Hi everyone,
Francesca and I are in Acadia National Park this weekend, celebrating the end of summer. Today’s forecast is for blue skies and temperatures in the mid-sixties. Our tentative agenda includes a bus ride around the Park Loop Road, a hike up Cadillac Mountain, and a lobster dinner.
I’m taking this morning off from writing a fresh PD note, so it seemed like a good time to share this annual August reprise.
Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. See you soon,
Mark
MDS
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To our wonderful interns (and everyone else):
It has come to my attention that we have an epidemic of interns diagnosed with a disease that tortures them with the following delusions:
- That he or she is neither skilled nor smart enough to be a Yale Resident
- That the condition is rare and only affects one person (guess who)
- That the affliction is incurable
- That signs of the disease (insufficient knowledge and skill) are obvious to residents and attendings who gloss over the evidence with shallow compliments like "nice work," "good job," and "very impressive."
Please know, dear interns, that this disease, which must not be named, recurs each summer, afflicts the most talented interns especially ferociously, and becomes less severe with each passing day. Its cause is the overwhelming realization that there is a lot to learn.
I am now 30 years past the same affliction and can assure you that the cure is contained within the walls of our hospitals and clinics, in the confident smiles and support of your residency family.
You are a talented group of interns. Whether you believe it or not, your intelligence and skills are self-evident to those of us who recruited you. You are on your way to becoming spectacular physicians, no matter what doubts plague your mind on these steamy summer nights.
For those of you suffering this malady, your Residents, Chief Residents, and Program Directors are here for you. Let us know how we can help.
All my best,
Mark