Whither the master clinicians

Yesterday’s post on our responsibilities to students and residents struck a nerve.  One comment shared this wonderful post – A letter to the Master Clinician. In my career as a student and physician-in-training, the teachers who inspired me to become an Internist and a Nephrologist were all Master Clinicians and spent a lot of time with us – showing us physical examination skills, ways to think through tough cases and how to balance family and residency life. As a community of young physicians, we would like to extend an invitation to you to return and show to us your skills and enthusiasm. We understand the competing interests you have from administration, research and education. We can devise technological and novel ways of educating in the 21st century to enable you to return. Advances in technology can aid in teaching clinical reasoning. As I walk through the hallways of the hospital, I realize what is absent… it is the “Master Clinician”. We miss you! Sincerely, The Apprentice in search of a Guru The author laments the apparent disappearance of these master clinicians. His letter reminded me of a wonderful editorial that my colleague Dr. Jack Ende wrote 3 years ago –Bigger Chairs at Smaller Tables. Where would all this downsizing leave the chair? Still at the head of the table, of course, but hopefully more gratified and fulfilled, functioning more as a leader than a manager, in a position that may be smaller in terms of dollars and FTEs, ...
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs