How Identity Has Influenced a Resident Psychiatrist's Career at Yale School of Medicine
Lacking family connections in medicine, Robert proactively sought mentors, "knocking on their door" and volunteering time to gain career guidance. This resourceful approach, compensating for the absence of familial professional networks, allowed Robert to successfully navigate their path to becoming a Resident Psychiatrist at Yale School of Medicine.
Mentorship, Career Navigation, Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Robert Palmer
Resident Psychiatrist
Yale School of Medicine
University of Southern California
Yale School of Medicine (MD)
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Medical
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Robert's passion for medicine and psychiatry led him to pursue a career in the field despite lacking family connections in the medical profession.
2. He actively sought out mentors to guide his career, demonstrating resourcefulness and initiative.
3. His experience highlights the importance of mentorship and networking in navigating a career path, even without familial connections in the field.
Transcript
Q13: How identity impacted career
As someone who didn't have immediate connections in the field, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
I had a lot of passion for medicine and psychiatry, but I didn't have any family members in those professions. So, I kind of had to figure a lot of this out on my own.
What was helpful was finding mentors who were much further along in their careers. I'd approach them and ask if they'd be willing to take me under their wing.
I volunteered my time and tried to help them in various ways. In exchange, I received general career advice and life wisdom. I realize this was a bit outside the box.
Many people apply to medical school because they have family members who are doctors. I didn't have that personal connection to guide me through the process.
So, it involved a lot of reading online and finding personal mentors. While it would have been helpful to have a family member's guidance, I was able to make it work.
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