Physicians Share Biggest Lessons from Medical School

"The biggest lesson I learned from medical school is that a good physician is one who learns proactively and in a self-directed manner. Too often, we get behind when it comes to our medical knowledge and we get stuck in just 'doing the job.' Continuing to push yourself to learn is never easy. My best instructors were the ones who told me that their purpose was to turn me into a lifelong learner - because a lifelong learner will continue to push him or herself to practice current, quality medicine."Saroj Misra, DO, a Warren, Mich.-based family medicine physician

"Listen to the patient. They will always tell you what they have if you give them the time and ask proper questions."Stephen J. Rockower, MD, a Rockville, Md.-based orthopedic surgeon

"Be efficient and prioritize. The more efficient you are at your studies and scholarly activities, the more time you have to spend with your other loves - be they family, friends, sports, TV, sleep, or wherever your priorities lie. After lectures, labs, projects and studying, the minor amount of free time during medical school should be savored, enjoyed, and spent on the important non-medical things in your life."David Pohl, DO, a Warren, Mich.-based family medicine resident

"Unfortunately, my biggest lessons from medical school were what I now feel are inappropriate ways of practicing."Donald T. Stewart, MD, a Sammamish, Wash.-based family medicine physician

"I learned that going to medical school doesn't make you a physician. The initials after your name denotes the degree you have earned, not what you've become."David Norris, MD, a Wichita-based anesthesiologist

"We are all constantly learning and assimilating information and, to me, that is one of the highly appealing aspects that lead me to study medicine: You simply can never know everything."Mary Christ, MD, MBA, a Farmington, Conn.-based healthcare IT executive