Dear Reader,
Contained within these pages are stories of joy and grief, triumph and loss, camaraderie and isolation. Written by graduating medical students, these 55-word narratives are reflections on their clinical experiences during the 3rd and 4th years of medical school.
The transition from preclinical to clinical training can be overwhelming and bring with it a variety of unexpected thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Our purpose in sharing these stories is two-fold. First, it provides a space for graduating students to share in a way that allows others to bear witness to what they have been through. Second (and we argue, more importantly) by distributing these booklets to medical students beginning their third year, we hope to provide emotional support and connection about that which leaves us feeling vulnerable. Designed to fit in a white coat or scrub pocket, this booklet can serve as a reminder that you are not alone.
We were thrilled by the abundance and variety of our classmates’ brave, authentic contributions. And we are delighted to be able to bring each and every one of them to you. There is one student whose unique contribution deserves a special acknowledgment. Upon learning the purpose of our project, Derek Woodruff took it upon himself to draft a two-page letter communicating his thoughts, feelings and the things he wished he had known prior to starting his clinical years. Though it did not conform to our intended 55-word format, we knew after reading it that we could not deprive our readers of the insight, wisdom, humility, and authenticity it held. As such, we have included excerpts of Derek’s letter and grouped the stories according to its themes, which we feel adds a sort of literary harmony we would not have achieved otherwise.
We hope this publication serves as a reminder of the unassailable humanity in all of us – our mutual yet distinct vulnerability and resilience. Though we aim not to be prescriptive in this publication, we wish to offer this singular piece of advice: When you find yourself in a patient room and you’re not sure what to do or say next, slow down and remember first to be a human with another human.
Thank you for writing. Thank you for reading.
Sarah Kinsey,
Jackson Richards,
& Elzard Sikkema