Dear 3rd-year-medical-student-Kathleen-of-the-future,

I just finished reading What I Learned in Medical School, and one of the stories that really stuck out to me was about slowly getting the humanity and sense of self beaten out of you once clinical years start. So I just want to remind you not to let that happen.

You're becoming a doctor to help PEOPLE. Don't forget that. Don't get so caught up in treatments or diagnoses (although those are pretty cool) that you forget there's a patient behind that chart. And I don't know what health care will be like in 3 years, and I know you don't have to worry about who has insurance, etc, as a student, but remember what Nordstrom said during training - treat everyone the same, and don't make assumptions. I think that might apply to patients as well as customers.

More importantly though, don't forget to take time out for yourself. If staying longer at the hospital is "optional", go home at least some of the time. Catch up with old friends, get out of the medical mindset for a bit. Try to maintain some sort of balance, and retain your personal identity. Don't go crazy. Go to a yoga class. Catch up on the news. Watch a movie. Sleep. You can never have too much sleep.

That's it for now. I hope you're having a good time :). Medical school can't be all that bad if you don't let it be, right?

Cheers,

Kathy-as-I'm-applying-to-med-school