Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Medicine is real, tangible, and helps people. Don’t forget that.

Midhat Patel, MD
Physician
July 21, 2020
168 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Burnout is a huge problem in medicine. There are a lot of reasons for that, the most commonly cited of which are overwhelming bureaucracy and administration work and perceived under-compensation. Many doctors say the same thing: “I just want to take care of patients, but all of this stuff gets in the way.” I think reflecting on our “why” is critical to help fight burnout. Here are some of my reflections, and the discussion about day trading that prompted them.

I like to keep track of things that are going on outside of medicine. One of those things is finance and emerging tech news, via podcasts and newsletters. Out of the blue the other day, my brother told me that I should get into day trading. He said, “you’re good with numbers; you could make some money.” There’s definitely a lot to say to that, but my response (and opinion) about day trading was clear: “even if I could make money, I wouldn’t ever day trade. It’s complete bull.”

Full disclosure: I have no intention of offending an entire industry or discrediting their work. However, my opinion is what it is – day trading is largely an artificial industry created to predict behaviors of less-educated or amateur traders and profit from them. The ease, cost, and accessibility of trades for the general population have led to an explosion of amateur traders over the past few years. Anyone with a bank account and an iPhone can start making trades. It’s got the same thrill and addiction of gambling – the right call can turn your $1000 from high school graduation into 10x overnight. The next Hertz could be your chance. If you invested $50,000 in Tesla stock instead of buying a Tesla last year (or any year), your money would be worth multiples of that now. The problem is that it’s a zero-sum game – the amount of money is finite, and any money you make or lose is coming from or going to someone else. Maybe there’s a reason that trading wasn’t so accessible before. Maybe some regulation and friction are important.

So, what’s that got to do with physician burnout? The answer is simple: what we do (usually) is very much not bull. No matter how painful it can be, we have the privilege to help real people with real problems and make them better. I don’t mean to paint doctors out to be heroes. Instead, I want to remind everyone why we do what we do. I want to remind myself why ten extra years and $200,000 in debt are worth it, because they are. I’ve been fortunate enough to help fix someone’s broken bone; replace their painful, arthritic joint so they can ride horses and make a living again; or give them a stable shoulder so they can play with their kids again. That’s real. That’s not a zero-sum game. There’s no artificial value creation, elaborate mind games, projections, or predictions grounded in little reality. These are real people who trust us to help them, and we have the privilege and ability to do so. Yes, we want to get paid. Yes, we want it to be easier. Yes, it’s challenging to function in the poor work environments under immense pressure. When I said why I’d never day trade, my brother responded: “Most things are bull.” The thing is, what we do isn’t. I am exceedingly fortunate to have found a profession in which I don’t need to “take” from others to make my own living. No one can change that. Remember it. Write it down. Remind yourself and your colleagues and team members.

In his TED Talk and best-selling book, Simon Sinek says that for anyone who wants to reach their personal and professional peak, they have to “start with why.” If you’re feeling burned out, or wondering how to stay motivated, or asking yourself if you really need to keep patiently listening to patient X on the phone or get out of bed and look at the X-rays for patient Y at 3a, pause for a second and remember why. Medicine is not bull.

It’s hard to stay motivated. The grass often looks greener on the other side, but remember that a lot of things going on in the world are based on artificial or perceived valuation. Medicine is real, tangible, and helps people. Don’t forget that. Remember your why.

Midhat Patel is an orthopedic surgery resident and can be reached on Twitter @midpatelmd.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

The withdrawal of effective sexual offender treatment during COVID-19

July 21, 2020 Kevin 0
…
Next

Be an upstander and not a bystander

July 21, 2020 Kevin 3
…

Tagged as: Practice Management

Post navigation

< Previous Post
The withdrawal of effective sexual offender treatment during COVID-19
Next Post >
Be an upstander and not a bystander

Related Posts

  • Why social media may be causing real emotional harm

    Edwin Leap, MD
  • Who are the real superheroes of medicine?

    Batoul Harissa
  • Don’t judge when trainees use dating apps in the hospital

    Austin Perlmutter, MD
  • Are duty hour restrictions are preparing trainees for the real-world medicine?

    Cassandra Fritz, MD
  • Should we encourage people to go into medicine?

    Millennial Doctor, MD
  • How social media can advance humanism in medicine

    Pooja Lakshmin, MD

More in Physician

  • The hidden gems of health care: Unlocking the potential of narrative medicine

    Dr. Najat Fadlallah
  • The dark side of immortality: What if we could live forever?

    Ketan Desai, MD, PhD
  • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

    Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD
  • From rural communities to underserved populations: How telemedicine is bridging health care gaps

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

    Maiysha Clairborne, MD
  • Finding peace through surrender: a personal exploration

    Dympna Weil, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why it’s time to question medical traditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden gems of health care: Unlocking the potential of narrative medicine

      Dr. Najat Fadlallah | Physician
    • The realities of immigrant health care served hot from America’s melting pot

      Stella Cho | Policy
    • The dark side of immortality: What if we could live forever?

      Ketan Desai, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Lazarus: the dead man brought back to life

      William Lynes, MD | Conditions
    • Revolutionizing COPD management with virtual care solutions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Doc Moms, Mind the Gap -- $3M Earning Difference by Sex
  • Clinical Note Writing App Powered by GPT-4 Set to Debut This Year
  • Helping Patients Get Fit -- One Walk at a Time
  • TB Cases Rebound to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels, CDC Data Show
  • Marginalized Groups May Benefit More From Decreasing Air Pollution

Meeting Coverage

  • Switch to IL-23 Blocker Yields Deep Responses in Recalcitrant Plaque Psoriasis
  • Biomarkers of Response With Enfortumab Vedotin in Advanced Urothelial Cancer
  • At-Home Topical Therapy for Molluscum Contagiosum Gets High Marks
  • Outlook for Itchy Prurigo Nodularis Continues to Improve With IL-31 Antagonist
  • AAAAI President Shares Highlights From the 2023 Meeting
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why it’s time to question medical traditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden gems of health care: Unlocking the potential of narrative medicine

      Dr. Najat Fadlallah | Physician
    • The realities of immigrant health care served hot from America’s melting pot

      Stella Cho | Policy
    • The dark side of immortality: What if we could live forever?

      Ketan Desai, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Lazarus: the dead man brought back to life

      William Lynes, MD | Conditions
    • Revolutionizing COPD management with virtual care solutions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Medicine is real, tangible, and helps people. Don’t forget that.
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...