Medical education and training understandably focus on developing the expertise of the physician. This is achieved through a variety of means, first and foremost being reading the literature. Experience is also important. For example, knowing when and why to perform a cesarean section can certainly be learned through studying the scientific literature and attending lectures from seasoned physicians. Yet, it takes more than late nights in the library to learn how to perform a C-section. At some point, hands-on experience becomes essential. Which is why medical training is built around learners participating in clinical rotations, shadowing experts in action.
Yet, another form of experience exists which receives far less attention. It is all too often undervalued or disregarded in academic medical circles.
It is where all knowledge originates. It is personal experience.
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Two days before a midterm exam my first semester of medical school I begin developing a sore throat. Had I been anywhere else other than medical school, I would have simply assumed I had strep throat, seen my doctor and moved on. As it stands, I am in medical school, learning about all sorts of rare and obscure things that can happen to a human, so, like many other students, I begin ruminating on all the possibilities beyond strep throat. When I hear a professor use the term, "kissing tonsils" during the afternoon lecture, a light bulb goes off. I definitely have that! I make an appointment to see my doctor that same day.
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