We all have to deal with stress in our lives. But, it turns out that medicine is one of the most stressed-filled occupations.
The stats are alarming:
- Between 300-400 physicians each year commit suicide.
- An estimated 11 percent of all U.S. medical school students seriously consider suicide each year.
- One out of every two physicians has experienced job burnout.
- The burnout rate for physicians is the highest of just about every occupation. It’s about double the burnout rate for attorneys.
What makes the medical field so stressful?
Looking back on my years as a medical student, it’s easy to see how the stress levels are elevated. The reasons are numerous:
- The pace of medical school is much faster than undergraduate school. The workload is greater, and comprehension is more difficult.
- Most medical students were A students at the undergraduate level. Now, they are competing against the brightest of the bright. Someone has to be in the middle or bottom part of the class, and it can be difficult for students to accept.
- For some, medical school means starting over in a new city. Their previous support systems are no longer available. They’re not sure how to build their daily life needs into their grueling study schedule. Going to the grocery store or finding time to cut your hair only adds another layer of stress.
Nobody is immune from these pressures. Personally, I can still recall how stunned I was when I failed a genetics exam. It was completely deflating.
I also can recall as an infectious diseases fellow at the University of North Carolina when I submitted my first research paper to my advisor for his review. I had worked on this paper for weeks. When it came back from my advisor, it was covered in so much red ink that it looked like a 3-year-old had been coloring on it.
Events like these can be demoralizing. But, it happens. The key is how we react when things don’t go our way…how resilient can we be?
For me, I was able to still salvage an A in genetics by doing well in the final two exams (fortunately, they threw out everyone’s lowest exam score). Looking back, I gained so much from my advisor’s edits on my research paper. I used it as a learning opportunity to help me develop future research articles.
As stressful as medical school and residency was for me more than 30 years ago, it’s probably even more stressful today.
Let me cite an example. Today, at the end of the second year of medical school, students must take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (Step 1). In my days, it was an exam that you passed and moved on.
Now with increased competition for residency slots, the USMLE Step 1 score has become a screening device to help residency programs that are overwhelmed with applicants decide who to invite for interviews.
You could be the No. 3 student in your medical school class, but if you have a bad day and get a poor score on the USMLE-1, it may impact your medical career options. Consequently, our second-year students find themselves trying to carve time out of their already busy and stress-filled lives for extra weeks and months studying for this exam.
Failure to learn good coping and stress management skills as students sets one up for difficulty in the future in dealing with the emotional challenge of dealing with dying patients and mourning families, while at the same time creating a healthy work-life balance.
UNMC wants to be a national leader in helping our students, faculty and staff better deal with stress and burnout.
As you’ll read in this newsletter, we’ve hired a psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Yalof (see photo at top of message), as wellness coordinator – a new faculty appointment within the department of psychiatry. Dr. Yalof will help medical students and residents better navigate their educational training.
In addition, the College of Medicine has hired a second person, Marcia Shadle Cusic, to provide personalized support for our students, with a particular focus on first- and second-year students. We welcome the addition of Marcia and Jennifer to the college and thank Sue Pope as well who for many years has been a similar resource particularly for third- and fourth year students.
These initial efforts will be largely focused in the College of Medicine. But, it is hoped that the program can become a model for the entire academic campus.
On Jan. 26-27, UNMC is bringing in four nationally recognized experts on stress, burnout and mental illness to offer their insights to faculty, staff and students. I encourage all of you to take advantage of these presentations, which will be archived and available next month. I have no doubt it will be time well spent.