Stories of Resilience in Residency | Emory School of Medicine

John Diehl and Rachel McDiehl, second- and third-year Emory residents, welcomed a second baby into their busy lives during the COVID pandemic. They shared with us the challenges and joys of caring for patients on the front lines while caring for their growing family. They also offer tips for the incoming class of residents, as we look ahead to Match Day 2021.

Rachel McDiehl, 3rd year Gynecology and Obstetrics resident

“This year has been full of challenges, but one of the amazing things about it has been the connections through those challenges. Being a resident, a working parent, and living through a pandemic are all so incredibly hard, but there is a bittersweet camaraderie that comes from living through these experiences with others. I have connected with co-residents, attendings, nurses, surgical techs, and even patients about the challenges of having a second child, getting yet another Covid test, the hysterical things your toddler says, the joys of a cuddly (and sleepless) new baby, the pain of being isolated from loved ones, the long hours in the hospital, the daycare debacles, and more. Sharing our stories has strengthened our relationships and has helped me grow as a physician, a parent, and a fellow human being.”

Words of wisdom for incoming residents

“To our incoming residents I will say: be humble, be kind, be willing to listen, and be vulnerable enough to connect to our colleagues and your patients.”

John Diehl, 2nd year Emergency Medicine resident

“In addition to the typical challenges of being a resident (not enough time and not feeling like a good enough doctor), I face the challenge of not being present as much as I would like with my 2 children and wife who is in her OBGYN residency. Both residency and new parenting are such universal challenges, and doing them at the same time can feel like a lot. The reward is also HUGE. I truly live for the moments when Annina and Ruthie discover new things and my wife and I get to just soak it in. The silver linings on top of it all are the connections to others that arise from the shared experiences. That includes processing a hard shift with my wife, reconnecting with old friends who also have new kids, and sharing kid photos and stories with others on shift. I have a family photo on my badge, and I have made instant connections with a lot of patients who have pointed it out and asked about them.”

Words of wisdom for incoming residents

“My only advice for incoming residents is to remember that you will not be perfect or know everything, and that’s okay. At times you will not even be adequate and that’s okay too. You will make imperfect decisions both in patient care and in the rest of your life, just try to learn from them. That is normal. That is why we are in residency training, and that is why we call it a lifelong learning process.”