Question Assumptions and Keep Learning
Yanet Gomez, MD
Anaesthesiology Resident, PGY-4
Mass General Brigham
Yanet Gomez, MD
"One piece of advice I would give incoming residents is to never be afraid to ask questions, especially when something doesn’t make sense.
If things don’t quite add up, speak up and dig deeper, as some of the most important lessons and patient safety interventions come from questioning assumptions.”
Support One Another, Learn Together
Gabriela Ruiz Colón, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, PGY-2
Mass General Brigham
Gabriela Ruiz Colón, MD
"We all remember how overwhelming it can be to learn a new system, a new profession, and a new craft.
If you're worried about a patient, go to the bedside and bring along a co-resident. We are here to support one another and learn alongside each other."
Lean on the People Around You
Jillian K. Wothe, MD
Surgery Resident, PGY-2
Mass General Brigham
Jillian K. Wothe, MD
"You are surrounded by talented, generous, and extraordinary people, many of whom will become lifelong friends, mentors, and colleagues. Invest in those relationships, protect them, and turn to your people when you feel burned out or overwhelmed. They will sustain you as much as the work does!”
Let Your Patients Be Your Greatest Teachers
Joseph Arciprete, MD
Anaesthesiology Resident, PGY-4
Mass General Brigham
Joseph Arciprete, MD
"Focus on your patients; they will teach you a lot.
If you can leave the hospital every day having learned just one thing from them, your growth as a physician will be tremendous over the next few years.”
Success in Residency Starts with Showing Up
Colin M. Johnson, MD
Chief Diagnostic Radiology Resident, PGY-3
Mass General Brigham
Colin M. Johnson, MD
"Punctuality and preparedness are two of the most critical qualities for succeeding in residency.
Show up on time and know your stuff. Once you've proven yourself to be reliable and consistent, you'll go a long way.
Also, though it may sound like an obvious piece of advice, treat those around you with respect. Your colleagues, nursing staff, techs, cafeteria workers, and anyone else you interact with on a daily basis all deserve to be treated with dignity and kindness.
Sometimes personality conflicts happen, but do your best to be the bigger person when you can, it will pay off in the end, trust me.
Lastly, take care of your co-residents. You are all in this together, and residency can be an extremely trying time if you do it alone. Build community and lean on each other."
Embrace the Challenge and Keep Patients at the Center
Millis Faust, MD
Anesthesiology Resident, PGY-4
Mass General Brigham
Millis Faust, MD
"You are about to meet incredibly intelligent colleagues, learn intricate hospital workflows, and encounter complex medical problems all at once.
The more you embrace this period of growth, especially the moments that challenge you, the more you'll gain from it.
Ultimately, the relationships you build, the lessons you learn, and the challenges you overcome are all in service of your patients. Never lose sight of that."
Make Time for What Matters Outside the Hospital
Alexander Ordoobadi, MD
General Surgery Resident, PGY-4
Mass General Brigham
Alexander Ordoobadi, MD
“Residency is a major time commitment. As you dive headfirst into patient care, make a conscious effort to set aside time for the people and activities outside of the hospital that bring meaning to your life.”
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