Residency Insight -- A PRESENT Podiatry eZine

John Steinberg, DPM
PRESENT Editor
Assistant Professor,
Department of Plastic Surgery
Georgetown University
School of Medicine

Encore?!

So last night I went to the U2 Concert here in Washington DC. It was impressive to say the least. 90,000 fans, a multi-generational popular band, and an elaborate $40 million stage system called 'The Claw'. Being the media attention loving and iconic band that U2 is, they did a great job with the concert, the music and the show. I must say though that the whole concert 'encore' phenomenon always seems awkward to me. They played a great concert but obviously left out a few of their most popular songs, and then played the waiting game to come back and, of course, sing those last songs.

I remember another concert I attended over the summer where the artist opened with a disclaimer that there 'would be no encores'. She played a great concert, and when she said goodnight, she really meant goodnight. She was done. No standing and clapping and hollering wondering if we were good enough for her to bother to come back out again or not.


The 164 foot tower on stage with U2 for their current stadium tour is affectionately known as "The Claw"

Believe it or not, I have a residency tie in here! THERE IS NO CHANCE FOR AN ENCORE IN RESIDENCY. You have one chance to make your impressions on your attendings, learn what you need to learn, and do the cases you need to do. They are not working with the assumption that you are 'saving the best for last'. Think about it…this will likely be the only time in your life when you are actually PAID to learn. Yes, there is plenty of work that goes along with that learning, but you have to admit this is a unique opportunity.

The residency year is already 1/4 of the way complete. I challenge each of you to make the most of each case, each clinic patient, and each learning opportunity. Pretty soon you will be on stage all by yourself…

###