"Voice, listening and body language all relay information verbally and nonverbally. Medicine is dependent upon the communication of ideas, concepts and orders. Speaking with the correct tone, idiom and language is integral.
Nonverbal communication yields clues to a patient's engagement, receptiveness and the probability he or she will comply with instructions. Be aware of your idiosyncrasies as you communicate. Enhance communication skills through participation in speech courses, class presentations and undergraduate organizations." (U.S. News & World Report)
"This trait is key when effectively speaking to colleagues and patients. Concentrate on what the person is saying instead of thinking about how you are going to respond. Be present by focusing attention on the other individual when talking in person or by telephone.
This means no emailing, surfing the Web, texting others or wandering off in thought. Being present nonverbally communicates you are there with them while focusing your attention and intellect on the issue at hand." (U.S. News & World Report)
"This is integral as the physician, regardless of specialty, assesses volumes of data to quickly form a working conclusion, using deductive reasoning and inferences based on knowledge and experience.
No two patients are exactly the same, and although the treatments may be similar, each patient must be evaluated individually. If not, potentially fatal errors can occur.
Undergraduate courses in both humanities and the sciences foster critical thinking skills. It's the critical thinker's appropriate application of knowledge which distinguishes "smart" from "brilliant" and creates a great clinician or diagnostician." (U.S. News & World Report)
"This is a key quality when you’re a doctor, because it will be essential to help you assess volumes of data, quickly form valid conclusions, and use deductive reasoning to treat each patient’s distinctive needs. As a med school student, critical thinking is valuable to help you analyze and connect information together to understand its intended meaning, whether you’re studying coursework or taking the Boards." (Kaplan)
"Compassion is more than kindness and civility; it's authentic sympathy for self, patients, colleagues and co-workers irrespective of race, class, creed or personal behavior. Professional and personal compassion sows the seeds for compassion in the workplace and throughout the world.
Patients seek a physician's counsel for warmth and understanding, not merely medical expertise. Having pets, reading literature and functioning in a group can facilitate the development of compassion before a student gets to medical school." (U.S. News & World Report)
"This is what gets you through those moments when seemingly everything has gone wrong. Life can be stressful, and a career in medicine is filled with ups and downs. Patients die, attendings yell and meals are missed. For a successful career and life, discover healthy coping mechanisms that work best for you to perform optimally.
This may include daily exercise, such as taking a long run, punching a heavy bag, swimming a few laps in the pool or practicing martial arts. Perhaps it's writing poetry, journaling, practicing religion, meditating or going for a long drive to cope with the vicissitudes of life.
Balancing classes, volunteer work, intramural athletics and extracurricular activities with everyday life helps to shape and hone your resilience, allowing you to see more of the beauty in life.
In all, developing character along with learning scientific and technical knowledge creates a well-informed and balanced physician." (U.S. News & World Report)
"Doctors (and med school students!) who have vision are able to reach short-term goals while also looking ahead to a successful future. They see beyond present challenges to come up with creative solutions and navigate toward the next level of achievement." (Kaplan)
"Not to be confused with arrogance, being self-confident means you’re prepared to take on the responsibility of caring for patients. It’s not about knowing it all, it’s the result of gaining experience as a med school student and resident. Patients want a self-confident doctor—it makes them feel their care is in good hands." (Kaplan)
"Medicine requires the ability to shift your focus from one thing to another, sometimes within minutes. Patients are unpredictable, emergencies arise, and new responsibilities may be thrust upon you in a heartbeat. Can you shift gears quickly?" (Kaplan)
"You don’t have to already be a successful doctor to need emotional stability. After all, you’re dealing with the stress of courses, studies, and the medical licensing examination (a.k.a. the Boards) right now. Still, as a doctor, you’ll be in many situations where tempers fly or you have a patient who’s in critical condition. You’ll want to be calm in any situation, and keep your personal feelings at bay. Being emotionally stable will help you do it." (Kaplan)
"As a med school student you need the discipline to focus on studying … and studying … and studying. It’s your priority no matter what else is going on around you. As a successful doctor, your self-discipline will help you stay motivated to keep learning so you can better serve your patients with the knowledge you gain." (Kaplan)
"You’ll affect your patients’ lives during a time when they’re most vulnerable. A strong sense of ethics is important to ensure your patients’ safety and well-being. If you’re a student participating in research, you’ll want to approach experiments from a strong ethical base to make sure your results are unbiased, useful, and safe." (Kaplan)
"There will be times when it’s tough to be a med student and a doctor. Being able to laugh goes a long way to helping you—and your patients—cope with life’s hard times. After all, humor can be healing. Don’t try to force it, of course, and there’s a time and place for humor, but if you know how to find the laughter in life, you have one of the most valuable qualities a doctor can have." (Kaplan)
