Welcome back to The Doctor Is In, our new blog series featuring monthly articles and photographs from PHA Executive Director, Dr. Don Batisky.
A
beginning, hopefulness, renewal. That’s what sunrise means to me. The beginning
of a new day, a fresh start, a sense of optimism are all things that come to
mind when I watch the sunrise. I took
this pic at the beach at Cape Cod over Labor Day weekend. Those moments just before the sun hits the
horizon, while the colors of the sky change each and every second, are magical
to me. And being at the beach allows for
me to appreciate reflection literally as well as metaphorically.
As
autumn begins, it’s also easy to reflect on what that means in the academic
calendar. It means returning to school,
starting a new set of classes, and also moving forward in any given
program. I see new freshmen making their
way around campus, and returning upperclassmen figuring out their new
roles. On the medical school side, the
M-2 small group I have gotten to know over the past year is much more confident
in some of their duties, and yet they also start thinking more about a big test
(USMLE Step 1) that they will be taking in a few months. And my M-4 group has just submitted applications
for the various residency programs.
I
recently had the chance to spend some time talking about the whole process of
professional school interviews. I cannot
even begin to think about how many interviews I have been involved in over the
years, some as the interviewee, and quite a few more as the interviewer. Just last week, I got to do not only my first
medical school interview for the year, but also the first for our fellowship
program. As I feel steeped in ‘interview
mode’, I reflect on our need to connect and communicate as human beings. And in the fields of healthcare, connecting
and communicating are so important.
So
for me, sunrises and interviews seem to share a common theme of hopefulness and
optimism. Looking toward a new
beginning, a new day, a new program. Use
the time to look ahead, take in the warmth of the sun, and value meeting
someone new. Reflect on those moments,
and appreciate each and every day.