Current Issue: (2026)
True North

Silence is embedded into the life of medical students. Silence pierces the air when you are standing in the back of a patient room observing the conversation, feet aching, wondering if your presence is unnecessary and overwhelming for the patient. We are transient members of the healthcare team. We contribute to patient medical records with out notes and bedside conversations, yet we lack power in the system---the authority to sign orders, be responsible to true coordination of care, the autonomy that residents wield to make healthcare decisions.

It is easy to lose your sense of self in this silence. We are constantly watching our moves to make sure we don’t derail the efficiency of the team, waiting for a sign of approval that our differential diagnosis or plan is on the right track, or grasping at the educational moment we’ve been waiting for all morning during rounds.

This waiting is not passive though. It is in these silent moments of observation that we have been forging out True North, our guiding star.

Residents may be handling all the logistics, but we are able to be present in the moment for our patients without the pressure of a pager or overflowing to-do list. This is how we decide what type of physicians we want to become. We are building our internal compass--the moral and ethical framework--that will guide our thought processes for years to come.

We often obsess over finding our purpose. Hoping that a lightning bolt will hit us and the answer will justify the struggles and uncertainty we’ve been wading through for years.

The truth is, that answer may not be revealed in one single moment, but rather a series of experiences that keep our compass needle moving. It could be in the 10 extra minutes we spent listening to a grandmother’s love story at bedside, or appreciating how a mentor handled delivering news of a difficult diagnosis with grace.

This Quill & Scope issue is dedicated to that search. Don’t wait for the destination, rather enjoy the journey.

With Warmth,
Quill & Scope, 18th E-board