Bennett Davis, MD
The transition from medical school to residency was always going to be a daunting experience. The newfound responsibility of patient care that comes with intern year is a massive adjustment. This year, that responsibility was ubiquitous with the uncertainty of a global pandemic.
Early in 2020, Magnolia Regional received initial accreditation to start an Emergency Medicine Residency. This endeavor had been a work-in-process for several years. It has been well recognized there is a large disparity of board-certified Emergency Medicine physicians in rural Mississippi. The program at Magnolia was founded with the goal of filling those gaps in care. I had the opportunity of joining the inaugural Emergency Medicine Class at Magnolia Regional, along with five other interns. Throughout the year we have faced much of the same ambiguity present all over the world. It seemed to be a weekly occurrence that COVID policies were altered, added, or removed. Learning a new hospital system while also remaining up to date on current recommendations was challenging. From boarding patients in the Emergency Department for days and prescribing home oxygen, every day we were faced with new and unfamiliar struggles. Despite all of this, we remained vigilant and provided the best emergency care we could while also integrating within the hospital.
Now, with the massive vaccination roll-out, the worst of the pandemic seems to be behind us. In two short months, we will be welcoming a new intern class. These six new interns, from towns scattered across the Southeast United States, all share the same goal of providing excellent Emergency Medical care in areas that need it the most. While the sentiment of change remains, each day I am more hopeful and encouraged at what the future holds. I look forward to serving as an upper level and sharing all I have learned over the past year.
>> Up Next: Our Workforce: A Senior Resident’s Perspective, by Dustin Bratton, MD