Diary of a Med Student

by Daniel B. Azzam, Ajay N Sharma

From the earliest stages of our medical training, we experience unforgettable moments with our patients - inspiring, traumatic, joyful, and sometimes even humorous events. Too often, as doctors-in-training we talk about the suffering or recovery of our patients, ignoring our own emotions after these events, letting them passively shape us until we dig ourselves into an abyss of burn out and resentment.
Diary of a Med Student is a book created by medical students, for medical students, doctors, pre-med students, and their loved ones to look backward, forward, and laterally on the wonderful world of medical school. This book offers a space to reflect on our emotions, process their meaning, and share them as tales of sorrow, humor, joy, or inspiration, told from the perspective of medical students writing in a diary.
While the act of sharing emotion is itself therapeutic, reading these emotional challenges that we can all relate to is unifying and comforting, providing us with insight through the lessons conveyed in the light of a variety of feelings. Let this book spark a powerful domino effect of change in medical in the way we teach physicians to create a safe space for inner reflection and expression of emotion to ultimately enhance physician wellness.

Genres: Medicine, Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2020

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diary of a Med Student brought to life what so many medical students across the nation experience: accomplishments, imposter syndrome, loneliness, passion, stress, regret, and more. The raw testimonies and transparent stories provide an inside look into the difficult journey of a medical student that no other book has done. Would definitely recommend for any premeds curious about the realities of medical school, for any medical students looking for solidarity, and for anyone who loves a great read!

[Tim O'Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! I love how each chapter is broken down into the theme of a different emotion. The COVID-19 stories were especially powerful for me and made me feel comforted by knowing that other medical students share my same thoughts. My favorite chapter is Tales of Humor! These stories are hilarious and so relatable. My family loves flipping through this with me and chatting about my own experience in medical school. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in healthcare and their family members!

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super quick read made up of 1-2 page snippets contributed by medical students across the country. The quality of the writing varied (especially toward the beginning), but the genuine dedication and compassion of the students rang clear. A nice book for pre-meds to keep on your desk for a breath of fresh air when you're four hours deep in organic chemistry.

[Shaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. It had heart and soul. It truly provided the perspective of a doctor, a person who interacts with people at their most vulnerable times. What I appreciated most about this book is that it allowed the reader to step into a doctor’s shoes for a moment, to help us understand what he/she feels, experiences, thinks. Give this a read. I promise you will not be disappointed.

[Hiral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, such a beautiful and insightful book!!
From the cover to each story, it captivates great emotion. I have gifted this book to many friends and the feedback has been wonderful. Thank you to those who made this book happen 🙏🏽

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very eye-opening and heartfelt. Super interesting to get the insight into the medical student life, especially during COVID 19. Highly recommend!

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a mixed bag, but also definitely enjoyed it overall.

[Laura Cera · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️