The 12 Types of Med Students

What type of medical student will I be? I recently came across a very funny comic by Dr. Michelle Au, that outlines stereotypical medical student personalities. I couldn’t help but wonder what type of medical student I will be.

I am certainly enthusiastic— though I hope not painfully so. But even if so, I will not apologize because the field of medicine is truly fascinating. While volunteering in an emergency department in the Bronx, part of my job was to ensure patients were comfortable during the long wait. I walked around and asked each patient (mostly in Spanish) if they needed water, a snack or extra pillows. Witnessing this small gesture make a difference in the patient’s hospital-experience sent me soaring. The prospect of having an even larger impact, as a physician, is all the more exciting. I was also amazed while shadowing a surgeon as she performed a rhinoplasty (nose job). Even from my position as wallflower in the operating room, the skill and focus with which the doctor went to work was captivating. I also got a peek into the human body—something you don’t see every day. I am enthusiastic because this is the field I love, the profession I have always wanted to pursue, my calling. I cannot wait to dive in, come August.

At times I am the Overly Academic. Ask anyone who has been around me while I describe my research or get into a heated ethical debate (yes, I am guilty of quoting statistics from a recent article I've read). However, again this is the result of my passion for the field and curiosity for the world around me. I am also part Gunner as I strive to be the best physician I can be for my prospective patients (but don’t worry, no cut-throat attitude here). I also exhibit the Sensitive Soul. In medical school I hope to learn the art of doctoring, ensuring that my compassion successfully transmits to the patient-doctor relationship. I am also sure that I will be the Crier on more than a few occasions in coming years. Medical school is stressful and I expect to learn more about myself in four years than I have in a lifetime. It will be an exciting but trying time, and I know I will rely on the support of family and friends to successfully make it to the other side of my training. A good medical student, a good physician, is all of these stereotypes—they’re human! Lastly, during the next several years I hope to keep my sanity (though I've never been a fan of folding jeans)!