Disclaimer (10/28/13): I wrote up this list sometime during the spring semester (after a related Journey Into Medicine class lecture), but had planned on fleshing it out more before posting it. Now that I’ve decided to pursue a PhD, I’m publishing it as-is, and also post-dating it to the last time I had edited it.
- Stress levels in med school, residency
- Expectation to appear professional at all times, to ALWAYS look put-together
- Inevitable meltdown(s)
- Crying = weak
- Gender double-standards
- Expectation to deal with problems on our own
- But then work as part of a team to care for patients
- “Every man for himself”, self-centered culture
- Discourages asking for help
- Unwillingness to do something for another person if there’s no personal gain
- Expectation by patients and fellow doctors (society as a whole) to prioritize work over all else, even to disregard personal health save for extreme debilitating circumstances
- Because any work you don’t get done = more work for someone else
- Or lose revenue from appointment cancellations because you’re out sick