Docs, Feeling like you are stuck in third grade?

Docs, it is OK that you feel the need to grow and learn. We cannot stay in third grade our whole lives. Learning helps us feel vital.

Why does one feel stuck professionally? I once had a neighbor who moved every few years for her job and I asked her if this was tough on her and her family. She said she explained it to her kids that she cannot stay in third grade forever, she needs to keep learning and growing. I thought that this is an interesting way to look at the risk of moving, growing and feeling vital. I recently read a review article on professional development programs for ER docs by Frisch in 2024. There were 149 Women ER Doc Career Development articles reviewed and 10 met their criteria to review. The key of the successful women ER doc professional development programs included; mentors, role models and career advice. We tend to think that in medicine we graduate and then we work the same job for 40 years. We need to treat it like grade school and learn something each year to feel vital. This article did share many challenges to career development programs: no financial support, lack of institutional support, low recruitment, lack of recognition , time constraints and poor sustainability. Growth is not easy or linear most of the time.

I had a period in my professional life where I felt odd looking for ways to grow and learn. Most people will say, why can’t you be happy with what you are doing? It is not that I am not happy with what I am doing, it is that I enjoy strategy and learning. I like to find ways to help things work better and to figure out what is confusing or unclear. In medicine we have so many unknowns, this is helpful to feel vital, we can learn each day.

Have you ever asked anyone to be your mentor? I learned, in a professional development course, to be very clear on what you would like from the mentorship, how often you would like to meet and to be ready for the mentoring sessions. Role models have created hope for me as well. When I see someone doing something I did not know was possible or excelling in a special way I want to know more about their strategy and path. The book, Design your Life, recommends asking folks for a 10 minute coffee and clarifying their path. Most folks love talking about themselves. Who would you love to have tea or coffee with? Consider asking for 10 minutes to help clarify their path and strategies and then implement one new thing in your career path.

I personally would not want to stay in third grade my whole life. Mrs. Schneider was my third grade teacher, I did love her science lessons about the sun and moon as this opened my eyes to how large the galaxies and other planets were! Where can you grow and feel vital? Is there a person you would like to have coffee or tea with? Consider asking them for 10 minutes to share their path. If you are looking for more of a long term mentor, first think about what you are after and how long that may take. Reach out to a person and ask them if they will mentor you but be sure to clarify what you are looking for, the length of the sessions and how long you would like to meet. Clarity helps folks make a decision, this clarity will help your potential mentor know if this is something they can commit to at this time. Let’s stay vital with learning. There are emotions with being new at something, yet staying in the same grade for the rest of your career also creates emotions such as frustration. Career growth is normal and expected. You do not have to do this alone, reach out to mentors and learn from their strategies. Learning keeps us vital. You got this.

You matter

Your work matters

Connections matter.

Bring hope to someone with your intentional actions.

I believe in you.

Mary

thebrainfresh@gmail.com

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