• Welcome
  • About Me
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • In The Media
  • Contact
Menu

Jamie Katuna

Embracing Creativity in Medicine. Join Me.

Your Custom Text Here

Jamie Katuna

  • Welcome
  • About Me
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • In The Media
  • Contact

How Medical School Is Like Playing Defense

December 21, 2017 Jamie Katuna
IMG_0481.JPG

 

There is no glory in defense. Fans don’t notice it. The most perfectly-executed defensive play results in a non-event; that is, the other team doesn’t score. Then everyone forgets about it, and the game moves on. 

But there is an art to defense. It is reactionary in nature: You must read the offense and anticipate what’s coming. You have to study the opposing players one-by-one so you know their strengths and weaknesses—whether to force them left or right, or to hang off and let them shoot from long range. You gain pride in developing your defensive skill. You understand most people don’t appreciate it, but YOU do, and can be proud of yourself for that.

And you get scored on. A lot. You make mistakes and you read the player the wrong way. But there will be another defensive opportunity, and then another one, and then another one— so your only option is to learn from what went wrong. Appreciate the way the offensive player scored on you and do not let her do it again like that. You adapt.

You know where I’m going with this. Medical school is like playing defense. 

There is no glory in studying. Your friends from home don’t appreciate the fact that you spent 12 hours in the library on a Sunday memorizing drug names and mechanisms of action. But, just like defense, you can have pride in yourself. You can appreciate the fact that you did it and how much information you are capable of cramming into your brain. 

Medical school is reactionary, too. There is an onslaught of information so you figure out how to organize and adapt. Sometimes you’ll do great. Sometimes you’ll fail. Either way, another test is coming so you learn from that experience and use it to ready you for the next one. 

There is a cliché quote that coaches use: “Offense wins games but defense wins championships.” And while I would always argue that winning games wins championships (coaches didn’t like it when I did that), the sentiment is there. Putting in the work that nobody appreciates is crucial for long-term success. We can’t expect a pat on the head for everything we do. Sometimes the only reward we’ll get is being able to tell ourselves that we did it—and sometimes, that is all we need.

 

MORE BLOG POSTS
Nov 26, 2018
Why Changing Behavior Can Be So Hard
Nov 26, 2018
Nov 26, 2018
Nov 24, 2018
An Open Letter to Dr. Apovian, Who Wants to Prescribe Pills for Obesity
Nov 24, 2018
Nov 24, 2018
Aug 28, 2018
The Way Learning Should Be
Aug 28, 2018
Aug 28, 2018
The Desperation For Vigilance Around Health Information
Jul 3, 2018
The Desperation For Vigilance Around Health Information
Jul 3, 2018
Jul 3, 2018
My Friend Got Fired: What Happens When Physicians Embrace Advocacy
Jun 10, 2018
My Friend Got Fired: What Happens When Physicians Embrace Advocacy
Jun 10, 2018
Jun 10, 2018
Advice For Incoming Medical Students
May 24, 2018
Advice For Incoming Medical Students
May 24, 2018
May 24, 2018
You Don't Have To Decide On A Specialty Right Now
Apr 30, 2018
You Don't Have To Decide On A Specialty Right Now
Apr 30, 2018
Apr 30, 2018
You Approached It Like It Was Heavy, So It Was
Apr 1, 2018
You Approached It Like It Was Heavy, So It Was
Apr 1, 2018
Apr 1, 2018
Unlearn Helplessness
Mar 21, 2018
Unlearn Helplessness
Mar 21, 2018
Mar 21, 2018
In Medicine, How Can We Honor Introverts?
Mar 13, 2018
In Medicine, How Can We Honor Introverts?
Mar 13, 2018
Mar 13, 2018
Feb 10, 2018
Stick To That Goal
Feb 10, 2018
Feb 10, 2018
Lessons In The Madness
Feb 2, 2018
Lessons In The Madness
Feb 2, 2018
Feb 2, 2018
You're Unbalanced. That's Okay.
Jan 28, 2018
You're Unbalanced. That's Okay.
Jan 28, 2018
Jan 28, 2018
Lose Your Identity On Purpose
Jan 26, 2018
Lose Your Identity On Purpose
Jan 26, 2018
Jan 26, 2018
Jan 17, 2018
The Things That Inspire Me
Jan 17, 2018
Jan 17, 2018
Success Is A Jungle Gym, Not A Ladder
Jan 15, 2018
Success Is A Jungle Gym, Not A Ladder
Jan 15, 2018
Jan 15, 2018
The Concept of "Good Enough" in Medicine
Jan 8, 2018
The Concept of "Good Enough" in Medicine
Jan 8, 2018
Jan 8, 2018
“You’re Too Small To Be A Surgeon” and Other Things Women in Medicine Hear
Jan 3, 2018
“You’re Too Small To Be A Surgeon” and Other Things Women in Medicine Hear
Jan 3, 2018
Jan 3, 2018
Why Giving Up Control Is The Best Thing You Can Do
Dec 30, 2017
Why Giving Up Control Is The Best Thing You Can Do
Dec 30, 2017
Dec 30, 2017
Give Yourself The Gift of Solitude
Dec 28, 2017
Give Yourself The Gift of Solitude
Dec 28, 2017
Dec 28, 2017
A Weird Reason I'm Thankful For Medical School
Dec 24, 2017
A Weird Reason I'm Thankful For Medical School
Dec 24, 2017
Dec 24, 2017
Dec 21, 2017
How Medical School Is Like Playing Defense
Dec 21, 2017
Dec 21, 2017
How To Find The Mentors You Want 
Dec 17, 2017
How To Find The Mentors You Want 
Dec 17, 2017
Dec 17, 2017
It Is Okay To Not Feel Okay
Dec 15, 2017
It Is Okay To Not Feel Okay
Dec 15, 2017
Dec 15, 2017
The Lesson Death Teaches Us
Dec 11, 2017
The Lesson Death Teaches Us
Dec 11, 2017
Dec 11, 2017
The Ones Who Walk Away
Dec 7, 2017
The Ones Who Walk Away
Dec 7, 2017
Dec 7, 2017
Find Your People.
Nov 29, 2017
Find Your People.
Nov 29, 2017
Nov 29, 2017
Why Do Medical Students and Physicians Have Mental Health Issues?
Nov 26, 2017
Why Do Medical Students and Physicians Have Mental Health Issues?
Nov 26, 2017
Nov 26, 2017
The Type of Physician I Am Training To Be
Nov 22, 2017
The Type of Physician I Am Training To Be
Nov 22, 2017
Nov 22, 2017
A Lesson in a Parking Lot
Nov 18, 2017
A Lesson in a Parking Lot
Nov 18, 2017
Nov 18, 2017
← A Weird Reason I'm Thankful For Medical SchoolHow To Find The Mentors You Want  →

Subscribe

Get the latest blogs and updates delivered to your e-mail!

We respect your privacy.

Thank you!
Facebook