Advice From Directors to Newly Matriculating Residents

Q: As new residents will begin the next step in their training next month (July), what is the one most important piece of advice you would give them?

A:

Angelo Paul Savelloni, DPM, FACFAS shares that time management and clear communication with coresidents are key skills to develop early on in residency.

“Learning to communicate effectively is vital to success,” he says.

Kerianne Spiess, DPM, FACFAS acknowledges the potentially overwhelming nature of one’s transition from student to resident, but encourages first-year residents to treat every day as an opportunity to build one’s knowledge base.

“Try to learn something new from each case, each consult, each patient, and each interaction,” she says. “By the end of the first year, you will be stunned by your growth!”

David Bernstein, DPM, FACFAS says that active participation in program communications is a key step early in residency.

“Ask questions always; especially to your fellow residents and program director,” he adds.

Q: As a Director or Assistant Director, what type of goals do you feel incoming residents should set for themselves in this first year?

A:

Spring boarding off Dr. Savelloni’s earlier comment, Dr. Spiess feels that first-year residents should focus on honing their time management skills to maximize their training experience.

“Early on it's hard to balance consults, call schedules, outpatient visits, surgical planning, and cases, but by being able to prioritize your time you are able to safely treat patients effectively and you will enjoy what you do,” she explains.

Dr. Bernstein says that learning how attendings and the hospital work together, and not making the same mistake twice are tenets to live by in the first year.

Making the best of challenges and continual growth are among the priorities Dr. Savelloni feels new residents should set for themselves. He goes on to say that mistakes are inevitable; but learning from mistakes and failures is extremely important. Taking criticism as an opportunity to improve is another vital outlook he encourages residents to adopt. He hopes first-year trainees will learn from the more senior residents, ask questions, and be proactive in their own learning.

“The goal of first year is to be better each week, (even) each day,” he says. “This will carry you into practice.”

Q: Is there a particular myth or misconception that you have observed among incoming residents over the years regarding residency training that you would like to dispel?

A:

Mistakes are not the enemy, according to Dr. Bernstein.

“You are allowed and expected to make mistakes,” he says. “Try to go with decisions you are 100 percent sure of. Anything else, ask for guidance.”

Dr. Savelloni wants residents to know is that attitude and effort are what counts, not necessarily one’s level of knowledge coming into training. 

“Knowledge will improve with time, but (attitude and effort) are the most important for success in any year of residency,” he adds.

“I think the main misconception is that residency needs to be a grueling three or four years,” says Dr. Spiess. “It will definitely be some of the more challenging years (of one’s career), but it also can be fun making friends in the hospital and with your coresidents. You will have opportunities for learning that are so critical for your post-residency career.” 

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

A:

Dr. Spiess shares that at her hospital, RWJ Barnabas Health Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ, there is a joint orientation between all new residents, including a white coat ceremony for all incoming house staff. There is also a welcome dinner with the current residents.

“It’s a really nice way to start off the year and for everyone to get to know each other,” she explains. “Throughout the year, there are resident-specific outings and luncheons, as well as wellness programing.”

Dr. Savelloni also relates hospital-wide and program-specific orientations at his institution.

“Our program in particular has an entire orientation schedule set up before the first-years start to introduce them to the basics of residency and provide them with the tools necessary to be successful from the start,” he says. 

Dr. Bernstein concludes by stressing that successful residency training is a team effort.

“Remember you are part of a large team that wants you to achieve (your goals),” he says.

Dr. Bernstein is the Director of the Podiatric Residency Program at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pa. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Dr. Savelloni is the Director of the Jefferson Northeast Foot and Ankle Surgical Residency in Philadelphia, PA. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Dr. Spiess is the Assistant Program Director of the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency at RWJ Barnabas Health Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ.