For most medical students and interns, clinical practice is where we’re supposed to bridge the gap between textbook knowledge and real-world patient care. But more often than not, the reality of clinical rotations feels disconnected from what we were told to expect.
You’re asked to follow the resident, copy notes, take vitals, stand silently during ward rounds—and if you’re lucky, maybe get to examine a patient or present a case. But how often do we truly feel involved in decision-making? Or get mentored meaningfully?
There are days when clinical postings feel like a checklist:
- Arrive.
- Sign the attendance.
- Follow the senior.
- Leave.
In between, you may learn something. Or maybe not.
The challenges are real:
- Overburdened departments where teaching becomes secondary
- Residents too stretched to guide juniors
- Lack of structured feedback
- Hesitation to ask questions for fear of being judged
And yet, for many of us, those rare one-on-one interactions with a patient or a compassionate mentor are what make it all worth it.
So here’s what I want to open up for discussion:
- What has your clinical experience been like—genuinely?
- Have you found ways to learn actively during chaotic or passive rotations?
- What do you think needs to change in how clinical practice is taught during UG years?
- How do you handle the gap between academic learning and clinical realities?
We need to start talking about this—not to blame, but to build something better. Clinical practice should not be just a phase we survive. It should be where we learn to care.