5 years of cardiac surgery residency down -- here are 5 lessons I wish I could have told my younger self prior to starting
After witnessing and experiencing many of life’s extremes in this process, both good and the bad:
== Thread 🧵==
Jason Han
1,010 posts
Jason Han
@JasonHanMD
@modern_surgeon Cardiac surgery resident @PennMedicine & Writes a column @PhillyInquirer | @JACCJournals @ArtifOrgans | talking about surgery plainly and openly
Philadelphia, PA
Joined May 2017
- When I was applying to residency, a surgeon describing their program once said to me, “One of our residents graduated with >100 publications! If you come here, we can make you that superstar.” Think about that... >100! And it kept happening… 🧵//
- When applying to residency, most people dread writing personal statements. Having written and given feedback on many personal essays over the years, here are 5 tips that I think can make it a little easier. // 🧵
- "To succeed, make sure that each day you study 1 hour, exercise 1 hour, read 1 hour, spend time with family and friends for 1 hour, relax for 1 hour, sleep 7-8 hours, cook your own meals, cultivate hobbies..." - advice often given to those with 16-hour workdays in medicine
- Replying to @JasonHanMD(5/5) Integrity matters Some people around you will cut corners or take dishonest shortcuts to success. It never stops hurting to see jerks get ahead. But people notice sooner or later. Integrity matters. Character matters. And they always will.
- Replying to @JasonHanMDThe new application cycle is coming up. Many people are leaving academia bc of "publish or perish." Authors are literally paying money (instead of being paid) to publish their work. Can we agree to stop this harmful race, and stop glorifying this metric?
- Replying to @JasonHanMD(3/5) As you become more successful, try harder at the basic things Some of the most successful (and busiest) people around me still reply to emails kindly & reliably, remember people’s names, and offer help to others. This is not a coincidence.
- Replying to @JasonHanMDBut this perception is toxic. The # of pubs does not encapsulate who you are as a provider, trainee, teacher, or teammate. It does not measure quality, impact, or altruism. It’s just a crude metric. And it has started some very alarming data trends in med ed… /
- What I thought being a great surgeon (or any professional) was all about at the start of residency but have since come to change my mind A thread 🧵🧵//
- Replying to @JasonHanMD(2/5) The most obvious problems are the ones worth working on You may be tempted to distinguish yourself by coming up with “rare,” “prestigious” ideas. But what the world needs more of are people who are willing to humbly work on the obvious, day-to-day problems.
- Replying to @JasonHanMD(4/5) No one else will say no for you You might think that someone out there will tell you when you're doing enough. But that's not always in their interest. Only you can tell yourself when you're doing enough & good enough.
- Replying to @JasonHanMD(1/5) No one is invincible or impervious to change We start out believing we may be the exception. “He burned out, but I’m different” “She changed, but I won’t” Do not give into exceptionalism, and instead be more mindful of your environment. Not all things bounce back.
- Replying to @JasonHanMDI'm sure our community can come up with better metrics, or better yet, talk about people more holistically #surgery #MedTwitter @AspiringCTS
- Even though #sugery life and #residency is fraught with challenging situations, every once in a while, someone does something that leaves an indelible mark on your training and outlook. This is a thread dedicated to those moments with a hope that more will follow / 🧵