WHEN I look around my clinic, I remember my own residency graduation in 1992 at Manila Doctors Hospital and cardiology fellowship training at the UP PGH. Those pictures are joyful and inspiring.

That was 32 years ago. Most of you were in grade school then. Twenty four years ago, I had as much hair as you do now. I was as fit, as energetic, as optimistic as most of you now. Twenty four years ago, I remember my parents being proudly here as your parents are here now.

Twenty four years ago, almost a quarter of a century ago, I felt proud and assured that I had what it would take to embark on a journey of becoming a truly exemplary physician.

That journey took me to many points and many milestones—some were clearly and intentionally programmed—others were simply by accident — a few were desirably surprising but every step provided me with lessons that brought me to a better and deeper understanding of the whole journey itself.

Today, I speak to you as a co-wayfarer, co-believer, co-dreamer, albeit older, and share with you some reflections and recollections of my own journey as a resident in this august institution. I speak to you, as an elder brother, who is both proud of what you have attained and accomplished yet a bit anxious about the countless more challenges that you have to weather as you continue your journey.

I shall attempt to be the voice of your parents and your families, who unquestionably believe in you and your capacities yet manifest the most wide-ranging and complex expectations from you , what you can do and what you can be.

I therefore address you in cheer and in prayerful wish that you will never stop pondering on the lessons of life which your journey offers.

What I remember most from my residency are lessons in four themes:

1. Hard work.

2. Passion.

3. Real education.

4. Gift of friendship.

Hard work and Passion

Hard work during the residency years were manifested in long hours, punishing workloads and tedious endorsements. brought to an extreme, it could mean neglect of self and disregard for one’s wellbeing.

Passion is the great emotional commitment to want to do the things that one does. It pushes one to the limits of his/her abilities and on the process, builds an inconsumable energy that fuels the person.

The one thing we always hear from our mentors is hard work or effort. However, there are several traps here. First, how do we grade effort? By staying up and going home late at night? Or the long and tedious endorsements on a daily basis? Is it learning at the bedside with the patient as the real teacher?

How do we measure hard work? Some people believe that having a good work ethic means willingness to slave away for 60 to 80 hours a week. We need work life balance in our life. I have seen doctors forgetting their families, their spirituality, and even their own physical health. Some are doing rounds till the wee hours of the morning gulping huge amounts of caffeine sodas and drinks and sleep every half hour for 5 min in their clinics. Hard work almost meant like a prison sentence.

Your medical training has given you something that can serve as your fuel as you continue your journey – that’s passion. Hard workers do things because they have to. People with passion do things because they want to. Hard work consumes energy and easily tires you while passion builds up force and commitment and push you to the limits of your abilities.

These twin virtues differentiate the good resident from an exemplary resident. Hard work and passion are what brought you to your status now. Don’t lose them; you shall lose steam if you do. Don’t abuse them – for strength brought to an extreme becomes a weakness.

Education. Real education.

Residents learn from books, cases, practice, discussion and inquisitive explorations and questions. Exemplary residents learn from any touchpoint – every human interface as well as technology enabled platforms and channels that allow him/her to experience the privilege and gift of being co-healer, co-wellness propagator and advocate.

We have real education when we place ourselves in the position of our patients. It is when we are sick that we fully feel the full impact of the medical practice, that we get an insight about the patient that we “treat”, or rather – we help “treat themselves”.

We have real education when we are taught by our profession to be truly human, fully aware of our profession’s powers and limitations at the same time.

I had three confinements — 2 ACL injuries, urinary stones and recently melena due to gastritis and diarrhea. Try to get sick. I don’t mean to wish you bad health here. Don’t get too sick. Just sick enough to need to see a doctor. It’s a different view from the other end of the stethoscope. The tests and treatments you thought were so cheap are not so cheap when you’re the one paying! The three-hour wait outside?

That isn’t as short as you thought. And the personal touch we oftentimes take for granted– it’s more important than we thought. For many physicians, including myself, getting sick is a life-changing event. You will be kinder, more caring, and more understanding, more discriminating in your prescriptions. You’ll probably start scheduling your patients, and making sure you see them on time. Real education happens when a doctor becomes a patient.

Real education hones our knowledge, skills and polishes our competencies in the specialization areas we opted to focus on. Real education is also recognizing that we are not mere technicians and interventionists. Real education makes us truly human.

Gift of friendship

To end, by far one of the most important lessons in residency is the lesson in friendship. This is something we didn’t get from books , lectures or from the rounds. This is something we have learned from each other. So savor this last moment of training and look around you. Look at the wonderful friends you have found. Say your goodbyes for now – You don’t know this yet – your co residents and co fellows are unlike any.

They will last forever. You may be parting ways now, but your paths will cross again regardless of the specialty you have chosen. Your futures might be diversed but your values will remain one and the same.

I also hope that you will come back here years from now and reflect on what you have done with your talent and your gift. I hope you will judge yourselves not on your professional accomplishments alone, but also on how well you have addressed the country’s deepest needs and inequities and on how well you treated people.

There are thousands of physicians in our midst. Imagine what we can do if we as individuals and as a community truly spark and ignite inspiration that move and change the world around us.

Hard work. Passion. Real education. Gift of friendship.

Now allow me to add with a final word of advice. Your training here wasn’t just meant to make you good practitioners or teachers or researchers. You were trained to be something more – to be leaders.

Don’t you ever doubt it. Believe. Have faith in yourselves. For your elders have great faith and hope on you. We believe in you.

So you will take risks, and you will have failures. But it’s what happens afterward that is defining. A failure often does not have to be a failure at all. However, you have to be ready for it—will you admit when things go wrong? Will you take steps to set them right?—because the difference between triumph and defeat, you’ll find, isn’t about willingness to take risks. It’s about mastery of oneself.

We are immensely proud of all of you, and what you have done during your stay. You are one of ours. Graduates, thank you for touching our lives.

Now go out and change the world – one step at a time, always starting with yourself. May God, in His Infinite Wisdom, bless you and guide you in your journey, every step of the way.

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Anthony C. Leachon, M. D.

Independent Health Reform Advocate

Past President,
Philippine College of Physicians

Department of Internal Medicine
Manila Doctors Hospital