Seven Tips from a First Year Attending

Mohamad El Zein, MD, MPH
Ascension Medical Group
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Kansas Wichita

• Try to take ownership of patient care even as a fellow; follow up on those biopsy results and communicate the results with the patient.
• Follow up on your diagnoses and further management, including gut-brain axis disorders as this will comprise your bread and butter in general GI practice.
• Try to calculate your own ADR, make sure you abide by quality metrics including cecal intubation rate (CIR) and withdrawal time (WT).
• Make your mark and create your own reputation as a fellow, you will carry this attitude throughout your practice.
• Try to master effective communication skills.
• Always keep in mind what matters most to referring physicians is AAA: Availability, Affability and Ability, in that order.
• Thank your referring physicians after each consult (verbal or note) genuinely; they are the source of your income.