Transformational Times
Words of Hope, Character & Resilience from our Virtual Community
Friday, July 9, 2021
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In This "Our Best Advice" Issue: |
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Director's Corner
Perspectives/Opinions
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Thank you to James Chang, MD, for the cartoon. Dr. Chang is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin. |
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Take 3
Poetry Corner
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Mary Jean Irion: Let Me Hold You While I May
Your Turn
Announcements & Resources
- Submit a speaker proposal to the Kern Institute Event Advisory Committee
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Transformational Times Essay Contest
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Call for Transformational Times Editorial Board Members
- Residents and Fellows: Join the Kern Institute GME Pillar
- RFP for GME Connectedness/Wellbeing Program
- Kern National Network News & Events
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Director's Corner
Chest Pain Relieved by Antacids: My Last Night as a Resident
by Adina Kalet, MD, MPH
In this Transformational Times devoted to transitions, Dr. Kalet recalls the final night of her residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City …
The astute intern standing next to me, noticing the beads of sweat forming on my forehead and my clenched fist rubbing my breastbone, walked to the medicine locker, grabbed a little blue bottle of antacid and handed it to me. “If this works, I won’t have to admit you on your last night on call as a resident!” he said cheerfully.
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Perspective/Opinion
Advice for Those Transitioning From Resident to Attending
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By John R. Hayes, DO
Dr. Hayes shares the valuable lessons he has learned while making the jump from resident to attending, always remembering that we remain students of medicine no matter how long we practice …
Summer is an interesting time in academics. Everyone is doing new things! New students, new interns, new seniors, new attendings. Everyone is eager and uncomfortable, trying to find their way in our complicated mess of a healthcare system. I have made it through all these transitions, and it was recent enough that hopefully I can offer some meaningful reflections.
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Perspective/Opinion
Advice for Surgical Residents
Compiled by Bruce H. Campbell, MD, FACS
Dr. Campbell, who entered a surgical field decades ago, asked his current residents what they have learned to keep themselves whole and able to function despite living in high-stress times and working under pressure. Here is some of what he learned from them, and about “grit” in surgical residents …
What sorts of things have surgical residents discovered that allow them to survive as trainees? Here is a list from current otolaryngology residents (and their friends):
- Everyone expects surgeons to be arrogant. Surprise people in a good way.
- Ask the right questions and listen carefully - often this will tell you more about a patient's condition than any test or image can.
- Get to know your patients beyond their chief complaint.
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Perspective/Opinion
Advice to Interns from Program Directors
Compiled by Kathlyn Fletcher, MD, MA
Dr. Fletcher asked several residency program directors from Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH) to provide their advice to new interns: practical, funny, or both. Here is what they had to say …
Chad Carlson, MD, FAAN
Professor and Vice Chair – Education
Program Director, Neurology Residency
Program Director, Clinical Neurophysiology & Epilepsy Fellowships
- If you crave a tasty (soft) cookie, check out the Hub.
- It is never too early to start identifying and talking to potential mentors.
- Completing medical notes is not like enjoying a fine wine; notes do not benefit from letting them age or breathe, so complete them in a timely manner.
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Perspective/Opinion
Advice for Incoming Housestaff
Compiled by Wendy Peltier, MD
Dr. Wendy Peltier shares some practical wisdom elicited from a group of experienced critical care nurses to help smooth transitions for new housestaff. Nurses are an amazing resource, and partners in care, always at the ready to advocate for patients at the bedside and give attention to detail when you are swamped! Where would we be without them?…
Jennifer Popies, CVICU:
- DO ask the nurse caring for your patients about their perspective on what is going well and what any outstanding needs are that they see should be addressed – this goes a long way in building true collaboration!
- DO bring food for the nurses on the floor you are most frequently working with – this also goes a long way to building true collaboration!
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Perspective/Opinion
Top Ten Tips for Thriving During M3 Clerkships
Compiled by Scott Lamm, M4
Mr. Lamm and his colleagues offer some sage advice to the incoming third-year medical students...
- Be proactive! Pay attention on rounds and create a to-do list for each patient. Instead of asking for tasks from your resident, let them know what tasks you are comfortable with doing and if it is okay for you to complete them.
- For Surgery – invest in a pair of compression stockings. Your feet at the end of the day will thank you!
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Perspective/Opinion
Advice to New Interns From a Surgery Resident
By Taylor Jaraczewski, MD, MS
Third-year MCW surgical resident, Taylor Jaraczewski, provides helpful advice for new interns....
- If you don't know, then ask. It is better to look stupid asking a simple question than to be a cowboy and hurt a patient.
- Always make sure you're well-fed.
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Take 3
Getting to Know You With Denise Cook-Snyder
We are pleased to welcome Denise Cook-Snyder to the Kern Institute as a member of the Student Pillar ...
Denise answers the following questions:
- What will be your role within the MCW Kern Institute?
- What skills, interests, and/or experiences will guide your work here?
- What do you do for fun?
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Mary Jean Irion
A normal day!
Holding it in my hand this one last moment, I have come to see it as more than an ordinary rock.
It is a gem, a jewel.
In time of war, in peril of death, people have dug their hands and faces into the earth and remembered this.
In time of sickness and pain, people have buried their faces in pillows and wept for this.
In time of loneliness and separation, people have stretched themselves taut and waited for this.
In time of hunger, homelessness, and want, people have raised bony hands to the skies and stayed alive for this...
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so.
One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky, and want more than all the world your return.
And then I will know what now I am guessing: that you are, indeed, a common rock and not a jewel, but that a common rock made of the very mass substance of the earth in all its strength and plenty puts a gem to shame.
The day is over, and now I will sleep.
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Under a blanket with a good book and a warm cup of coffee.
- Erin Weileder, staff
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Respond to next week's reflection prompt:
What is the best piece of advice you've been given?
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The Kern Institute Event Advisory Committee invites you to
Submit a Speaker Proposal
The Kern Institute is working to transform medical education to better align with the needs of the public on the basis of character, competence, and caring.
Please complete the form below if you have a speaker you would like to propose.
The Event Advisory Committee will review all proposals based on the following criteria:
- The speaker's qualifications
- Timeliness of the topic
- Relevance to the mission
If chosen, a committee member will extend the invitation to the speaker and open the line of communication.
*Please Note: While we greatly appreciate your enthusiasm, please do not initiate correspondence with the speaker directly. This will ensure that expectations are clear and confusion or misunderstandings are averted.
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Transformational Times Essay Contest
Imagining the Future of Medical Education
Transformational Times is holding an essay contest and we want to hear from you.
Create an essay (no more than 250 words) that helps the reader imagine the possible future of medical education.
Choose one of the following prompts:
- Imagine you are in a medical school or residency program that does not yet exist. Describe a perfect day where you learn an important patient care lesson that would not be possible today.
- Describe an amazing learning or teaching moment you have experienced at some point in your life. What lesson did you take away that, if incorporated into medical education, would improve medical school or residency?
- If you were to imagine a medical school or residency program in 2030, what three things would you be most likely to include? And why?
Winners will be awarded a gift card and will be published in an upcoming issue of Transformational Times. Several winners may be selected. Essays are due by July 30, 2021.
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Call for Transformational Times Editorial Board Members
The Transformational Times is seeking MCW students (from all colleges), residents, and fellows to serve as associate editors on the 2021 - 2022 editorial board.
Associate editors take charge of specific sections, including poetry, visuals, or other areas of personal interest. They help with identifying issues of concern to students and trainees and help recruit people to write essays on these topics. Associate editors are also expected to contribute at least one written piece during the course of the year.
The editorial board meets weekly (usually on Tuesday afternoons) and holds occasional retreats; associate editors attend when available. Persons from underrepresented minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and other voices deserving amplification are strongly encouraged to apply.
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RFP for GME Connectedness/Wellbeing Program
The Kern Institute’s GME Pillar and MCWAH are happy to announce a program to increase connectedness and well-being across MCWAH’s GME programs.
Residency and fellowship programs are invited to submit proposals for programming/activities that would enhance connectedness and well-being among GME programs.
Proposals should include at least TWO programs and up to $500 can be requested. A post-activity report is required. Please see the Request for Proposal (RFP) below for details and submit your proposals before August 2, 2021, below.
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KNN Discussion Series
Social Justice, Health Equity and Human Flourishing: Are We all Included?
Over the past year, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic as well as national protests surrounding racial incidents have heightened attention to ongoing disparities—including those within healthcare. What responsibilities do healthcare professionals have to address root causes of health inequity? And what strategies can help dismantle structural barriers to human flourishing that exist across diverse populations?
In this panel discussion—moderated by Chris Stawski, PhD, senior fellow for the Kern Family Foundation—three speakers will share their lived experiences and professional journeys related to those themes. Audience Q&A will follow.
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August 3, 2021
Live Virtual Presentation
4:00 - 5:00 pm CT
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The Transformational Times publishes weekly, delivering stories of hope, character and resilience to our virtual community. |
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Editorial Board: Kathlyn Fletcher, MD, Adina Kalet, MD, Wendy Peltier, MD, Erin Weileder, Scott Lamm, Eileen Peterson, Sarah Torres, & Anna Visser
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