As a new medical student 10 years ago, I often asked myself:
What makes a good doctor and researcher?
After all these years, I’m amazed by how this still remains true in my heart today.
Here’s what I thought🧵 x.com
What makes a good doctor and researcher?
After all these years, I’m amazed by how this still remains true in my heart today.
Here’s what I thought🧵 x.com
LEARN THE BASICS WELL
Medicine is like a building: your foundation matters. Don’t rush to memorize rare diseases before you’ve mastered anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Know your basics inside out.
Medicine is like a building: your foundation matters. Don’t rush to memorize rare diseases before you’ve mastered anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Know your basics inside out.
BE CURIOUS, NOT JUST STUDIOUS
Don’t just learn for exams. Ask yourself:
Why does this happen?
How can I explain it to someone else?
Curiosity turns a good student into a lifelong learner.
Don’t just learn for exams. Ask yourself:
Why does this happen?
How can I explain it to someone else?
Curiosity turns a good student into a lifelong learner.
FIND YOUR MENTORS
Great doctors and researchers are not made alone. Seek out mentors who inspire you, who guide you, and most importantly, who challenge you to grow, who have a spine. Don't idolize them, don't follow blindly.
And: ANYONE can be your mentor, not just your boss.
Great doctors and researchers are not made alone. Seek out mentors who inspire you, who guide you, and most importantly, who challenge you to grow, who have a spine. Don't idolize them, don't follow blindly.
And: ANYONE can be your mentor, not just your boss.
EMPATHY IS AS IMPORTANT AS INTELLIGENCE
Patients won’t always remember your diagnosis, but they will remember your kindness. Treat every patient as you’d want your loved ones to be treated.
Patients won’t always remember your diagnosis, but they will remember your kindness. Treat every patient as you’d want your loved ones to be treated.
INTELLIGENCE IS NOT INTELLECT
Being intelligent means understanding things quickly and build models. Being intellectual means thinking deeply and critically.
Medicine needs both, BUT INTELLECT will carry you further when complexity arises.
Being intelligent means understanding things quickly and build models. Being intellectual means thinking deeply and critically.
Medicine needs both, BUT INTELLECT will carry you further when complexity arises.
ASKING FOR HELP IS NOT A FAILURE BUT A STRENGTH
It’s okay to not know everything. Medicine is a team sport: ask your peers, seniors, friends, family, or professors. Admitting you don’t know something is the first step to truly learning it.
It’s okay to not know everything. Medicine is a team sport: ask your peers, seniors, friends, family, or professors. Admitting you don’t know something is the first step to truly learning it.
BALANCE SCIENCE WITH HUMANITY
Medicine is both a science and an art. Stay updated on research and guidelines, but don’t forget the human behind the disease.
Medicine is both a science and an art. Stay updated on research and guidelines, but don’t forget the human behind the disease.
NEVER STOP QUESTIONING YOURSELF
Strive to be 1% better every day. Whether it’s reading a journal article, practicing a skill, or reflecting on a patient interaction, consistency compounds into greatness.
Strive to be 1% better every day. Whether it’s reading a journal article, practicing a skill, or reflecting on a patient interaction, consistency compounds into greatness.
KNOW WHAT YOU LOVE IN LIFE
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Sleep, exercise, and make time for what you love. A healthy doctor treats patients better.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Sleep, exercise, and make time for what you love. A healthy doctor treats patients better.
UNDERSTAND RESILIENCE AND PAIN
Medicine is suffering, loss and death and thus will teach you humility: accept it with grace. Learn from your anxiety, mistakes, celebrate your wins modestly, and never stop being a student of life and feelings.
Medicine is suffering, loss and death and thus will teach you humility: accept it with grace. Learn from your anxiety, mistakes, celebrate your wins modestly, and never stop being a student of life and feelings.
REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED
There will be hard days. On those days, revisit your “why.” Why did you choose this path? Reconnecting with your purpose keeps the fire alive.
There will be hard days. On those days, revisit your “why.” Why did you choose this path? Reconnecting with your purpose keeps the fire alive.
And finally.
MEDICINE IS A DAMN PRIVILEGE
You are entering a field where people trust you with their lives. Honor that privilege with every patient you meet and every decision you make.
MEDICINE IS A DAMN PRIVILEGE
You are entering a field where people trust you with their lives. Honor that privilege with every patient you meet and every decision you make.
Let's see whether these truths will resonate in another 10 years from now, although I believe they were and always will be universal truths on how to become a GOOD (not "successful") doctor and/or researcher.
Thanks for reading and wish you all a safe and peaceful new year 2025.
Thanks for reading and wish you all a safe and peaceful new year 2025.
These principles drive me because they are also lived by most wonderful mentors, colleagues and friends: @nihardesai89 @PanktiMehta24 @Kristin_Rathje @johannarichta @CarmeloGurnari @Eddie_Cliff @Haemophage @Satyayadav__ @Amitasdesai @Claire_P_Horgan 🙏
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