Resident Appreciation Week: Lessons from our Learners
Dr. Jobin Varughese (left), interim assistant dean, primary care education, is working with resident physicians like Dr. Christopher Haddad (centre) to tackle the challenges facing primary care in Ontario. (Photo: Alyssa K. Faoro)
For Resident Appreciation Week (Feb. 9 to 13), we’re flipping the script and celebrating the ways residents teach even the most seasoned medical mentors at TMU. We asked our Program Directors and School of Medicine leadership to share a short reflection on something they’ve learned from residents this year—and their answers were as thoughtful as they were heartwarming. From renewed gratitude and joy in day-to-day work, these quotes are a reminder that learning in medicine is always a two-way street.
“One of my residents reminded me recently that although in emergency medicine our interactions with patients are brief, we can make meaningful long-term change in a patient's health journey. In a chaotic environment, a resident found the time to have a frank and open conversation with a patient struggling with addiction. Though the patient initially appeared uncertain about their motivation to change their habits, they returned a few days later to the Emergency Department ready to seek out medical and social support to begin their recovery process.” – Dr. Rebecca Brown, Program Director, Family Medicine Enhanced Skills (FM-ES): Emergency Medicine
“The residents I have had the privilege to work with have taught me about the importance of giving people space and opportunities to be themselves; the more we can foster an environment of acceptance and belonging, the more we can advance physician well-being.”
– Dr. Mitesh Patel, Program Director, Psychiatry
“Something that I have learned from our current resident is not to take anything for granted and enjoy the day-to-day of the job. The stress of long hours and late nights at arenas can sometimes make us lose sight of the big picture. The eagerness and genuine excitement of the incoming TMU residents reminds me how lucky I am to be able to wake up every morning and do what I love.”
– Dr. John Presvelos, Program Director, Family Medicine Enhanced Skills (FM-ES): Sport and Exercise Medicine
“Working with our pediatric residents has reminded me of the joy of caring for children. Hearing them talk about the connections they have made with patients and families and how they speak with such excitement and enjoyment of their experiences with children has reminded me to slow down and appreciate these moments of connection in the busyness of my work day.”
– Dr. Allison Bahm, Assistant Clinical Professor and Pediatric Residency Program Director
“As the founding Dean of a medical school, it can be overwhelming at times. But when I interact with residents who are passionate about medical education and academic medicine, they help me reframe what it means to be an academic physician. They keep me grounded—reminding me what’s possible and what still needs to be done. Our resident physicians are such an important part of our health system, and I deeply value their ability to help me see the forest, rather than worry about the trees.” – Dr. Teresa Chan, Dean, School of Medicine and Vice-President, Medical Affairs
