Saturday, December 3, 2016

"Pursuing Medicine: Reflection of a Senior Medical Student"

One of our Student Doctors, Okey Anochie (M4) recently published a reflection on life as a senior medical student. His words encourage students to consider socially conscious medicine and express the gratitude that comes with being able to create moments of healing vulnerability with patients:

As a fourth-year medical student, I enjoy introducing myself to patients as the 'extra eyes and ears of the team, so feel free to tell me anything you forgot or would like to address, even if you think it’s irrelevant or burdensome. I will be your advocate.' As I establish rapport with them, the walls come down, and they often provide important information that helps my team provide the best care for them. I understand that being sick and lying on a hospital bed in the care of complete strangers is one of the most vulnerable moments in the lives of patients, especially when the caregivers may not understand the patient’s cultural beliefs or when there’s a communication barrier. This is especially important among minority patients or those of lower socioeconomic status. Taking the extra time to explain the medical 'jargon' of their diagnoses and their treatment plan and why such plan is necessary, and also addressing their quiet concerns helps fortify trust and may even expedite the recovery process.

Read the whole article at the original website, In-Training. 

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