I Wish I Had Known: Residency
In dermatology residency, my focus was, appropriately, on learning all that I could about dermatology so that I would pass my board exams and provide great care to my patients, in that order. These were necessary and important priorities, but retrospectively, I wish I had known:
1. Patients care that I care.
First and foremost, each patient wants to be remembered, to feel special, to feel well c …
In dermatology residency, my focus was, appropriately, on learning all that I could about dermatology so that I would pass my board exams and provide great care to my patients, in that order. These were necessary and important priorities, but retrospectively, I wish I had known:
1. Patients care that I care.
First and foremost, each patient wants to be remembered, to feel special, to feel well c … 
I wish I had more seriously considered what mattered to me most in a job: Would it be a flexible schedule? Ability to do procedures? High pay? Working with excellent colleagues? Hiring my own staff? Having a relationship to a highly respected hospital or higher institution?
I also wish I had known that when finally looking at my first contract, the most important part is how I would get out of … 
I can speak only for myself on the topic of starting a solo dermatology practice. As an aside, I initially had no interest in starting and running a small medical business. My post-training strengths, or at least my comfortable level of competencies, did not include marketing myself, choosing the right business location, buying all the right supplies, getting the right loans, hiring and firing sta … 
In the midst of residency, it seemed like the training, endless consults, biopsies, lectures and oversight would never end. Afterwards, I longed for the second opinion, the grand rounds discussions and the fabulous mentors.
Cherish the unique approach each attending takes for both common and uncommon dermatologic conditions.
What may seem like an unusual treatment regimen may prove useful some d … 