Medical school teaches you how to treat pneumonia, fix a fracture, and read a CT scan — but not how to actually listen.
Then residency happens. Suddenly you’re running on coffee and three hours of sleep, juggling patients, notes, and your sanity. And somewhere between the chaos, you discover something unexpected: listening can do what medicine sometimes can’t.
You start hearing stories from new doctors who realize the best moments aren’t about saving lives — they’re about being present. One patient says, “Thank you for just listening.” Another smiles because someone finally looked them in the eye instead of at the computer.
Turns out, empathy doesn’t need a prescription pad. Sometimes the cure starts when you stop talking and just listen.
So yeah — residency is exhausting, messy, and unforgettable. But maybe, between the caffeine and chaos, that’s where the real healing begins.
