Awareness is so essential as a medical student. There are so many things that impact health, including daily current events. During major historical moments, weather catastrophes, and other significant life events, patients can be stressed out and overwhelmed. Race, politics, environmental causes are all contributors to healthcare and overall patient wellbeing. It’s essential that you are at least familiar with current events so if your patient is impacted by them (consciously or subconsciously), you can include that in their well-rounded patient care. Here are a few tips on how to know what’s going in the world:
1. Read or watch the news to know what’s going on in the world
I know the news can be sad sometimes, or make you feel like more of an adult than you want. However, the news has so much information on current events. It’s their jobs to keep up with the latest stories. Sometimes, they even share information about medical events. For instance, right now, they are sharing a lot of current data on the COVID-19 vaccine. Of course some outlets have their restrictions and you have to take their news with a grain of salt, but you at least have an idea about what is going on. And then it’s up to you to research more about that particular event.
The other great thing about the news, is that it’s available on so many platforms. Every morning I get up and watch the local news on ABC and Good Morning America. This way I get local and national news to start my day, and if anything is relevant throughout the day, I’m able to do more research on it. I also get a lot of news from different apps. Apple News sends me updates about different news stories and Twitter is like the modern newspaper. It’s even better than a newspaper because you get different reactions and types of media which makes it a little more interesting. Take advantage of these different outlets and get your news so you know what’s going on in the world.
2. Expand your circle
Medical school can be so isolating sometimes. I spend the majority of my day by myself, doing what I need to get done. Especially with school being online, everyone is on their own schedule so it’s easy to just get caught up in your own world. However, if you are too caught up in what you’ve got going on, then you’ll miss out on what is affecting others. We get so busy, that if something doesn’t directly impact us, then it’s out of sight, out of mind.
During medical school, and even before, it’s so important to expand your network. It can be intimidating to reach out to people, classmates, professors, etc., but expanding your circle will really help you stay connected and know what’s going on in the world. Others can tell you about events that are important to them, and they can inform you about a group or culture other than your own. This way, you also don’t have to do so much reading or research on your own, because you’ll have friends and colleagues around you to fill in the gaps that you’re missing.
3. Diversify your circle to know what’s going on in the world
Not only do you need to expand your circle in order to know what’s going on in the world, but you need to diversify it. How well connected and informed can you be when everyone in the circle is just like you? Of course everyone won’t be exactly like you, but if everyone seems to have similar opinions or viewpoints on situations, then you may not be getting the diversity of information that will best help you serve your patients. Staying in the know helps you become more culturally competent which has been shown to better serve diverse patient populations.
Therefore, as you go through medical school, seek out individuals who clearly come from different backgrounds and cultures than you. You may not get along with them, and after a few interactions may find that you don’t vibe with that person. That’s okay, however, at least give the connection a chance. As you enter medical school, clinical rotations, residencies, and jobs, it’s important to give people an opportunity, at least, before writing them off. This way you can have conversations with each other about matters that are important to specific groups of people. Once again, if something doesn’t directly impact you, then you may not pay that much attention to it. However, if someone in your circle brings it to your attention, then you may better receive that information.
4. Attend community events
We study way too much sometimes. It’s time we get out in the world and attend some more events. Of course with COVID, you have to take the necessary precautions. However, there are plenty of outdoor and low risk gatherings that you can find out about through various outlets. Facebook events always has community events, as well as local websites. These events can be serious or fun, about a cause, or just something to do on the weekends. However, getting out in your community is a great way to learn what is going on in the world around you.
Find one or two community events throughout the month to attend, and when you’re there, work on expanding your circle. If you find yourself in the position to strike up a conversation with someone, even a community leader, do so. They will be able to catch you up on what’s going on in right in your own neighborhood. As a future physician, many of the patients you’ll encounter will be from your own neighborhood. You don’t want to be out of touch to the people who you’re serving. So get to know some faces and let them get to know yours.
5. Go to conferences to know what’s going on in the world
Conferences are something I haven’t experienced, yet, but will soon! Although they are all virtual, I’m excited for the experience of getting to present and learn a lot of information. But, regardless of the format, there is a lot of information at conferences. Conferences are a platform for medical professionals to share their latest research. That’s the best way to stay in the know and what’s going on in the world, specifically in your niche. If you are interested in surgery, there are plenty of conferences. If family medicine and public health is more your speed, then there are many options for you as well. Whatever your passion is, I guarantee there is an organization or a conference that will give you relevant and interesting information that you’re looking for.
Aside from learning from these presentations, you also have the opportunity to network with other professionals. Like I said, I haven’t been able to experience this for myself, and I definitely can’t wait to document that experience. However, I know that there are professionals from all over the country, or different regions, depending on the conference, that you can connect with and learn. Also, they just look really good on your CV!
6. Listen, process, then ask questions
The easiest way to stay in the know is to ask questions. If you don’t ask, you won’t know. Maybe it’s hard to know which questions to ask, but of course, that takes the act of listening first. Then processing what you’ve been told. And then if there are any other misunderstandings that you still have, start asking questions. You always want to stay curious. That’s the best way to stay motivated to know what’s going on in the world.
You don’t have to take out journal subscriptions or spend an hour reading the news. However, you want to have a general idea of what your patients could potentially be dealing with. If there is a major world or national crisis, you should know about. If your colleagues are stressed about something, take the time to listen, because you may have patients who also share similar feelings. At a conference, if they present something that could be relevant to your patient population, then listen because you may learn something about a certain community or demographic that you didn’t know. The best thing you can be as a medical student is well connected. It doesn’t happen overnight, and with COVID, it’s definitely taking longer than normal. However, it’s important because as you transition into becoming a physician, you’ll have these contacts that can provide you with many years of education and insight.