Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Medical Resident

  • The “weak” intern

    Htet KhineReno, Nevada, United States “She is quite weak,” I overheard two senior residents say about one of my co-interns. I tried to tune out the conversation—I did not have enough time or mental capacity to comprehend what being “weak” entailed. I was busy writing notes, answering pages, and placing orders, but I could not…

  • Not-so-natural history

    Anthony PapagiannisThessaloniki, Greece Physicians learn about chronic disease by watching its natural history and attempting to modify it with therapies. Cardiologists record episodes of ischemic disease, oncologists follow the progression of malignancies, and pulmonologists note changes in respiratory function over time. When patients are first seen, the disease is often already established. It is less…