What would you say is the biggest challenge you faced in your residency training program?

Question

Ryan Brown · Accepted Answer

"For me personally, the biggest challenge of residency training happened in the first year and that was handling the stress of the long hours and managing a delicate work-life balance. Coming out of medical school, I was taught that stress management skills were important but I never knew how true those words were until I faced them in person. I admit that I did have some breakdowns during my first year and it was some great senior residents and attending physicians that lifted me up and gave me encouraging advice. Throughout the remainder of my training, I learned some great tactics to manage busy clinical loads and have a happy home life and I and my family are both ready for the next three years of my training in a great GI Fellowship program like yours."

Ryan Brown · Answer

There are many challenges when coming into a program as a new Gastroenterology Fellow, from learning new faces to taking on a whole new subset of patients for the first time. Your interviewers are aware that you likely faced a few challenges as an Internal Medicine Resident and need confirmation that you can face challenges head-on, embrace them, and learn from them throughout your time with their program.

Ryan Brunner · Answer

Pick a challenge that is commonly faced by residents rather than focusing on a potential deficit in your ability to perform as a Gastroenterology Fellow. You can also pick something unique to you that is not the result of your actions (e.g., a family member passing away). Then, explain how you took steps to manage this challenge and prepare for similar challenges in the future.

Anonymous User · Answer

"I've had both some personal and professional challenges. The biggest challenge I have faced so far is moving away from the town I lived in for 12 years to pursue my advanced training. I found myself living in a new city, in a job that was much more demanding, with none of my usual support networks or family around me. I had also left a lot of things behind when I started advanced training. I always played weekend soccer and had to give this up when I started due to a busy weekend roster. I also had a relationship breakdown in the middle of my physician training. I was able to use multiple coping strategies and have a positive outlook which meant my mental health wasn't compromised and I was able to work to the best of my ability."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I believe that the biggest challenge I faced was starting to practice in Australia after practicing overseas. I started working here six years ago, It was completely different from where I did medicine first. The language barrier was adding more to the challenge. I was committed to succeeding and proceeding with my career and reaching this point where I am interviewing for my dream position. I assessed all the challenges I was facing and decided to resolve them by putting more effort into practicing medicine, learning new knowledge, and mingling with the new culture at the same time. I was successful and reached all the goals I aimed for, I was able to complete all the required examinations and training requirements in a very short time compared to most International medical graduates in my circumstances."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I had initial visa-related delays and thus joined the program 2 weeks late. While I gave up 1 block of my vacation, I also missed all of the orientation. Thus, I entered the program lagging on system-based practice. I touched base with nurse educators to get an understanding of the EMR and a few efficient residents. This enabled me to get more efficient and develop attention to detail."

Anonymous User · Answer

"For me personally, I was spending too much time on EMR than with the patient. However, I learned some techniques from seniors and attendings and I developed more strategies during the last few years so I can spend more time with patients at the bedside and I am still able to finish charting on the same day without compromising quality."

Anonymous User · Answer

"One of the notable challenges I encountered during my residency was effectively managing the demanding workload while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The residency program can be intense, often requiring long hours and a continuous stream of clinical responsibilities. This situation occasionally led to exhaustion and limited personal time.

To address this challenge, I proactively developed strong time management skills, sought guidance from experienced senior residents and mentors on workload management and stress coping strategies, and prioritized self-care. By implementing these strategies, I successfully achieved a more sustainable balance between my professional commitments and personal life. This experience taught me valuable lessons in resilience and adaptability in a high-pressure medical environment"

What would you say is the biggest challenge you faced in your residency training program?

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