Academic Medicine Podcast

Maybe I am still stitching my white coat—thread by thread, moment by moment, one experience at a time—shaping it into something that fits the kind of doctor I want to be. Maybe I do not have it all figured out yet. But I am here. I am staying. And for now, that is enough. Keemaya Gurudutt Joglekar reflects on how every task matters during clerkship and how the smallest act can have the biggest impact on patients. The essay read in this episode was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the July 2026 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine.

Both faculty members and medical students can benefit by appreciating that their advising relationship "hits different" due to their respective generations. There may not be an easy translation of that expression to members of the Boomer generation. Perhaps it has to be left at this: IYKYK. Richard Andrew Schaefer reflects on advising Gen Z medical students as a Baby Boomer and how different generations can learn from one another. The essay read in this episode was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the July 2026 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine.

When I care for my patients, I think of her. I am grateful for her; she gave me this opportunity to trust myself. I am grateful for her; she showed me my calling to be a physician. Megan K. Scharner reflects on a patient who helped her realize that she wanted to switch careers and go to medical school. The essay read in this episode was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the July 2026 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine.

As a caregiver myself, this experience brought recognition of my need to take the time to grieve. Acknowledging my sadness over the neurodegenerative illness which has won out again despite my valiant efforts to assist the person who has fallen victim to the disease, but also my loss of the relationships with family and caregivers who, by their strength, resilience, kindness, appreciation and humor, have had a meaningful impact on my evolution as a person as well as a physician. Angela Scicutella reflects on the bond that forms between physicians and the family members and caregivers of their patients. The essay read in this episode was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the June 2026 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine.

While acknowledging her embarrassment, I encouraged her to hold fast to that part of her—the part that was so moved by the work she did to help a child heal that tears escaped. Those tears express our human experience, love for the patient, and deep appreciation for the healing process. Cara E. Texler reflects on the importance of retaining humanism in medicine amidst the interruptions and tasks that inundate physicians' days. The essay read in this episode was published in the Teaching and Learning Moments column in the May 2026 issue of Academic Medicine. Read the essay at https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine.