Day 1 Residency #1: Your Patient #patientcare #patientcarefirst

It's Day 1 of residency, and one of your most important collaborations is about to begin: your partnership with your patients. And if you're in need of a pep talk before the big day, this episode is for you. In this season premiere of Specialty Café, co-host Sharmin Zahin speaks with patient partner, educator and advocate Karen Firus (University of British Columbia) about what patients need from physicians to build truly collaborative relationships. Actually, let's backtrack. Karen is an artist who loves magenta, root beer floats, and funky hairdos. She's a human first... and that's exactly the point. Drawing on more than 40 years of living with a complex chronic illness, Karen shares powerful lessons on trust, active listening, empathy, authenticity, patient-centred care, and the importance of seeing the person behind the diagnosis. She also shares vulnerable moments from her healthcare journey and the physician who changed her life by simply believing her. For residents starting their training this July, Karen offers an encouraging reminder: patients are cheering for you. You don't need to be perfect. You need to be human. One of many key takeaways? Pack your emotional backpack with curiosity, openness, enthusiasm, kindness, and mutual respect. Your patients may become some of your greatest allies. Whether you're starting residency, preparing for CaRMS, or reflecting on the kind of physician you hope to become, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from the patient - human! - perspective. #Residency #residencytips #medchool #medstudent #medvlog