What Does it Mean to be a Physician?

This article is a great way to sum up many of the discussions that I had with fellow classmates as an undergraduate student about the way that physicians are expected to practice. Since we studied the management of healthcare and health professionals, I found myself constantly asking myself what makes a physician “good” and I could never really come up with a satisfying answer. The best conclusion I had was that I would settle for any physician who possessed the personal attributes I am looking for as long as they met the minimal knowledge and skills set forth in their profession. However, I am still torn as to whether I was faced with having to choose the top rated surgeon with a bad attitude or the lowest ranked one with the best attitude, I am still not sure what I would actually pick. This article points out that a medical education should include teaching not only knowledge and skills but also the attributes that physicians need to possess.

The three attributes of caring, inquisitiveness, and civic-mindedness are necessary personal attributes to make a physician trusted and able to practice medicine well. I don’t think it should be difficult for most of us to fill these attributes, especially as students at UMD where the focus is inclusive of academics and interpersonal skills. Our training will hopefully prepare us to be physicians in the fullest meaning of the word.

In the article, the point that stuck out the most was that we have often equated caring with treatment, which has affected patients’ attitudes about their physicians in critical times. The takeaway point from this for me is to be very aware when I am faced with a patient who is nearing the end of treatment possibilities, I will be sure to continue doing everything that I can for them. I want to create physical as well as emotional contentment, even if the patient and I both know that the outcome is not what anybody would hope for.

Knowing the focus of the UMD Medical School and reading this article have refreshed my excitement for learning everything I need to know to be the best physician I can. I want to take advantage of every opportunity to learn knowledge and skills. In addition, I also want to ensure that I learn to improve my ability to be caring, inquisitive, and civic-minded.