Perspective of a bipolar physician and his program director
Dr. Justin Bullock, fellow (Nephrology) and his fellowship director Dr. Cary Paine wrote “This Armor of Mine: Perspective of a bipolar physician and his program director,” published in CHEST Advocates.
“Now at the end of my medical training, I look back and see that surviving medical training as a bipolar doctor is much like navigating a battlefield,” Bullock wrote.
To help him be successful, Bullock suits up with armor, which includes a helmet of clarity, breastplate of introspection, belt of accommodation, shoes of peace, and shield of proactive defense.
“With respect to accommodations, creativity, flexibility, and a strong aversion to the phrase ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it’ are indispensable,” wrote Paine. “Ultimately, it is essential to remember that a program director’s primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of our trainees and the patients who we serve, not the upholding of tradition or dogma.”
CHEST Advocates is a digital publication by the American College of Chest Physicians that features stories and insights on healthcare advocacy.