What do you wish you knew when you first started residency?
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Learn every day
I was given this advice by one of my mentors during my first month of residency, and it resonated with me: Focus on learning at least one new thing every day.
The first year of ophthalmology training is challenging. As junior residents, we are constantly pulled in different directions, all while learning a completely new language of medicine. The seemingly insurmountable amount of new information and acronyms, exam skills and surgical skills can be daunting at first. It is important during those hard times to remember that no one is perfect in the beginning. The best thing you can do to grow as a clinician, surgeon and colleague is to focus on building your knowledge and skills one step at a time. Focus on what you know, learn from every patient, and continue to bring your enthusiasm to the hospital. In time, you will notice that the things that felt challenging suddenly become easy, and you can now focus on tackling new challenges.
This approach allowed me to focus on daily small challenges without getting overwhelmed. Of course, the best way to get better at anything is to always practice. See as many patients and as much pathology as you can, get into the wet lab to practice using the microscope and instruments, and talk to your colleagues about interesting cases and study materials. Remember, success comes one step at a time.
Sila Bal, MD, MPH, is a cornea fellow at Massachusetts Eye and Ear at Harvard Ophthalmology.
Hone curiosity and ask questions
The steep learning curve at the start of ophthalmology residency can be overwhelming.
We are tasked with being an expert on an organ that we barely learned about, let alone examined, during medical school. However daunting this may seem at first, remember we eventually all get the hang of it, and you should soak up the learning as it is happening. Hone your curiosity and ask many questions.
Despite some initial frustration seeing structures consistently on slit lamp and dilated fundus exams, I quickly realized that practice makes perfect. Routinely look at the optic nerve on all undilated patients with your 90 D lens, and take the opportunity to scleral depress all dilated patients. In clinic and on call, make a list of the topics you saw that day and look them up after work. Having a direct patient correlation helps to solidify the information. In the operating room, set goals for yourself based on your progress.
Additionally, consistently seek out feedback from your seniors, fellows and attendings. Inviting suggestions for improvement helps to focus efforts.
It is OK to feel like you do not know enough about ophthalmology when you begin, but before you know it, you will catch your stride. Residency flies by, so be sure to take a moment to appreciate the long days and nights you are spending honing your craft. Since residency, I have gained a new appreciation for the excellent training I received and the senior residents and attendings who guided me along the way.
Nina S. Boal, MD, is an ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
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