The other day I took my cardboard/paper recyclables down to
the recycle bin in the basement of my building. I was rewarded with a
satisfactory feeling of accomplishment. So satisfactory the feeling was, that
it lasted the whole day. I had successfully completed just one small mundane
act and whew!.... was flying high! Could have happily slept the rest of the
day, but don’t worry, I got my studying for the day done as well.
Speaking of studying, I expressed to one of my attendings
the other day my concern for our ability as surgery residents to be able to
afford the time to study adequately in order to boost our ABSITE scores. The
general goal of any surgery program, includes to some varying level (depending
on the program) preparing its residents to take the boards upon graduation. The
yearly ABSITE helps gauge how well the residents are doing, a.k.a. how well the
program is teaching its residents. New study methods or education techniques
are implemented each year towards this effort.
This year however, research requirements have been implemented. Research
is necessary in medicine. Many programs
have an entire year built in during which a specific resident will do nothing
but research. We are not currently that type of program, therefore research is
added on top of what we already have asked of us. Can we do it? Yes, of course
we can. However, it will unfortunately come at the cost of what scarce study
time we had. And hence, my concern for our ability to improve our ABSITE scores
this year.
Maybe this all leads to my inflated feeling of
accomplishment for something as simple as taking out the recyclables. With a ‘To
Do’ list that is seemingly never-ending, it is something that I can check off
with a job well done. Never underestimate the value of small attainable goals.
Much Love.
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