Written by Danny Low, MD | President of KCMS

Amid the dizzying array of (often disconcerting) changes to medicine – be it the corporatization of healthcare, proposed cuts to Medicaid, or inappropriate scope creep – at times it is difficult to feel optimistic about the future of medicine. It is in these moments that I find both solace and inspiration from working with medical learners.

I have the privilege of learning alongside students across a wide age range, from underrepresented high school students dipping their toes into the field of healthcare, to undergraduate pre-meds, medical students, and resident physicians readying themselves for the independence of attending-hood. Most days I have a student shadowing me in clinic, following my lead in listening for a heart murmur, looking over my shoulder at how I document, and asking questions about why I prescribed doxycycline over azithromycin. It can be tiring.

At the same time, it is part of why I chose a career in medicine – I want to address health inequities, including issues of access, and bringing brilliant young people from diverse backgrounds into the healthcare fold is one way of doing that. According to research, one of the top reasons that students from underrepresented backgrounds change career paths away from medicine is because they lack mentors; working with students helps them feel they rightfully belong in the field of medicine.¹ But what started for me as a way to give back has blossomed into a career-prolonging and joyous experience.

And I’m not alone. Research demonstrates that mentoring healthcare learners actually combats burnout.² My students are fun. We joke about the NBA Finals, debate the best local spot for pho, and teach each other new terms – typically medical jargon for them, and Gen Z lingo for me. Perhaps of greater consequence, their inquisitiveness helps me become a better doctor; just last week I was reviewing pharmacology to best treat a patient with bipolar disorder because of a student’s question stemming from her biochemistry class.

Meanwhile, patients often receive better care when learners are around. On average, doctors spend more time with patients when learners are present, and learners often have valuable knowledge sets of their own; I recently saw a new family of refugees from Afghanistan, for whom two kids had elevated lead levels. The student shadowing me, an Iraqi immigrant herself, happened to live nearby the family and was able to tell them where to best purchase affordable, lead-free cookware. Stories like these may be why multiple studies have shown that the majority of patients appreciate having student learners around during clinical encounters.³

In an era where the practice of medicine can feel less and less sustainable, with physician burnout still hovering near 50%⁴,⁵ we need a place to look for inspiration. For me, that hope is found in our next generation of physicians. I am amazed at the integrity and compassion regularly on display from the high school students to the resident trainees with whom I work. These young learners possess a strong sense of justice, a recognition of the importance of creating boundaries, and an awareness of the imperative to re-design systems and structures to address the myriad health-related social needs our patients face.

This past week I have had the immense privilege of reviewing applications for our annual KCMS Community Foundation Grants that financially support medical students across Washington State. To read the stories of the next generation of doctors is to recognize the promise of medicine. From students who have overcome homelessness to now lead programs combatting homelessness in Seattle, to folks who grew up in rural villages in Alaska who are now acting to reduce the rural-urban healthcare divide, to refugees who grew up in camps, not speaking English or attending school for years, who upon arrival to south King County became leaders in their communities, we have countless learners who are ready to positively change the landscape of medicine. I am lucky to interact with so many of them on a regular basis. I invite you to do the same.

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