoom call. That is exactly what happened to one first-generation college student in March 2020. She packed up, moved across the country, and started her family medicine residency right in the middle of a pandemic.

At her new hospital, the hallways were packed with COVID-19 patients. The doctors were exhausted, scared, and had deep lines on their faces from wearing tight N95 masks all day and night. Because she was only treating one disease, she felt a lot of "impostor syndrome." She worried she wasn't learning enough to be a good doctor.

Thankfully, a friend reminded her that she was actually learning the hardest and most important parts of medicine right away. By working under such intense pressure, she and her fellow doctors learned how to truly listen, show deep care, and hold a patient's hand when things got tough.

For more details, see mdedge.com/familymedicine at mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/247868/covid-19-updates/my-experience-family-medicine-resident-2021 (opens in new tab)