10 Things I Wish I Knew/Did Better in Medical School

Thing 1: Cherish the Journeys You Enter Into

The pressure near the end of medical school was suffocating.

I remember wishing I could somehow squeeze more hours into a day. The sixth year had arrived, and I was stunned at how quickly it came. Before I could even say “Wueh!” the second half of the year was flying by.😫

As finals approached, my greatest fear was failing the Internal Medicine unit. Those who knew me then will remember the hot tears I shed because of it (Getting a distinction in Internal Medicine for my end-of-rotation exam was an act of grace!)

So, I worked hard. I took countless patient histories, practised exam manoeuvres, memorised protocols and refined my oratory skills (in case my knowledge was insufficient, you know 😂). I was confident on exam day. 

Fast-forward: I passed. I was officially a doctor! But after mindful reflection, I quickly realised that I had mastered the histories, but I hadn’t honoured the stories I was being let into.

In my determination to succeed, I became so focused on getting things right that I missed the people before me.

I regret how often I mentally brushed past moments when patients drifted into personal details, telling me about their homes, their neighbourhoods, how their lives had changed since falling ill, how their children had grown up while they were in and out of the hospital, etc. 

To my shame, I longed for “ideal” patients who gave textbook answers and instinctively prepared for examination when they saw me warm my hands. I wanted everything to look polished so I would seem like a competent doctor-in-training.

But in doing so, I missed the plot.

Honouring the patient's journey is part of the diagnostic process. It’s also the foundation of trust and the reason patients allow us into places in their lives that they don’t always share even with their own families.

Thankfully, that lesson stayed with me.

Some time ago, a former patient called to say they were sad I had left for further studies. They told me they had looked forward to our consultations, not just for the clinical care, but because they had felt seen, heard, and safe. I had referred them on to specialist care, but what they remembered most was the journey we had walked together.

So, dear medical student, I know the pressure feels intense. I know you want to excel, and you will. But while you’re chasing competence, don’t lose your compassion. 

Smell the roses.

You will pass your exams. More importantly, you will carry forward lessons in empathy and patient-centred care that will shape your career for a lifetime.

See the bigger picture.

With love,

A lady who was once in your shoes.