Residency Program Abuse: Breaking the Cycle
Every March, social media is flooded with memes and complaints about the challenges of being a medical resident. We laugh, we normalize it, and we tell ourselves and others that “it’s only a few years.” But behind the scenes, there are resignations and even suicides, highlighting a dark reality of the medical training system.
For many, the pinnacle of their medical career is passing the national exam to become a specialist. The celebration is short-lived as first-year residents are greeted by a group of senior residents who are exhausted and frustrated with the system. Hazing, punishment for mistakes, and other dehumanizing practices become the norm.
As residents progress through the program, they become part of a system that covers gaps by taking on various roles beyond their medical training. Pressure to be self-taught, lack of guidance, and frustration lead to a transformation and dehumanization of the first-year resident.
This cycle continues as residents climb the ranks, eventually becoming the superiors perpetuating the same harmful behaviors they experienced. Dr. Luisa Fernanda Aguilera Mora, a cardiologist and director of the Heart Failure Clinic in Mexico, emphasizes the need for meaningful actions to break this cycle.
It is urgent for everyone, inside and outside the health system, to take responsibility and work towards creating safe residency programs. By being supportive mentors and advocating for change, individuals can make a difference in the lives of future generations of medical professionals.
While discipline and commitment to patient care remain paramount, the path to becoming a specialist should not be marred by humiliation or harassment. It is time to prioritize the well-being of medical professionals and put an end to the toxic culture that plagues residency programs.