Poetry
Team Room Talk
On rounds, we say “our”
To you, we say “your”
But she will never be ours, and she will
Always be yours
Author: Megan Gauger
Bio: Megan Gauger is a second year medical student at the University of Michigan. She is a strong believer in the power of reflection, often in the form of journaling in her beloved "One Line a Day" book (7 years and counting!). She is a member of the Medical Humanities Path of Excellence and has participated in electives such as Healer's Art and Narrative medicine, all of which have provided sacred space to engage with peers and reflect on the triumphs and challenges of medical school in real time.
Commentary: If you listen closely in the team room or in the hallway on rounds, you’ll notice that presentations often begin with “this is our 65-year-old patient who presents for …” An attending once brought this to my attention. Why do we use possessives? How might this make a patient or family member feel? Students are in constant motion during clerkship year; each week brings new services, new residents, new attendings, new patients. As I continue to move through M2 year, I am slowly collecting tips and tricks from peers and mentors alike to cultivate my professional identity. This poem reflects on a piece of wisdom that has been particularly salient as a reminder to slow down and center the humanity of the patients we have the privilege of caring for.