Summer is a time of transition; warmer temperatures herald in the new season and are a transition from the cooler weather of spring. It is during this time that residents find themselves in transition. It's a time where student externs assume the mantle of responsibilities of residents in their intern year, and a time when current junior residents are promoted to increasing levels of responsibility. People say it all the time, but time flies! It seems like only yesterday that I was starting residency as a wide-eyed intern and now I practice in a large academic training institution with responsibility for multiple residents on the vascular surgery service, and getting to work with the residents is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. It has been seven years since my first day of residency, but I can still vividly remember everything about that first day: the way my new lab coat felt –all stiff and starchy because it had never been worn before—and my complete and utter confusion at trying to learn my way around the large hospital complex. I can close my eyes and still remember the way the floor polish smelled –the vaguest hint of lemon. Some memories stay with you forever. Embarking upon your residency training is unlike anything you have ever done before, and while it will be a tremendously difficult and rewarding experience, if you open yourself up to absorb every piece of knowledge and skill that you can–I am so excited for you!
 I have been trying to think of words of any wisdom that I can impart to the incoming 1st year residents, to help ease the transition from student-extern to resident, or to help inspire confidence in the soon-to-be 2nd and 3rd year residents who will suddenly have a great deal more autonomy when they progress and a new group of 1st year’s arrive. What knowledge do I have to share about being a resident? What lessons have YOU learned along the way that characterized your residency experience? We both know that incoming and rising residents will have questions—I know I certainly did—and they are relying on us to share our hard-earned pearls of wisdom.
My First Day
I remember the fear. Am I going to make a mistake that is going to hurt someone? Do I know enough, and can I remember what I know when it matters? These were all questions that were circling in my mind as my pager went off in the middle of the night for the first time. I was the resident now, and although I had the significant support of my uppers, and my attendings, I was the one riding the elevator down to the ED alone in the middle of the night–I was the first point of contact.
My residency training started at a run, and maintained a vigorous pace for three years. Throughout that time I learned to keep my eyes and ears open to try to glean what I could from each experience. Your residency training is an exciting time, full of unique challenges and interesting opportunities. These present as both clinical and personal obstacles, and I’ve found that you learn something from both, if you open yourself up to the experience. If I could offer one pearl of wisdom, it would be to seek out these opportunities. What you experience now will determine who and what you become as a physician. Your residency training will be your best opportunity to learn as much as you possibly can, and I would encourage each of you to take control of your educational process to maximize your training. This is your time; make it everything you want it to be!
I am sure that there are many of you across the country with significant pearls of wisdom to share regarding your unique experiences. I would encourage each of you to take a moment to share a few of them on the current eTalk thread on this topic. We love hearing from you; your continued participation is what makes this process so great!
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