Newsletters

POSTED: April 29th, 2019
POSTED IN: EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP, March/April 2019,

Written by Jared Lammert, MD
PGY-1, University of Missouri – Columbia, University Hospital

It’s hard to believe that the first year of residency is coming to an end. The year has flown by. It has been better than expected while being more challenging than expected at the same time. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m excited to see what the next years of residency will bring.

Everyone expects residency to be difficult, and it is, but there are so many things that have made this year great too. I’ve been very fortunate to work with a great group of people. My intern class immediately formed a bond, and I know I have made lifelong friends. We are there for each other when we need to blow off some steam, and we help each other out on a daily basis.

The senior residents and attendings have been great mentors. They have been very encouraging and have helped me grow in confidence as a physician. They are excellent teachers. They walk me through complicated procedures and include me in the decision making process. I distinctly remember my first intubation as a resident in the emergency department. I prepared all of the equipment and looked to my senior resident before proceeding. He simply gave me a nod, which communicated his confidence in me to do the procedure effectively.

I was nervous for my first shift in the emergency department. I was expecting to encounter complicated patients and make difficult decisions. I wasn’t expecting that the most challenging part of that first shift was figuring out how to use the computer and put in orders. It took me several weeks to get in a rhythm of writing good notes.

One of my favorite parts of the year has been the opportunity to connect with patients. As I expected, practicing emergency medicine exposes you to all types of people. I wear cowboy boots to work, and I grew up in a small town. This has become a connection point with many of the patients who come from rural Missouri. Something as simple as that allows me to gain their trust when it comes to their medical care. I value the opportunity to find connection with my patients, no matter their background.

I am still learning, just like in medical school, but the big difference now is that I am a real doctor. I can’t wait around for a text book to give me answers, I have to make decisions which directly impact patient care every day. The biggest lesson I learned this year is not to get fixated on a diagnosis too soon, and that it’s always important to keep an open mind. It gets easier over time, and I gain confidence each shift. Overall, I’ve enjoyed this year, and I cannot wait to mentor the next intern class.