Coping During a Crisis
As spring break started in early March, many of my second-year peers ventured off into various corners of the world, ecstatic for a small reprieve from what is traditionally the most challenging part of medical school: board preparation.
As our weeklong vacation progressed, our joyous feelings began to fade, and dread began to seep in.
Conferences were canceled; the first guidelines of social distancing were put in place; travel restrictions were established; we began following a shelter-in-place mandate. Normalcy dissolved in the span of just seven days.
As medical students, we are expected to come prepared with the ability to adapt; to remain flexible and persevere during the highs and lows of medical school… but no one could have prepared for the challenges brought on by COVID-19.
One by one, we were pulled from classrooms, hospitals and clinics — both for our protection and to reduce the spread of this constantly evolving virus.
First-year students were in the middle of one of the most important units in anatomy. Second-year students were preparing for their board exams and OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations). Third-year students were about to embark on their elective or sub-internships. Fourth-year students were anticipating Match Day and months away from graduating.
The virus disrupted the world. Our medical school way of life was not immune.
The abrupt social isolation was upsetting. The constant waxing and waning of uncertainty that followed was equally hard to handle. Today, every single aspect of our medical education has changed, creating a community of trailblazers forced to endure the unknown.
I have struggled.
I’ve cried. I’ve gained weight and lost weight. I’ve felt frustrated that all I could do was sit in my living room and watch time escape from my control.
I have lost my motivation. I have succumbed to my inner saboteur (I refer to her as Brenda, and she reminds me of all my greatest fears and insecurities). But through it all, I have survived.
I have adapted. I have regained my passion and excitement for medicine. It was there, all along, camouflaged by the very real and very common student-burnout I was experiencing. I feel like I’m back!
But… now what?
Almost six months have elapsed since the pandemic began its insidious spread into Washington state, and it does not appear to show any signs of slowing. How do we as medical students navigate this new world that we have been thrust into?
Every person’s experience during COVID-19 is unique to them, but I would like to share some things with my fellow medical students — and anyone, really — that I wish I had considered when this journey began in early March:
Recognize the Challenges
What are the things that you are missing out on because of this pandemic? Use your ingenuity to create opportunities that can be adapted for the “new normal” we are experiencing.
Make Time for Self-Reflection
Previous standards for academic evaluation will differ markedly from what has been established to mitigate the rapid change due to COVID.
Be consistent and familiar with how you’re doing, what you need, and how to best succeed as a student. Don’t let “pass/fail” lull you into complacency. Find a way to master as much of the material as you can.
Establish a Routine That Works for You
Never in a time period has the phrase “you get out of it what you put into it” applied so heavily to your medical education.
Medical school has a reputation for its highly structured environment so finding a routine that works for you and that is sustainable is crucial for your success. Don’t let this pesky virus distract you from your dreams and goals.
Give Yourself Some Grace
There will be moments where you may feel like you’re not doing enough given the sudden increase in free time. It’s always okay to choose to make time for yourself, or your family and social network; it’s okay to get involved with a project that you are passionate about.
There is an abundance of resources to help you continue building your CV, but don’t feel like you must complete them all. Go at your own pace, take care of your well-being first, and try as best as you can to not compare yourself to others.
Medical students across the country face a multitude of unknowns: How will this continue to affect our curriculum? How LONG will this “new” normal last? Will this eventually become the “norm?” Will COVID-19 reduce our chances into matching into our desired specialties? What specialties will exist given the economic impact this virus is having on our healthcare system?
I’ll be honest: I have zero answers to any of the questions I have just posed. But I do know this: the world needs great physicians now more than ever.
We have been selected to meet these new challenges head on. We have a unique opportunity to learn medicine during a time that we previously could only recall from our history books. This presents us with the opportunity to change medicine.
As COVID-19 continues to expose our healthcare system’s shortcomings, I would argue that this is the perfect time to be studying medicine.
Polly Wiltz
Third-Year Osteopathic Medical Student (OMS III)
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Student Ambassador
COM Liason – Omega Beta Iota Honors Society
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences