Art and Medicine 10:49 AM

Whether students of medicine like it or not, art, on many levels, is inexorably connected to the study of medicine. This might draw resentment from many medical students; humanities requirements have been the bain of many pre-meds' existence. This doesn't derail the sound reasoning, however, that resulted in such requirements. For me it has always been obvious. Of course an art class, or music class won't contribute to the foundation of facts and scientific knowledge that must be mastered more or less for the step one. But that's really missing the point of the requirement. You'll be drowned in facts for two years, I promise, once you get into medical school. The humanities provide you with those other skills that you'll need, those skills that help you level with your patients.

What are the goals of an art class or a music class? Art teaches you how to look critically, and music teaches you how to listen critically. These skills are severely lacking in the medical community, so it's no surprise that efforts would be made to restore the skills that form the bedrock of clinical practice. Patients, with no pun intended, are often dying to let you know what's wrong with them. They say it with their choice of words, what they're wearing, how they look, and how they hold themselves. Not to mention, a physician will spend much time in a clinical examination peering into holes and listening to objects he/she cannot see. It's critical that a physician can not only pick up on all the subtleties, but then relay these subtleties to the healthcare team.

So what does this mean? Scientists, get out of the lab, you won't be treating many test tubes in the future. Experience culture, learn how to think critically, and most of all, realize that facts and numbers don't ease patients pain; that's the job for a gentle demeanor, critical eye, and thoughtful rapport.

Medical Dysfunction 1:07 AM

The circuitous route to surgery raises many questions in my mind about the program's overall efficacy to producing competent, compassionate physicians. During a surgery resident panel today, fourth year medical students expressed a mix of relief and exhilaration when talking about being free of the shackles of a strictly 'medicine' route and transitioning to a more results driven surgical environment. Moreover the advice that they gave to the younger generations reinforced the notion that surgery is an "old boy" institution with many barriers to entry.

Let's just say that I'm beginning to gain an appreciation for the stereotypes swirling around surgeons.

It's no surprise to me that students that matched in surgery would express overall relief about dodging the internal medicine bullet. Medical school today, specifically urban medical institutions, emphasize general practice-ish care throughout the curriculum and give little credence to the many alternative tracts in medicine. As a result surgery oriented students often have to forge their own track if they want to gain insight and experience about the field. But this isn't necessarily advantageous for the student.


From my perspective it immediately creates an "us vs. them" mentality amongst surgery kids and medicine kids. Surgery kids develop an ego because they feel like they've overcome so much to forge a place for themselves at school. Likewise, medicine kids label future surgeons as "gunners" with attitude problems that lack essential skills in patient-oriented medicine. It seems that surgeons fall right into this stereotype. But the thoughts of peers and colleagues aren't the only factors driving this mentality. Surgery, unlike many medicine tracts, demands high grades, higher board scores and often research experience. Surgery-minded students must, in essence, be superhuman and not only complete medical school, but get published and make it look easy. It's not surprising that they might cope with these enormous stressors by becoming somewhat egocentric.

Perhaps the most difficult thing to stomach is the social club behavior in sub specialties in surgery. Suddenly grades, skills, and experience take a back seat to letters of recommendation, hand shaking, back patting, and reputation. Surgery students rotate in hospitals because of a hospitals good name or star studded faculty. Too bad for honest hard work.

What bugs me is that all of this really just establishes a bizzare initiation that one must suffer through to practice in a life saving field of medicine. Surgeons are often on the cutting edge of clinical science but instead of working in a collaborative spirit they close themselves off to everyone that isn't part of their exclusive club that they worked so hard to be a part of. What are we teaching our nation's best and brightest? What examples are we setting for future generations of physicians?

Like most everything else in healthcare things need to change if outcomes are going to improve. Surgeons need to gain heart, and those in medicine need to shed stereotypes. In general, physicians need to take an honest look at an impact that their system of initiation has on patient's outcomes and decide if they're really keeping up with their oath to do no harm.

Obamarama 9:58 AM

I've made it pretty clear to my friends and family that I'm squarely in camp Obama as of late. I think his most recent speech really demonstrates why I think he's a worthy candidate. At first, I admit, my fondness for Obama was largely unfounded; I couldn't really nail down a specific policy that resonated with me. But as time has rolled on, I've realized that I like him because I revere him. Never have I heard a politician that can speak so eloquently or with such insight into the World. Hillary Clinton eat your heart out.

Religion 11:19 PM

I've noticed an interesting pattern in the way that the really religious ask questions. It starts off as an innocuous question, something easy to put the respondent at ease. The next question, the real question they were hoping to have answered, is harder, but phrased in a way that hides its condescending nature. After the respondent answers the question, it's challenged, which introduces tension. The religious questioner exploits this awkward pause to espouse their religious beliefs. It's quite brilliant really. Additionally, it ropes onlookers in because they want to see how the tense situation is resolved. For now, I've just observed this in Christians, so I wonder if its universally applicable. I really hope that there's a religious play book where these deceptive tactics are documented; something better than the bible, like the double-secret bible that only people with the right decoder ring can read. I imagine it's issued to republicans in the mail; like with a large enough donation to the Bush-Cheney campaign.