"I was his sin-eater. In this moment of vulnerability, I was attempting to take his ills away, alleviate his pain, and internalize his grief. I had hope for his healing, but I knew his fate."

Gillian Naro, first-year resident of internal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, draws comparison between a medieval Welsh tradition and modern-day physician burnout.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the March 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.

In honor of Earth Day, host Toni Gallo and guests Drs. Kari Nadeau and Ari Bernstein discuss climate change and its effects on human health. Drs. Nadeau and Bernstein describe their efforts and the work of others to teach the science and health effects of climate change to medical students and residents, and they argue for the importance of this work for caring for patients. 

Read the articles discussed in this episode at academicmedicine.org: 

Addressing Climate Change and Its Effects on Human Health: A Call to Action for Medical Schools 

Climate Change and the Practice of Medicine: Essentials for Resident Education

A transcript of this episode is available at academicmedicineblog.org. 

“Running, we agreed, was like an invisible bridge between the mind and the body. Just as doctoring connects the pathophysiological and human elements of illness, running marries the physical and mental components of health.”

Fourth-year medical student, Nicholas Lenze, examines the connection between running and practicing medicine as he continues his journey of becoming a doctor.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the April 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.

"Sure, she wanted the catheter out, but the most dramatic thing I removed that day was fear and confusion. Suddenly, she had become part of her own care."

Jonathan Steinmetz, senior resident of internal medicine at UConn Health, recalls an interaction where communication was key to empowering a patient's sense of purpose in managing her own health care and quality of life.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the March 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.

“As a resident who at times lived in a place of physical and mental exhaustion, I often failed to appreciate these differences and the lessons I was being offered.”

Assistant Professor, Dr. Catherine Callister, tells the tale of how some of the most profound lessons camouflage their way into her years of training as a resident.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the March 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.

“I study, because when I return to that hospital without doctors, deep in the West African bush, I want to be better. I teach, because I am but one, and it is the many which make the most difference.”

Having to face the death of his patients, resident medical officer, Dr. Aidan Tan, reflects on his lessons learned regarding a doctor's responsibility.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the March 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.

“It made me wonder what else we could have done. But I wish I had heard the news in person, with my team there to help me process what happened.”

Digital applications can deliver timely, functional, and convenient solutions to complex matters, but what happens when digital applications become an obsession? Fourth-year medical student, Arifeen S. Rahman, reflects on the pivotal moment which leads to the decision to curb her digital obsession.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the February 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.

Hosts Toni Gallo and assistant editor for trainee engagement Lala Forrest (@Lala_Forrest) and guests Drs. Maija Holsti and Sam Hawkins discuss the Native American Research Internship program (@NARI_UofU) at the University of Utah, which is open to Native college students across the United States who are interested in pursuing biomedical careers. They describe the components of the NARI program, including its integration with the local Native elders and tribal nations, and share advice for other institutions looking to support the Native students in their communities.

Read the article discussed in this episode, “Lessons From the First Decade of the Native American Summer Research Internship at the University of Utah,” at academicmedicine.org. 

"As future medical professionals, we are taught about the importance of mental health. Many of us will talk to our patients about their struggles, yet we cannot talk to each other about our own."

Heather Stewart, fourth-year medical student at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, recounts her first therapy session and questions why the stigma around asking for help still exists.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the February 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.

"In certain cases, it is the odors that emanate in a patient’s room that have proven to be as important in making a diagnosis as their renal function or the opacity on their chest X-ray."

Patrick Twohig, a fellow with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, shares how performing a thorough physical examination draws on a variety of tests and tools - even one's olfactory sensibility.

This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the January 2021 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.