Celebrating internal medicine connections
Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, former ACP Treasurer, discusses what inspires medical students to pursue internal medicine.
In a recent post on KevinMD celebrating Internal Medicine Day, Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, a former ACP Treasurer, discusses what inspires medical students to pursue internal medicine. She highlights stories of students discovering the person behind the patient, whether through a quiet conversation, a coordinated celebration during hospitalization, or simply sitting and listening.
Dr. Jokela notes that medical students bring not only analytical skills but deep empathy to patient care, and their experiences reaffirm the heart of internal medicine, seeing beyond disease to humanity and understanding that care itself has power, even when outcomes fall short of expectations. She honors students, residents, fellows, and colleagues who embody the mission of ACP: to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care through excellence and professionalism.
Read her article and listen to the accompanying podcast to learn more.