Transition from College Student to Physician: “How am I doing?”

I just wanted to briefly explain why I have no time in this week or so to post here as often as usual. I am facilitating two groups of medical students, first and second year, their first learning of what it is like and what skills and behavior are necessary to become a doctor. The course is called “Introduction to Clinical Medicine”. It is an experiential course, no lectures. It is “hands on” with regard to learning how to understand and how to intellectually, empathetically and in a humanistic way connect with patients, take a history and perform a physical exam. It is now mid-term for the students, they are asking me “how am I doing?” and since there are no exams but simply (or perhaps not so simply) my observation, it is time for me to provide the feedback that will help to guide them as the year progresses and beyond. I have to prepare to say the most productive suggestions specific to each student and that takes time. So this posting will be it for a week. If you are looking for postings about medical ethics and the practice of medicine to read, there are still over 250 on this blog. ..Maurice.