Aug 31, 2020
Dr. Jillian Catalanotti is the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program and Associate Professor of Medicine and of Health Policy & Management at The George Washington University (GW). She is responsible for 110 residents in two programs and 55 fellows in 12 fellowship programs. Dr. Catalanotti has co-designed and co-directs the Underserved Medicine and Public Health concentration, a two-year longitudinal program for residents with a special interest in working with underserved populations. She was recently awarded the Walter J. McDonald Award for Early Career Physicians from the American College of Physicians. She is on many national committees and has a number of publications on improving medical education.
Ask yourself honestly: Do you love your patients? Today, Dr. Jillian Catalanotti reminds us that even though we may feel fulfilled after long-yet-rewarding days spent in the hospital, our patients aren’t the ones who want to be there. She encourages us to take the time to learn the stories of the patients we care for. To remember they are daughters, sons, sisters and brothers of other people—and to treat them as such. Dr. Catalanotti also urges us to practice honest self-reflection. To ask ourselves: What could we have done better today? And finally, she reminds us to break past the intimidation we may feel around “larger than life” mentors. Be proactive. Reach out. These mentors are there for us for a reason.
Pearls of Wisdom:
1. Love your patients as much as you love
medicine.
2. Get to know your patients, not
only by name, but as individuals. Learn who they are, what they
like, and what they value.
3. Do not be intimidated when
reaching out to mentors who are farther along their career path.
They are going to be much more helpful than you might
think.
4. Be proactive in learning whether
in the wards when interacting with patients or at home when
studying a topic.