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Vaishali Patel, MD[/caption]
Vaishali Patel, MD, has a lot of ideas for her year as chief resident of the Durham VA Medical Center, a role she began earlier this summer.
Dr. Patel says it has already been an exciting summer for her as she has watched the interns join the program and the junior assistant residents take on new leadership roles. She hopes that the Durham VA will be a robust and gratifying learning environment where the residents can take an active role in the program.
“I think it’s important for the residents to remember that thinking about your patients is fun – this is why we chose this profession,” Patel said. “I want to create a lively environment because the more the residents are enjoying themselves at work, the more they will learn.”
Patel said she is collecting data about areas in which the residents would like to improve as well as changes that they would like to see at the VA that will help them take better care of their patients. She is looking for opportunities to help the residents grow and also to impact process improvement at the VA.
“I would like to promote a culture that allows the residents to feel empowered to get involved and shape their training. This is their program,” Patel said.
Patel has learned that the best way she can get feedback from the residents is by having face-to-face conversations with them, so she has made a point of dropping by the resident workrooms whenever she is able. She also believes in giving real-time feedback, in person, whenever possible.
“It is important for residents to interface with us frequently. For me, it has helped me focus on not just the program as a whole, but also on the individuals,” Patel said.
Patel is working on setting up new opportunities for learning, as well. The Durham VA is expanding its critical care code simulation team this year. She hopes this will give the residents the opportunity to gain experience and become more comfortable with running a code, making the transition from intern to junior assistant resident a little easier. She is also excited about the chiefs’ goal of improving noon conference and making didactic lectures a more sustainable and valuable part of the residents’ work day in the new work-hour structure.
Beyond her direct work with residents at the Durham VA, Patel is also responsible for planning Medicine Grand Rounds; however, she is trying to keep the residents in mind. Patel works with the Division Chiefs to schedule speakers and topics that are especially relevant to the residents, and trainees are encouraged to offer case presentations at the start of each Grand Rounds.
Patel grew up in Pennsylvania and came to Duke as a resident after graduating from Harvard Medical School. She did the couples match with her husband, who is a radiology resident at UNC-Chapel Hill. Patel said during her down time as a resident she would write poetry, but her husband’s interest in stand-up comedy has led her to put her creative efforts into writing material with him for stand-up comedy performances.
“It turned out to be a really great way for us to find humor in our lives, even after a particularly long or draining day at work. We find each other hilarious, so that certainly helps. For better or worse, I end up being the subject of several of my husband’s jokes!”
Patel says she champions having interests outside of medicine and that is why she supports events like the residency program’s Humanities in Medicine event.
“Our residents are very talented in many ways. The residents have interests and life experiences that often have contributed to their journey to medicine,” Patel said. “Events like Humanities in Medicine remind the residents that while their job is to take care of patients, they also need to take care of themselves and feel happy and healthy outside of the hospital.”
In addition to writing, Patel said she enjoys cooking and trying out new restaurants with her husband. After her chief resident year, Patel will complete a fellowship in Gastroenterology.
Vaishali Patel, MD[/caption]
Vaishali Patel, MD, has a lot of ideas for her year as chief resident of the Durham VA Medical Center, a role she began earlier this summer.
Dr. Patel says it has already been an exciting summer for her as she has watched the interns join the program and the junior assistant residents take on new leadership roles. She hopes that the Durham VA will be a robust and gratifying learning environment where the residents can take an active role in the program.
“I think it’s important for the residents to remember that thinking about your patients is fun – this is why we chose this profession,” Patel said. “I want to create a lively environment because the more the residents are enjoying themselves at work, the more they will learn.”
Patel said she is collecting data about areas in which the residents would like to improve as well as changes that they would like to see at the VA that will help them take better care of their patients. She is looking for opportunities to help the residents grow and also to impact process improvement at the VA.
“I would like to promote a culture that allows the residents to feel empowered to get involved and shape their training. This is their program,” Patel said.
Patel has learned that the best way she can get feedback from the residents is by having face-to-face conversations with them, so she has made a point of dropping by the resident workrooms whenever she is able. She also believes in giving real-time feedback, in person, whenever possible.
“It is important for residents to interface with us frequently. For me, it has helped me focus on not just the program as a whole, but also on the individuals,” Patel said.
Patel is working on setting up new opportunities for learning, as well. The Durham VA is expanding its critical care code simulation team this year. She hopes this will give the residents the opportunity to gain experience and become more comfortable with running a code, making the transition from intern to junior assistant resident a little easier. She is also excited about the chiefs’ goal of improving noon conference and making didactic lectures a more sustainable and valuable part of the residents’ work day in the new work-hour structure.
Beyond her direct work with residents at the Durham VA, Patel is also responsible for planning Medicine Grand Rounds; however, she is trying to keep the residents in mind. Patel works with the Division Chiefs to schedule speakers and topics that are especially relevant to the residents, and trainees are encouraged to offer case presentations at the start of each Grand Rounds.
Patel grew up in Pennsylvania and came to Duke as a resident after graduating from Harvard Medical School. She did the couples match with her husband, who is a radiology resident at UNC-Chapel Hill. Patel said during her down time as a resident she would write poetry, but her husband’s interest in stand-up comedy has led her to put her creative efforts into writing material with him for stand-up comedy performances.
“It turned out to be a really great way for us to find humor in our lives, even after a particularly long or draining day at work. We find each other hilarious, so that certainly helps. For better or worse, I end up being the subject of several of my husband’s jokes!”
Patel says she champions having interests outside of medicine and that is why she supports events like the residency program’s Humanities in Medicine event.
“Our residents are very talented in many ways. The residents have interests and life experiences that often have contributed to their journey to medicine,” Patel said. “Events like Humanities in Medicine remind the residents that while their job is to take care of patients, they also need to take care of themselves and feel happy and healthy outside of the hospital.”
In addition to writing, Patel said she enjoys cooking and trying out new restaurants with her husband. After her chief resident year, Patel will complete a fellowship in Gastroenterology.