April

 2019  
 
Dear  Students,  
   
I  wanted  to  take  a  moment  to  remind  everyone  that  being  a  physician  is  an  incredible  privilege;  it  is  unlike  any  other  
profession.    And  as  such  it  comes  with  extraordinary  responsibility.    In  fact,  in  the  eyes  of  the  medico-­‐legal  world,  
your  primary  obligation  in  life  is  to  your  patients;  everything  and  everyone  else  comes  in  a  rather  distant  second.    
 
 First,  do  not  ask  your  preceptor  for  time  off-­‐  they  should  not  be  in  the  position  of  making  those  
decisions.    Secondly,  only  the  medical  education  department  approves  time  off-­‐  and  therefore  you  need  to  inform  
us  of  unexpected  illness,  family  emergencies,  or  anticipated  exam  requirements  so  that  we  can  be  your  support  
and  advocate.    Finally,  be  respectful  of  the  coordinators  in  medical  education.  They  are  only  carrying  out  protocol  
in  a  fair  and  consistent  fashion.    
 
You  may  not  have  your  MD  quite  yet,  but  I  view  every  one  of  you  as  physicians  and  therefore  you  too  must  balance  
the  weight  of  the  remarkable  privilege  and  the  incredible  responsibility.    Taking  on  the  professional  mantle  of  being  a  
physician  began  the  day  you  stepped  across  the  threshold  of  the  anatomy  lab  with  your  first  patient  and  it  continues  
until  you  render  your  last  diagnosis,  treatment,  or  advice.    
   
I  fear  that  some  are  failing  to  either  recognize  this  role  we  call  “doctor”  to  respect  it  and  that  distresses  me  far  more  
than  any  medical  error  you  might  ever  make.    Recently,  there  have  been  regular  requests  for  days  off  from  clinical  
expectations  for  non-­‐urgent  reasons.    There  is  of  course  provision  for  time  off  for  exam  preparation  and  completion,  
personal  illness,  family  emergencies,  or  SGU  sponsored  events.    For  almost  everything  else,  there  is  no  time  off  for  us  
as  providers;  patients  still  need  us  on  Christmas  day,  or  Aunt  Mildred’s  85thbirthday-­‐  they  always  have  and  always  
will.    It’s  a  given,  you  are  going  to  miss  some  very  special  moments  in  this  life  because  you  chose  to  be  a  physician;  
that  being  said,  you  are  going  to  play  a  pivotal  role  in  moments  unlike  your  engineering  or  law  buddies  will  ever  
know.      
   
We  also  recognize  that  as  physicians  we  need  to  be  mindful  of  self-­‐care  and  there  are  situations  that  mandate  time  
away  and  so  we  need  to  look  to  our  colleagues  to  provide  support  and  respite.    So  don’t  think  that  I’m  telling  you  to  
be  some  sort  of  hero  at  the  expense  of  your  own  wellbeing.    You  won’t  be  an  effective  patient  champion  if  you  are  
not  well.    Hence  we  strive  for  balance  in  our  professional  obligation  and  our  personal  needs.  
   
   
Sincerely,  
   
Dr.  Berdy  
 
David Berdy, MD CPE  
Program Director, Family Medicine Residency  
Designated Institutional Officer  
Director of Undergraduate Medical Education  
Norwegian American Hospital GME  
1044 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622  
P (773) 360-6373  
F (773) 292-8361  
dberdy@nahospital.org  
 
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves”  
William Shakespeare