Dr Rosemary Pitsi shares some guidance for doctors-in-training to help them make the most of their opportunities.

______

Since the dawn of the age of medicine, skill and knowledge has been passed down through each generation in a similar fashion. Some would go as far as to say that it was bestowed upon the forthcoming chosen cohort.

The academic journey in medicine has come to be likened as an apprenticeship that renders you a capable physician under the tutelage of a wizened consultant or specialist.

But what happens in an Era where modalities of knowledge and skill acquisition span far beyond the small group of expert physicians?

What becomes of the quality of the learning opportunities when the groups of students are the largest they have ever been?

It calls for a new way of approaching training. Here are some points that I have found useful:

• At your healthcare facility, find out if there are any funded academic opportunities that you can participate in. In our field, there are always basic courses that need constant renewal in order to align with the latest evidence based guidelines.
• Every division of medicine has a number of skills that would render you competent in that domain. Start a logbook for yourself where you capture cases that demonstrate your journey to proficiency. Denote which were supervised and unsupervised to exhibit your progression over time.
• Consider spending time in simulated learning environments e.g videos, skills labs and simulations between peers. This makes time spent outside of the hospital environment productive.
• Apply for that job or speciality program. Sit for that interview. Navigating interviews well can only come from the experience participating in them.

Having taken on these opportunities in an independent capacity will demonstrate a level of initiative that is sure to give you an advantage in prospective employment opportunities.

I wish you all the best!

______

Read more articles like this on our State Indemnity hub.