Academic Medicine Podcast
279 episodes - English - Latest episode: 29 days ago - ★★★★ - 43 ratingsMeet medical students and residents, clinicians and educators, health care thought leaders and researchers in this podcast from the journal Academic Medicine. Episodes chronicle the stories of these individuals as they experience the science and the art of medicine. Guests delve deeper into the issues shaping medical schools and teaching hospitals today. Subscribe to this podcast and listen as the conversation continues.
The journal Academic Medicine serves as an international forum to advance knowledge about the principles, policy, and practice of research, education, and patient care in academic settings.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are the guests’ alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the AAMC or its members.
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Episodes
Schrödinger’s Resident: Redeployment in the Age of COVID-19
September 21, 2020 11:00 - 3 minutes - 8.71 MB"American medicine has always been riven by internal rivalries. … The result is a culture that does not always prioritize kindness in interactions between health care providers. This has thankfully not been my experience during my reassignment … The COVID-19 outbreak will prove to be a seminal moment in the development of an entire generation of physicians-in-training. I hope that the bonds we form at the frontlines prove to be permanent." Resident Kunal Sindhu (@sindhu_kunal) reflects on ...
Addressing Race and Racism in Medical Education
September 14, 2020 11:00 - 47 minutes - 88.5 MBHosts Toni Gallo and assistant editor Dr. Dorene Balmer (@dorenebalmer) and guests medical students Bri Christophers (@BriChristophers) and Naomi Nkinsi (@NNkinsi) discuss how race is portrayed in medical education and what individuals and institutions should do to address racism in the curriculum and learning environment. Read the article discussed in this episode, “Changing How Race Is Portrayed in Medical Education: Recommendations From Medical Students,” at academicmedicine.org. Rea...
The COVID-19 Curriculum
September 07, 2020 11:00 - 4 minutes - 9.95 MB"The COVID-19 curriculum has also taught me that being a doctor isn’t only about giving a perfect presentation, choosing the right antibiotic, or making the right diagnosis. It is about using your knowledge to identify a need in humanity and taking action to fill it." Medical student Kate Rosen (@KateKateRosen) reflects on how her education has accelerated during COVID-19 in ways she didn't expect. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the September 202...
It Hurts Whether You Fail or Not
August 24, 2020 11:00 - 5 minutes - 12.7 MB"Failure is an intense experience for health care professionals. Even in most cases when the patient experiences no lasting harm, the professional who failed will suffer. There is no getting used to this pain. We cannot prepare for it, and often we feel alone in working through it." Dr. Jennifer Klasen reflects on using failure as an opportunity for growth and for forging more authentic connections with colleagues and patients. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Momen...
Gender Segregation by Specialty in Medicine
August 17, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 78.9 MBIn 2017, for the first time, more than half of medical school matriculants in the U.S. were women. And in 2019, nearly half of new faculty hires across academic medicine were women. At the same time, some specialties have a much higher or lower proportion of women faculty and residents. Hosts Toni Gallo and associate editor Dr. John Coverdale and guests Drs. Elaine Pelley (@ElainePelley) and Molly Carnes (@Molly_Carnes) discuss gender segregation by specialty in medicine, what it looks lik...
The Compassionate Clinical Examination
August 10, 2020 11:00 - 4 minutes - 9.94 MB"I would never have learned that this SP was as nervous as me had I not taken his pulse. ... As imaging technology and electronic records pull us away from the bedside, perhaps the unique privilege of performing something as intimate as the physical exam will help us keep the patient at the center of our care." Medical student Michael Wang reflects on a standardized patient encounter that reminded him about the genuine connection between patients and physicians that can come from the physi...
Fully Present
July 27, 2020 11:00 - 3 minutes - 7.98 MB"But the boys were uninterested in the degrees and accolades I possessed. They paid far closer attention to how I interacted with them. ... I learned I could be fully invested in each interaction, even if it lasted only 5 minutes." Medical student Victor Hsiao describes what he learned about being fully present for his patients from mentoring a group of at-risk youths in Taiwan. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the July 2020 issue of Academic Medic...
One Medical Student's COVID-19 Journey
July 13, 2020 11:00 - 29 minutes - 57.2 MBHosts Toni Gallo and editor-in-chief Dr. Laura Roberts (@_Roberts_Laura) and guest Caurice Wynter (@md_wynter) discuss COVID-19. Caurice, a fourth-year medical student, shares her COVID-19 story, the health inequities she and her family faced try to get care, and the insight she gained from navigating the health care system as a patient, a family member, and a medical student. Read the complete collection of COVID-19 articles published in Academic Medicine at https://journals.lww.com/acad...
Learning Sympathy
June 29, 2020 11:00 - 4 minutes - 9.72 MB"I found myself in uncharted territory, grappling with an unpredictable future that was far removed from what I had always envisioned. Just like that, I went from medical student to patient." Medical student Ilana Goldberg describes how her time as a patient and the health care team that cared for her taught her about being there for patients through hard times and protecting their vulnerabilities. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the June 2020 iss...
Checking the Boxes
June 15, 2020 11:00 - 3 minutes - 7.82 MB"I turned around to perform a different kind of survey—one that had no checklist because it was never really complete. ... For the first time, I appreciated his life, not his illness or the data we tracked along with it." Dr. Spencer Keil remembers a mentor who reminded him that caring for patients is about more than checking boxes. It's about getting to know a patient as a person outside a diagnosis. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the June 2020 i...
Clinician Well-Being During COVID-19
June 01, 2020 11:00 - 32 minutes - 62.4 MBHosts Toni Gallo and associate editor Dr. Colin West (@ColinWestMDPhD) and guest Dr. Jonathan Ripp discuss the state of clinician well-being during COVID-19 and how it's similar or different to what we’ve seen before. Dr. Ripp talks about what he and his colleagues at Mount Sinai are doing to identify and mitigate stressors for clinicians and support their workforce. And the group looks to the future and what well-being issues we might see as a result of this pandemic. Read Dr. Ripp’s arti...
The Burdens We Bear
May 25, 2020 11:00 - 5 minutes - 11.4 MB"Every clinician can remember his or her first real code as a singular event, but often unspoken is how these experiences chip away at the body, mind, and soul of even the most steadfast of people. Piece by piece, the mosaic of a fledgling medical student builds, cracks, and rebuilds with the ever-present risk of shattering altogether in the crucible." Medical student Damond Ng describes his first code and what he learned about the beautiful burden that physicians bear trying to keep harm ...
Well-Being and the Learning Environment: Systems-Level Changes to Reduce Burnout and Depression in Learners
May 18, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 78.4 MBHosts Toni Gallo and assistant editor for trainee engagement Dr. Jesse Burk Rafel (@jbrafel) and guest Dr. Lotte Dyrbye (@dyrbye) discuss burnout in medical students and residents, including new recommendations from the National Academies about systems-level changes to foster well-being in learners. Read Dr. Dyrbye's commentary, “Redesigning the Learning Environment to Promote Learner Well-Being and Professional Development,” discussed in this episode at academicmedicine.org.
The Burdened Learner: Clinical Wards and the Effects on Student Curiosity
May 04, 2020 11:00 - 5 minutes - 9.93 MB"In the classroom, if I had a question, I would ask it. 'There are no dumb questions,' we were told. On the wards, I felt as if that standard no longer applied. I was fearful both that my questions would slow or inhibit patient care and that I would be considered ignorant for my curiosity." Dr. Nathan Kong describes the importance of fostering curiosity in medical students, especially as they adapt to practicing clinical care. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Momen...
The Generosity of Health Professionals Across Academic Medicine in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 15, 2020 11:00 - 34 minutes - 65.8 MBHosts Toni Gallo and editor-in-chief Dr. Laura Roberts (@_Roberts_Laura) and guest Dr. Alison Whelan (@AlisonWhelanMD) discuss discuss how academic medicine is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact the crisis has had on the many mission areas of the field. They also discuss how the pandemic is affecting health professionals at all levels as well as the lasting changes to medicine and medical education that we might see, including how society views and values health professionals...
Two Days and Twenty Years
April 06, 2020 11:00 - 5 minutes - 9.85 MB"Sick versus not sick. Discerning this is a skill I first heard about long ago as a third-year medical student, then honed during my acting internship, residency, and 2 decades as an attending. ... And still, in this moment, I questioned whether I was making the right decision. Impostor syndrome reared its head." Dr. Terry Kind describes the useful purpose self-doubt can play throughout a physician's career. It helped her to think critically and make better decisions in caring for a 2-day ...
A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll: Using Different Paradigms to Conduct Your HPE Work
March 25, 2020 15:25 - 35 minutes - 68.1 MBHosts Toni Gallo and associate editor Dr. Bridget O’Brien (@bobrien_15) and guests Drs. Lara Varpio (@LaraVarpio) and Anna MacLeod (@ammacleod) discuss the recently published Philosophy of Science series. This collection of articles has something for everyone. It includes primers on 7 different paradigms (or collections of ideas about how we see the world) to help readers think about their HPE work in new ways. Read the articles discussed in this episode, including the complete Philosophy ...
A Lump in My Throat
March 09, 2020 11:00 - 5 minutes - 11.8 MB"I know I’m not the only one who feels that I can’t step away. Studies of physicians’ health and wellness are at the forefront of research these days. As physicians, our vow and purpose embolden our drive to keep going, to do more, and, at times, to neglect our own health. " Dr. Michaela Gaffley describes how her own cancer diagnosis forced her to realize that she had to prioritize her own health and practice self-compassion to better care for her patients. This essay was published in t...
Aequanimitas, Shaken
March 02, 2020 12:00 - 5 minutes - 11.6 MB"Compassionate care of a dying person with cancer isn’t a cinematic moment of calm, confident oration of the perfect speech and a ceremoniously grave exit. I didn’t hide my emotions behind aequanimitas virtuosity, but instead practiced transparency, allowing the patient and her family to witness my own emotional vulnerability." Dr. Michael Bonner Foote remembers the patient who reminded him that leaning into discomfort and sharing his emotions openly can benefit both his patients and hims...
The Gift of Receiving
February 24, 2020 12:00 - 5 minutes - 11.4 MB"Receiving the gift of compassion from my preceptor that day reminded me, and will continue to remind me, of how to give to and care for those around me, whether they be my patients or my colleagues." Medical student Victor Hsiao remembers a preceptor who gave him not only her time but also her empathy, grace, and encouragement. He describes how he will carry forward that experience in his own practice of medicine. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in ...
B-ball and Bread Crumbs
February 10, 2020 12:00 - 5 minutes - 11.4 MB"I look away from the microscope. I close my eyes, escaping the objective truth of these ever-present blasts and settling into the memory of butterflies set free into blue August skies at Adam’s funeral. For a moment, I find relief within the comfort of darkness, a brief respite from bright light." Resident Trisha Paul (@trishakpaul2) describes learning about a young patient Adam both from the patient himself earlier in her education and through a microscope from his blood work some time l...
The Transformative Power of Teaching and Learning
January 20, 2020 12:00 - 6 minutes - 13.4 MB"My genuine commitment to students is deeply rooted in the care others had for me. ... I want to pay the transformative power of teaching and learning forward to my students for years to come." Nathan Vanderford (@nlvanderford) describes how he tries to have a transformative influence on his students’ careers and life trajectories, just like his teachers and mentors had on him as a young man. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the January 2020 issue...
The Death and Birth of a Physician
January 13, 2020 12:00 - 4 minutes - 10.6 MB"Maybe the beauty of medicine and being a physician isn’t being able to solve every problem and prevent every tragic outcome ... but being there and supporting the people who need us, every step of the way." Pre-med student Marin Langlieb (@mlanglieb) recounts 2 experiences, the loss of her childhood pediatrician and mentor and the openness of the people at a community support group, that taught her about the true role of a physician, as she embarks on a career in medicine. This essay w...
A Look Back, A Look Forward: A Conversation With Two Editors
January 06, 2020 12:00 - 41 minutes - 79.1 MBAssuming the role of editor-in-chief of Academic Medicine, Laura Roberts (@_Roberts_Laura) sits down with past editor David Sklar and staff editor Toni Gallo in this episode to discuss the journal and the state of scholarship in medical education. Dr. Sklar recaps his time at Academic Medicine and the changes he saw during his 7 years as editor, and Dr. Roberts introduces herself to listeners and shares her vision for the future.
The Healing Yellow Raincoat
December 23, 2019 12:00 - 8 minutes - 16.8 MB"A physician once told me, 'You will not be able to cure or save every patient in your career. However, you do have the opportunity to heal every patient.' I did not truly understand what this meant until my experience with my dad." Medical student April Butler recounts how watching her father’s illness and death made her determined to offer her patients the same level of care, respect, and healing that he received. This essay placed first in the 2019 Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Health...
A Tale of Two Passings
December 16, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 12.7 MB"Like the medical jargon and the physical exam, learning how to witness death is both a rite of passage and a skill to be learned. Teaching medical trainees how to cope with death requires slowing down. When attendings or residents pause to remember what a first code feels like and debrief the experience or offer guidance on how to cope, it is impactful to trainees." Contrasting her own first experience with death and a classmate's, medical student Sarah Smith (@SarahSm25869963) describes ...
Lost to Follow-up
December 09, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 13.1 MB"Jaime taught me that missed visits are important data points, rather than the lack thereof. They suggest that a patient could be struggling to contend with poverty, housing insecurity, immigration status concerns, domestic violence, immobility, untreated mental illness, or prior experiences facing racism when seeking care. While these forces may not be visible through the electronic medical record, they pose powerful threats to good health. Their effects warrant prompt diagnosis and an effe...
Navigating Politics as a Medical Student of Mexican Descent
December 02, 2019 14:50 - 6 minutes - 13.1 MB"I never sought to transform John’s political views—my role as a future doctor is to heal people like John, to judge his heart by its physicality and not its prejudice. However, I hope that because of our time together as people with different backgrounds and worldviews, John acquired a more compassionate understanding of Mexican people than what our president publicizes. I hope that we remember each other." Medical student Salem Harry-Hernandez describes what it’s like as a Mexican Americ...
A Second Home
November 25, 2019 12:00 - 7 minutes - 15 MB"Ms. Scott paused. She looked around the hospital room, her eyes lingering on the cracked door leading out to the hallway. 'Well, my dear, I suppose I’m at the hospital. But wouldn’t you know—it’s begun to feel like a second home.'" In this episode, first-year resident Neha Verma reminds readers that sometimes unconventional treatments, like an elderly patient spending time at the nurse’s station with company instead of in her room alone, can make all the difference in her recovery. This...
The Role of Podcasts as Educational Tools in Medical Education
November 18, 2019 12:00 - 49 minutes - 93.9 MBDiscussing the current role of podcasts as educational tools in medical education, new research on the topic, and why podcasts are here to stay are guest host and assistant editor for trainee engagement Dr. Jesse Burk-Rafel (@jbrafel), podcasters Drs. Shreya Trivedi (@ShreyaTrivediMD) and Jess Mason (@JessMasonMD), and researcher Dr. Jeff Riddell (@Jeff__Riddell). Read more about this topic, including the article discussed in this episode, at academicmedicine.org.
The Bubble Bath
November 11, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 14.4 MB“I don’t always know what the right thing is to say to someone who just attempted suicide. But what I do know is that hospital rooms are boring and lonely and scary. I also know that sometimes we all just want to be seen. I wasn’t the nurse, and she wasn’t the patient. We were just two girls laughing together.” Nursing student Chelsea Huffhines describes the importance of connecting with patients, person to person, which can happen over a simple bubble bath. This essay placed third in the ...
Trust in Conversation
November 04, 2019 21:00 - 7 minutes - 16 MB“In this age of information overload, where people Google their symptoms, poll friends (and strangers) through social media, or even use an app long before they see a physician, it is more important than ever for us to build trust with our patients.” Medical student Francie Hessel describes the importance of building that trust by meeting patients where they are and connecting with them person to person, not just doctor to patient. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Mome...
My First Terrible Diagnosis
October 14, 2019 11:00 - 6 minutes - 13.9 MB“The shame and guilt over my inept handling of that first terrible diagnosis have stayed with me. When I make an awful discovery, the dread is still there, but I confront it. … I acknowledge that we both may have more questions than answers but promise that we’ll make a plan to get the answers.” Michelle Kittleson remembers a patient she saw more than 2 decades ago and what she learned about delivering bad news and providing comfort to patients who may be confused and scared. This essay was ...
Heavy Moments
September 30, 2019 11:00 - 6 minutes - 11.3 MB"The nature of clinical medicine teaches us to hear difficult stories from patients without being knocked over by them. But I think it will require intentional awareness and self-reflection throughout my career as a physician to respect every heavy moment for its immense worth." Medical student Nicholas Lenze reminds readers that although the normalization of the extraordinary may be a common experience in medicine, it doesn't have to be harmful if physicians remember to notice and remain awa...
A Skin Exam Shares a History, a Physical, and a Story
September 16, 2019 11:00 - 5 minutes - 9.7 MB"When a patient’s story does not match up with the physical exam, we must accept the dissonance and take everything into account or else risk throwing away something our patient is trying to tell us." Medical student Rebecca Yanovsky recounts what she learned from a patient whose verbal account of her illness didn't match the physical exam findings--that doctors must listen with their eyes, ears, and heart. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the September ...
"I need you to forgive yourself": Shame in Medicine and Medical Education
August 19, 2019 20:00 - 44 minutes - 81.4 MBJoining the podcast to discuss shame in medicine and medical education and their research and other work in this area are Will Bynum (Twitter: WillBynumMD), Lara Varpio (Twitter: LaraVarpio), and Ashley Adams (Twitter: AshleyAdamsMD). Read more about these topics, including the articles discussed in this episode, at academicmedicine.org. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Department of Defense or any other American fed...
I Want to Hold Your Hand
August 05, 2019 11:00 - 4 minutes - 8.63 MB"I will remember that singing imperfect songs might be better medicine than reciting a perfect care plan." Christine Bridges recounts how singing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles with a patient and her care team brought life into the patient's hospital room in a way that no medical intervention could. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the August 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.
The Importance of Gaining Insight
July 22, 2019 11:00 - 4 minutes - 8.76 MB“During our conversations, I gained insight into Paul, and Paul gained insight into himself. And I realized that insight is contagious. I’m hoping we’ll have an epidemic soon.” Resident Nara Michaelson remembers a patient who taught her about the importance of building trust and understanding patients beyond their lab values and imaging results. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the July 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine....
Clean Sorrow
July 15, 2019 11:00 - 5 minutes - 9.21 MB“You’re describing what I think of as ‘clean sorrow,’” he said ... "Instead of frustration or regret, it sounds like you’re feeling a very pure sorrow.” He paused. “And your sorrow is beautiful, because it’s completely tied up in your love for him.” Medical student Jo Glaser remembers a patient's family that reminded her about the importance of focusing on the beauty of her work and relationships. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the July 2019 issue of A...
How May I Help You?
July 08, 2019 11:00 - 6 minutes - 11.8 MB"I used to think that establishing boundaries required strong emotional responses. I was wrong. Learning to say no and express oneself in an empathetic way is a valid alternative." James Agapoff (Twitter: @ dragonnovelist) recounts an experience that taught him about establishing boundaries, making compromises, and knowing when to keep his opinions to himself. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the July 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at ac...
A Conversation with Darrell Kirch
July 01, 2019 10:59 - 39 minutes - 72.1 MBDarrell Kirch, MD, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (Twitter: @ AAMCtoday), joins the podcast to discuss his work at the AAMC and as part of the Coalition for Physician Accountability; important issues in medical education today including physician well-being, competency-based medical education, and GME selection and training; and the future of academic medicine. Read more about these topics, including the articles discussed in this episode, at academicmedicin...
A Show of Emotion
June 24, 2019 10:59 - 6 minutes - 12.2 MB"On the first night of my labor and delivery rotation, I watched a story unfold that reminded me of medicine’s potential to arouse our innermost humanity." Medical student Nicholas Lenze remembers an experience that reminded him that medicine is more than just the next task, that it is the extraordinary moments of humanity physicians experience when they are present with patients. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the June 2019 issue of Academic Medicine....
The Notebook
June 17, 2019 10:59 - 7 minutes - 12.9 MB"Leah taught me to actively listen and offer the support my patients need to be able to find, hold onto, and reclaim their stories and their selves." Medical student Amali Gunawardana remembers a patient who reminded her that listening and observing patients’ stories must remain at the center of their care. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the June 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.
Embracing Discomfort on the Path to Humility
June 10, 2019 11:00 - 6 minutes - 12 MB"And I fear that something crucial is lost if we regard discomfort as an unequivocally negative experience, if we fail as teachers to separate humility from humiliation." Amy Caruso Brown recounts an experience that reminded her that discomfort is good and necessary in that it encourages physicians-in-training to be humble when so many cultural forces tell them just the opposite. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the June 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. ...
Be Human. Be Kind.
June 03, 2019 11:00 - 4 minutes - 8.77 MB"The most important thing that I teach the students is to be human. To see the person sitting in front of you. To be kind." Joanne Rolls remembers a patient who reminded her that, even in the face of bad news and uncertainty, being human and kind can make all the difference. This essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the June 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at academicmedicine.org.
Remembering the Heart of a Teacher
May 20, 2019 11:00 - 8 minutes - 16.1 MB"Teaching is about learning, curiosity, and community. I just needed a reminder from my students." Jessica Servey recounts a time when her students reminded her what it means to be a teacher and that learning can happen in more than one direction. Her essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the May 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. Read her essay at academicmedicine.org.
Thoughts From the Trauma Bay
May 07, 2019 15:41 - 5 minutes - 10.8 MB"We were so busy that night; everyone was. Yet residents on other services would just stop by to check on the boy, to ask if there was any improvement. I was so moved. It was simple humanity." Medical student Teddy Peng remembers a young boy he met in the trauma bay and the lessons he learned about the art of medicine and truly caring for patients. His essay was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the May 2019 issue of Academic Medicine. Read his essay at academicmedicine...
The Implications of the ECFMG 2023 Changes for the Physician Workforce
April 29, 2019 19:00 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBIn 2010, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) announced a new policy. Starting in 2023, all international medical graduates seeking ECFMG certification to complete graduate medical education training in the US must have graduated from a medical school accredited by an agency that has been formally recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education. Discussing this new policy and its workforce and other implications for physicians in the US and abroad are Sean...
The Role of Clinical Reasoning and Cognitive Bias in Diagnostic Error
April 08, 2019 19:00 - 44 minutes - 82.1 MBDiscussing clinical reasoning, cognitive bias, and diagnostic error and their implications for physicians and training programs are editor-in-chief David Sklar and senior staff editor Toni Gallo (Twitter: @ AcadMedJournal) and Dan Mayer, an emergency medicine physician who has taught on diagnostic errors and medical decision-making for more than 30 years. Read more about this topic, including the articles discussed in this episode, at: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/default.a...
Duality
March 25, 2019 19:00 - 7 minutes - 14.3 MB"Sometimes, it feels like the patient you work the hardest to save slips away, while the one you least expect to survive defeats the odds and walks away. Yet, somehow, we feel responsible for both patients. Is this duality a rite of passage or a yoke we must bear?" Parul Sud considers the dualities in medicine—failure and success, diffidence and confidence, despair and elation, the patients who survive and those who do not—and how physicians can learn and grow from them. Her essay was publish...