What you leave behind
Hi, are you the one on duty today? Are you ready to go on rounds?” More than two decades ago, these were the questions posed to us as trainees on a daily basis. Being on duty meant that you were to be the first person to be called as well as the person in charge after office hours. In residency, that meant an almost 32-hour shift, with an allowable few hours of sleep after your 24-hour stint. The number of times that you go on duty is dependent on the number of people available on your team. This only meant that we had to go to work even if we were sick because breaking the schedule would impact on the lives and schedules of the other members. In those days, accredited subspecialty programs were limited. Getting into a training program was the primary goal and eclipsed all other concerns, including financial compensation. To give you an idea, my take-home pay barely covered my daily expenses. It was only when I went into further training in a public institution that I felt confident enough to be partially independent. The whole experience, from residency to fellowship training, had a lot of teachable moments and will always serve as reminders of how challenges and hardships will always have a way of molding and strengthening character. I use the word strengthen because at this stage, you already have a semblance of who you are and are equipped with the basic values, which would largely be courtesy of your upbringing.
Lessons learned and relearned.
If you take on a responsibility, live up to it. No one held a gun to your head. You chose to train and further your learning in a field that is going to be your lifelong career, so be ready to embrace whatever it may bring you. Do not ever play the victim. What you make of yourself is borne out of the choices, whether right or wrong, that you have made.
Learn to be malleable and open to keep on building on what you have. Try to do your best in whatever you do. Do not succumb to the temptation of resorting to shortcuts. In an era when artificial intelligence (AI) can be both helpful and a threat, stay curious and analyze information that is readily available at your fingertips. AI largely acts on prompts from us humans, and it will always be up to us to ask the right questions that can assist, but not provide the solution to medical or even ethical issues, which can turn out to be very complex. AI cannot be held accountable for the decisions that you and your team made in managing a patient.
Prepare yourself for bigger responsibilities as you move up the ladder and even to the unenviable position of being the captain of the ship. As the head, the buck will always stop with you. Second to the consultant in charge, you are answerable for your younger colleagues’ actions, especially the ones who are still finding their footing. My seniors did a good job at being my lifeline. In the face of trying circumstances, do not ever be a fair-weather friend, leader or not.
Have the courage to ask for help. I have repeatedly mentioned that in dealing with lives, there is no room for arrogance. Learn to ask for help if you feel that you are at a loss, or worse, nearing the end of the rope. If you don’t ask, how will people know that you need assistance? There will always be a hand that will lift you up, even from those that you thought wouldn’t extend theirs. Be ready for that opportunity to offer yours.
Dig deep into your well of compassion and empathy even when you are in danger of running on empty. People are at their most vulnerable when they are ill and no longer able to fend for themselves. Avoid being reactive or even judgmental. As the doctor, you are not the one who is suffering the most from pain or indecision. A kind word, a thoughtful gesture, a sympathetic ear or a look of understanding are the most precious things that you can share.
In the last few months, as a pediatric community, we have lost beloved colleagues. A close friend shared how it felt losing the mentor who believed in her the most. Listening to her brought on a memory of how another beloved pillar served as the lifeline for a friend who wanted to fulfill his dream of becoming a pediatrician and readily welcomed him to the residency training program. These recounts have further deepened my admiration and respect. In the end, it doesn’t really matter what you have achieved; what matters most are the intangibles you leave behind for others to hold close and learn from.
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