Over the last few years, many medical schools have initiated “white coat” ceremonies for 1st year medical students. At the ceremony (usually occurring in the first week of school), the students receive their first white coat (ours are donated by the alumni association). I received a huge honor this year, being asked to deliver the key note address at the white coat ceremony.
Over the past month, I was approached about joining the editorial board of the medical student section of Medscape. Today my first Medscape article appears – based on my white coat ceremony address.
On Millard, H pylori, and Great Cases
If you cannot read this (it does require free registration) I will be glad to ask Medscape permission to publish the column in its entirety on the blog. Just let me know.
Towards the end of my address, these are my thoughts:
All of this leads me to a charge I would like to give to the entering class of medical students:
You are joining a wonderful profession. You have the opportunity to understand the complexity of the human body. You will learn the anatomy, the physiology, and the problems that alterations cause.
But please, always remember why you study. Always remember that our goal is to help individual patients. Listen carefully to the patient. He or she will often tell you what the problem is. Respect them.
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3 Responses to The white coat ceremony
jamesgaulte
August 19th, 2005 at 1:41 pm
Dr. Centor,
I think you got them off to a good start.
James Gaulte
R.G. Lacsamana, M.D.
August 19th, 2005 at 2:55 pm
Those parting thoughts make me think of those immortal words of the late Dr. Francis Peabody: THE SECRET IN TAKING CARE OF THE PATIENT IS IN CARING FOR THE PATIENT.
Am glad you are continuing the great Oslerian tradition.
tina
August 23rd, 2005 at 7:33 am
In theory listening to the patient is a beautiful thought. However as a patient and as a woman it is highly unrealistic to expect a doctor to actually listen.
I often sit with my coworkers-woman scientists-and we discuss our dissapointment with physicians in general. We walk in the door and the assumption is made that we are too stupid to have any insight or knowledge about our problem. Only the god like MD can truley possess the sacred knowledge. Even better, we are whiny middle age women.
I wonder if this is a generational phenomena as often the older physician seems somewhat more good hearted. I wonder if by selecting only the ambitious, top notch, 4.0 students who are willing to cheat, steal, and backstab to get into to medical school, if we are preselecting really poor doctors. Being a physician in america has become a place of status and thus those who want status strive for that position. They have substantial egos, poor listening skills and little to no empathy. There minds are highly focused in a very linear, regurgitative fashion. They can vomit back all the info you throw at them but can they really stop and make the connections between all that information? Can they really think, can they really feel, can they really listen? Most important can they admit they are wrong or that they don’t know the answer?
I don’t think so. Big egos don’t allow that sort of behavior.