So You Wanna Be a Doctor?
Editor’s note: From time to time we hear from young adults considering a career in medicine who want to know if the C. O. has any advice for them. No offense to the good doctor but this is like asking King Midas if he can spare any gold trinkets lying around the palace. From helpful hints to meddlesome twaddle, our narrator is a wellspring of guidance, and the topic of nurturing the inchoate physician is dear to him. Therefore ladies and gentleman, without further ado here he is, bulging with words of wisdom for all those students out there thinking of raising the right hand and swearing by Hippocrates to serve the sick and injured. Please welcome The Cheerful What’s-His-Name.
[A smattering of applause is heard, coming mainly from the front rows.]
Thank you for that warm welcome. It’s a pleasure to be standing here today in front of such an attentive crowd. As you heard in the introduction our topic today concerns the traits that comprise a great doctor, or as Sammy Davis would say, what kind of fool am I to want to go into medicine?
[Sound of crickets chirping…]
Well then, let me proceed. [Drops notes on floor - brief pause while he gathers them up and places them in order…janitor walks out on stage and adjusts microphone stand, then trips on way out, much to delight of crowd.]
Pardon me. As I was saying, here are the attributes that I believe identify the individual who would prosper in the medical profession. Think of these features as clues that can be used to identify a young adult, even a youth, who just might have what it takes to become not just a successful doctor, not just one sincerely happy and satisfied with a life in medicine, but one who will never fear, never falter and never fail in his devotion to the sick and injured. May I have the first slide?
WHAT MAKES A GREAT DOCTOR?
A HIGHLY BIASED APPRAISAL
BY THE CHEERFUL ONCOLOGIST
WWW.CHEERFULONCOLOGISTGEARFORTHEWHOLEFAMILYCASHORCREDITONLY.COM
1. A great doctor loves the written word. One has to possess not only strong reading comprehension skills in order to be a great doctor, but one must crave reading - it must consume the waking hours (when not eating, exercising or watching American Idol). If you don’t enjoy reading you should consider a different career, because doctors have to read constantly to understand what is going on with their patients, not to mention keeping up with new advances in medicine.
2. A great doctor is curious. He asks Why? and How? throughout the day and throughout his life. He is not satisfied with the status quo or with answers such as “Just because,” or “It’s always been done that way.” He will challenge the rules, search for alternate solutions and think of ideas never before considered until he sees evidence of progress. He has an insatiable desire to learn.
3. A great doctor is observant. One doesn’t become a master clinician by failing to recognize all the clues strewn about a case, just as one does not become brilliant by viewing the world through dull, apathetic eyes. A great doctor is always aware of his environment; some can even read people like a book, which helps significantly in counseling patients. You wouldn’t walk over a one hundred dollar bill without noticing it would you? Then why not use perspicacity in all your endeavors?
4. A great doctor is a problem-solver, not an excuse-maker. He states with confidence, “The buck stops here,” and doesn’t try to get others to perform duties that are his responsibility, no matter how exhausting the task ahead may be. He tackles a difficult situation with a steadfast sense of optimism, even though he knows the outcome may turn out to be heartbreaking.
5. A great doctor enjoys the company of other people. He likes to meet new folks of all ages and backgrounds, and is truly interested in their lives and what they have to say. This in my opinion is the Achille’s heel of all physicians, and woe to those who get far into their career before they realize that they hate seeing patients. The poison from this sting may not be deadly, but it can rot the heart, alienating the doctor from his source of strength.
6. A great doctor has no hidden agenda. He starts each day as a tabula rasa, and does not prejudge anyone based on their look (or smell for that matter), or their attitude, or their beliefs. His job is to serve those who are sick whether he would ever invite them over for a cuppa or not.
And finally, a great doctor possesses fortitude - an unshakable sense of hope, a deep appreciation of how difficult today’s struggles are yet a powerful belief that tomorrow will be better. He is a faithful soldier, never leaving his post unless he is no longer needed, or he can no longer stand.
You’ve been a great audience. Thank you very much.
You must have read my mind. For the past few months I have been searching the web for this. My daughter is 16 and she wants to do medicine. I want her to be very sure, that it is what she wants.
Comment by liling — February 7, 2006 @ 12:42 am
Great post! I love your usage of pictures.
Comment by Moof — February 7, 2006 @ 3:39 am
Your a scream, O.C.
Love ya
cheryl
Comment by cheryl — February 7, 2006 @ 3:42 am
Terrific post, doc. A copy of this should be in every pre-med advisor’s office across the country.
Comment by Ali — February 7, 2006 @ 4:13 am
wonderful post~!
Comment by david — February 8, 2006 @ 1:57 am
excellent idealistic post however with the current medical climate, public perseption of physicians, and rampant consumerism, i am not sure if i would recommend American medical job
Comment by mushareff hagi akber — February 8, 2006 @ 7:14 pm
Great post - and much of what you said can be applied to those considering nursing as a career.
We have so many pre-med students as volunteers in our ER, I’d like to print this out and give it to them….
Comment by Kim — February 9, 2006 @ 8:53 am
A fantastic post, all too true. Most importantly, a great doctor does all these things no matter what. When he is tired and hungry and thirsty and scared and missing family and friends and partner, he still does all these things. Or, at the very least, he feels a pang of guilt when he slips for a moment, becoming a human being and not a great doctor, quickly forgiving himself as he reminds himself that he cannot always be all things to all people.
Comment by Barbados Butterfly — February 9, 2006 @ 11:21 am
awesome post, made me all proud and laughing, thanks!
Comment by aidan — February 9, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
Good post. I’m forwarding to a friend who is concerned about a talk she is to give to med students about private, rural family medicine.
(You forgot the geriatric med student and the fanatics with an agenda to change the injustices we see, often the same person)
Comment by Beverly Nuckols — February 9, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Great doctors are also willing to admit that they have limits - and they are able to let go of a case or apologise for their shortcomings.
Comment by tscd — February 9, 2006 @ 5:11 pm
Can I be a great doctor if I don’t hit on all six points? I’m an enthusiastic but not a voracious reader. I try to be observant, but I know I’ve missed stuff. On a good day I have the fortitude thing down. I still find some passion to light under me when the alarm goes off at 5. And I try to remain grateful for the privelege of being a doctor when I’m awakened at 1:30 AM.
I’m trying, but I’m not a great doctor.
I hope that’s okay with my patients and with the Almighty.
best,
Flea
Comment by Flea — February 14, 2006 @ 2:57 pm
Yup, that’s me. I’m certainly not a young person by any stretch, but I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was in my teens. A little too late now to be considering it, but I agree that you have to have at least SOME of those traits to go through the process of becoming a true physician.
Comment by kathy — February 21, 2006 @ 8:23 pm
You are a fabulous writer. I have found these things to be very true. True of you as well.
Comment by Pattie — May 20, 2006 @ 1:59 am
nice blog, may i add you as a friend?
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