I also realize that as you read an article about someone else ’ s career you might be wondering “ What ’ s in it for you ?”
I hope that reading inspires you to stay the course with what you ’ re passionate about in your own work and also inspires you to join our community . We ’ re not just about reading the latest abstracts . We ’ re about developing ourselves as future thinkers , and leaders and into the facilitators . The kinds of leaders that our patients need us to be .
I had the good fortune of attending McMaster University ’ s brand new ( at the time ) undergraduate health sciences program . The program was built to create leaders and learners . We barely had any tests , we focused on personal development , conflict resolution and communication . We learned to ask good questions and answer them ourselves . If we ever asked for help from the faculty they would respond with “ How do you think you could find that out ?”
I learned that I was responsible for finding answers myself . I was taught to be critical of “ experts ” and research . I grew up believing I was the one who was going to save me if I didn ’ t know the answer to something . Critical appraisal and research were baked into my experience and have shaped who I am today .
My time in Naturopathic College was difficult . I wrote thousands of tests , didn ’ t practice my craft of critical appraisal . When I mentioned alternative learning models and my ideas , all I got was a pat on the head . I was only 27 when I graduated . What did I know ?
Herein lies the first challenge with traditional medical education . It believes the elders are the only ones worth respecting . It believes in a top-down dissemination of knowledge . It trains students to believe that only one day , only after decades of work , their thoughts be valuable to the community .
I don ’ t believe that . I believe your thoughts and ideas are valuable now .
TRADITIONAL MEDICAL EDUCATION PLACES TREMENDOUS VALUE ON HOW LONG YOU ’ VE BEEN AROUND . NOT WHAT YOU ’ RE CAPABLE OF .
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