by Misha Fotoohi, MD
With the recent end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11th, 2023, I have been reflecting on how this unprecedented experience has shaped my experiences as a resident physician. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, healthcare workers found themselves on the front lines of a battle against an invisible enemy. For new resident physicians–such as myself–this meant facing unique challenges and experiences while learning how to transition from the role of student to physician.
Arguably the most significant challenge was the rapidly evolving situation with little information available. As the virus spread, protocols and guidelines were constantly changing and residents had to adapt quickly to keep up. This meant staying up to date on the latest research, learning new treatment protocols, and implementing new safety measures to protect ourselves and our patients. While we were trying to learn the basics of medicine, we were also navigating a global pandemic, something not experienced by most of our colleagues and mentors.
Another challenge was the emotional toll of caring for numerous patients who were severely ill or dying. It is not uncommon to face death head on a physician, but with Covid this experience was becoming a daily occurrence. With visitor restrictions in place, many of us became the only source of comfort and support for our patients. This sometimes looked like holding the hands of dying patients so they wouldn’t be alone, while donned in a yellow gowns, face masks and goggles, akin to a scene out of Quarantine or 28 Days Later. We tried to comfort families over the phone while simultaneously comforting ourselves. We did our best to remain calm and empathetic when facing accusation of lying about the virus or fabricating the severity of the illness.
The recent end to the PHE is almost apropos as I come to the final days of my residency training (at least for those of us completing 3-year programs). Almost like a cruel joke, the Universe decided that the resident physicians of the class of 2023 would be thrust into an almost unanimous traumatic experience unlike anything experienced before. Despite all of that, many of us were able to rise to the occasion and demonstrate incredible resilience and adaptability. While the PHE may technically be over the experiences of this historic time have undoubtedly changed our generation of physicians. As the pandemic continues to evolve, resident physicians will continue to play a critical role in the fight against COVID-19, and our experiences will continue to shape our future practice, as well as our future selves.
Misha Fotoohi was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno for her undergraduate studies while spending 4 years on their Division I Swimming & Diving Team. She attended medical school at UNR as well where she took interests in class leadership, teaching, and mentoring underrepresented students. Misha loves spending time outdoors with her dogs, Frances and Oswald, and casually enjoys hiking, skiing, and biking. She also enjoys many indoor activities including board games, puzzles, reading, and karaoke. Misha and her partner, Matt, couples matched in Utah; they were captivated with Salt Lake City, and they felt eager at the prospect of training with the people in their programs. She is interested in practicing full spectrum family medicine, being proficient at in-office procedures, and providing care for vulnerable populations (prison inmates, LGBTQ+, etc).
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