One Amazing Moment in Time Reminds Us Life is to be Lived with a little Fun!

Last year at this time, it was my honor to speak with, advise and assist dozens of medical students the week following the Match with their financial futures. This year has been wonderful, exciting and full of ups and down, worry and stress and anxieties about the future... of Medicine. Burnout is a huge topic.

Invited to speak at an exit-lecture of sorts for some Matched 4th Year students, I sat at the small table with them as a physician mentor congratulated them and presented tips on reducing stress, anxiety and burnout. I was invited to co-speak about these topics in modern medical practitioners with the students. Generally, that leads me to a discussion of why I do what I do for other doctors. I lost my clinical career when I lost the good use of my left hand only 11 years into my career. That was 10 years ago.

Monday, I said: What do I do? “I fundamentally believe that financial safety and security reduces anxiety, stress and burnout in practicing physicians. Working one on one doctor to doctor, I advocate through education, advising doctors about proper income protection, financial literacy and work-life balance.”

While proper individual disability insurance is one of the foundation stones of proper financial protection and most medical students don't know they can look at individual disability insurance right after they Match in an accredited program for residency; I was speaking to a group without an income... yet. Disability Insurance... was not a hot topic at the table.

Moving on to basic financial literacy for the physician and their family. More interest! Questions about - whether they teach this 'stuff' in residency? or... what do I do between now and July when I start? what internet sites do you recommend? (Not what 'books' but what sites.) I told them many more residents and young physicians get their financial information from blogs and websites and the number of doctors purchasing 'insurance' online is increasing every year. "There is so much information out there, that's true, but what information is pertinent to you, now and tomorrow?" I asked furthering the discussion.

One spoke, "I'm lost. I mean, I feel lost."

"What do you mean?" I queried softly.

"My loans."

Dead silence in the room. Dead silence like the vacuum of space. So quiet that after a few seconds the imperfections in the HVAC system in the building became loud compared to the stark silence. The last topic I cover is educational debt strategy and elimination, because this happens. Fear. Last year, I had these conversations more one-on-one doctor-to"almost graduated-Matched-doctor" but the way the young physician spoke was haunting AND exactly the way my 13 year-old son pictured above said, "We're lost," in the back bowls on our Spring Break this year.

The voice and the quiet took me exactly back to the moment I had last Friday, at almost 10,000 feet in elevation, deep into the afternoon where the sun's warmth had begun to recede and some of the lifts stopped operating to 'encourage' us to the front of the mountain. The day had been perfect, and I mean perfect, I'll never forget it. My disability sometimes effects my left side and I can't do everything I used to the way I used to do it, but this day had been good for me. One of the best ever for my family and winter sports. Clear, crisp blue-sky day with perfect ground conditions to have maximum fun! We had come down the gully to ride up the not-operating lift in the background. "We're lost, dad."

My wife and 15 year-old had the map out. I knew this place and although very big and we were very tired from one solid week of winter-sports fun, I knew all mountains work generally the same way. Cell phones with GPS and map overlays make this easy today in 2019 plus paper maps with hints and arrows help! "We are not lost." I pulled out my phone. Breathing hard. "We have found the end of one path." Breathing hard, still. "This is exactly the point of life's journey... what come next. We'll figure it out together." I looked over at my wife and older son both pointing in opposite direction. I laughed on the inside. Then looked over at my 'lost' son doing that in the picture above. I had the phone out, "No one is truly lost who has a map and a little faith." I captured that moment. Looking at this picture takes me right there, chills included!

What comes next... Matched medical students eyes unblinking and my head back in the clouds on the back of a mountain on a perfect day.

"You're not lost at all." I said to the group. "You have everything you need right in front of you." PSLF, IRB vs. PAYE began the discussion and very quickly they peppered me with individual questions and concerns. This is why I teach one-on-one and doctor-to-doctor. I can give anyone A Map but you need Your Map for Your Life.

If you just Matched, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have literally just begun the next chapter of your medical career journey. If your getting to the end of your Intern Year, KEEP GOING, I know many of us were miserable about this time of the academic year, keep going, it gets better. Much better. Maybe you just Matched your Fellowship or you are looking at employment contracts... just a few more steps, Doctor. From Match Day to Attending physician is a blur now for me 20+ years later... it went fast.

Need help? Have questions? Want directions? Doctor to doctor, just ask.

"So, where do we go?" My 13 year-old in full sun-worship mode asks to the sky, arms still outstretched.

"There." My wife and older son point together and I nod in agreement.

"Good!" The youngest says and throws that snowball he's holding right at me! He squeals and in delight and rips off on his board... one last ride for the day, for the vacation and for the season. Spring is almost here.

Yeah, I never saw the snowball either until it hit me squarely in the jacket. Look at the picture, his right hand. No matter how lost you feel, always remember to have a little fun with what you have... even if it's just a ball of frozen water crystals lying quietly on the back of a mountain. Fun can squash fear for a little bit, but a map helps a lot more!

Congratulations to all the Matched Doctor-To-Be!

~Chris

Dr. Christopher Yerington

Columbus, Ohio

Bio: Retired from clinical anesthesiology by a disability in 2010, Dr. Yerington has turned his love of teaching and service to others to his family, medical colleagues and community. He speaks, writes and educates medical groups and residency programs about the importance of great disability and life insurance, basic physician-financial literacy and work-life balance. Chris also consoles and counsels young doctors on stress, burnout and physician-suicide. Having attended law and business schools, Chris is a perpetual student of human life, a scientist and an optimistic futurist at heart.