Dear Interns

Interns! Welcome to the most beloved, heart-stirring , gut-wrenching, beautiful, mind-blowing club on earth: medicine.

I’m so glad you’re here.

A few words of wisdom & encouragement as you begin the journey of healing...yourself & others:

1. No one expects you to know everything. Everyone expects you to show up. Showing up is the most important thing. 

2. Approach each day with a growth mindset; if you failed yesterday, it’s ok! That’s data collection right there. We ALL fail. All of us.

3. When in a crisis, be a helper. Help first. Ask later. 

4. Grief is the partner of empathy. It’s ok to grieve. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of your humanity. Nurture it. Share it w others. It will make you resilient. 

5. NEVER say no to food breaks.

6. Invest in some good shoes & support socks. Pack a little ditty bag of toiletries, snacks & clean clothes. Keep it with you. 

7. Walk & sit near the sun whenever you can. Take time to get outside even if 15 min at the hospital. Mini breaks are life giving.

8. If someone is unapproachable that is their weakness, not a reflection of you. Don’t become them. Resist the ego. Stay humble. 

9. And finally: write a little each day. Keep a journal beside your bed;  even if 1 sentence: write. Write her name. Remember his disease. 

They matter.