Let’s start at the beginning. In order to understand where I am now, it is important to know where I began. I had an average upbringing in the Midwest. My family was neither rich nor poor. I was an above-average student in high school, however certainly nothing to write home about. My undergraduate degree was completed at a state school. I chose midway through college to pursue medicine, therefore my path was somewhat nontraditional. Before medical school, I worked in a cancer research lab and performed manual labor. Medical school was completed at a state institution close to home, where I was a solid student. I focused on board exams and was able
to score well enough to match into a urology residency in the Northeast. This is where my interest in finding happiness began.
Residency, more specifically a surgical residency, is known to be incredibly demanding. That rumor exists for a reason. This was by far the most difficult five years of my life. The long hours, difficult working conditions, and sleep deprivation take a toll. There is an incredible amount of responsibility, and it weighs on you daily. I witnessed not only residents but also attendings who appeared quite unhappy in their profession. For something that requires so much time and sacrifice, I wondered why it was not a more fulfilling career? As I progressed through residency, I developed a significant case of burnout, which I sadly do not think is uncommon. I quickly decided that a fellowship was not for me and I started searching for general urology jobs.
I ultimately found a quality job in the Northeast and signed a contract in my 4th year of residency. After graduating from residency in June, I sat for my first board exam in July, then started my job in August. Many say that your first year as an attending is challenging, but I found my transition to be fairly smooth. The rigors of my training program prepared me well for decision-making on my own. Now that I was on my own, I was excited for the opportunities to come. I hope this blog allows me to share my experiences, successes, failures, and beyond