You’re A Secretary

Hoover  11 Jan, 2006  Medical School

How many of you guys have “student coordinators” at your medical school that are responsible for running the day-to-day operations of any given medical student rotation? I’m not talking about the program director that is responsible for organizing the rotation curriculum, but rather the person who photocopies call schedules and makes sure that you show up to the “required” lectures.

I know you’re aware of who I’m talking about, so I’ll just get to the point. These are the people who show up to the rotation orientation and hand out informational packets with details of the 5 papers you’re supposed to write and frequently send out emails updating you on any change in the lecture schedule. They go above and beyond the required job description, probably to “exceed expectations” on the job to better their chances of that 3% raise next year.

They are all too frequently “over involved” and spout out rules and regulations of the rotation as if they’re some national law. They require you to write down your contact information so that they can find you at any time. If you’re late to a lecture, they will find you by sending numerous pages and blowing up your cell phone until the battery dies.

I once had one of these student coordinators say to the rotation group one bright and early orientation day: “now you know you must take call every fourth night.” What the hell is that? You’re a secretary for Christ’s sake. You’ve never taken a night of call in your entire life. You spend your day pecking away at meaningless emails while I’m playing scut monkey for 14 hours. You work 9-5, Monday through Friday and sleep in over the weekend while I come in to round.

My point is that you’re a secretary. They don’t pay you enough to tell us when to take call or be at lecture. That information is in that packet that you just gave me and I can read, thanks. Step in my shoes for a day - I’ll be sure to wake your ass up at 2am to watch me do an H&P. I might even send you down for my coffee as an added, but free, bonus.

Oh, and before I forget: Happy Secretary’s Day. I’ll be sure to send a nice warm basket of “fuck you” to show my appreciation for your innate ability to track me down.

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7 Comments so far »

  1. Anonymous said

    February 12 2007 @ 3:10 pm

    so true! (except at my school, they have a bad attitude while doing it… as if it’s our fault that we’ll be more successful than them someday.)

  2. Hoover said

    February 12 2007 @ 3:10 pm

    Oh yes, they always have a bad attitude at my school as well lol

  3. Anonymous said

    February 12 2007 @ 3:11 pm

    wow. taken out of context that’s a pretty arrogant comment. think that maybe u need a quick lesson in humility?

  4. Anonymous said

    February 12 2007 @ 3:11 pm

    Nobody is “just a secretary”…..just like you’re not “just a medical student”. I think you’re getting a bit above yourself. You feel that a person is not qualified to help you unless they have M.D. after their name and you think you’re above talking to this person. It’s medical students like you that give us all a bad name. Exercise some humilty and remember that this is a person - just like you.

  5. Anonymous said

    February 12 2007 @ 3:11 pm

    just a secretary….hmmm. IF you ever get your own practice, your secretary can make or break you. Scheduling, filing, etc must be done by someone. I have actually changed my PCM because his “staff” was unhelpful…didn’t return calls, or I was left on hold indefinitely.

  6. Tiny Surgeon said

    March 20 2007 @ 7:12 pm

    At my school, these course coordinators are often the most incompetent people possible. One marched in and told us “to make a call schedule.” When asked HOW she wanted us to do this, she just said “Oh, you know, make a call schedule,” like it’s the easiest thing possible. Keep in mind that this was in January; the school year began in June. The same woman emailed the class the wrong room for the exam, and then was SHOCKED when the entire class showed up to the wrong room.

    There’s nothing wrong with being a secretary, so long as you are a GOOD secretary.

  7. Hoover said

    March 20 2007 @ 8:10 pm

    Agreed TS. The secretary that helped the PD on my surgery rotation was mean as hell. You could tell she took pleasure in explaining the call schedule and how much is was going to suck for us.

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