Catherine Mobley English 111 September 26, 2013 280 words Essay Rave

Mobley 1

Defining a Doctor, with a Tear, a Shrug, and a Schedule by Abigail Zuger is an excellently written comparative essay that effectively illustrates the change in the productivity of medical interns. In her essay, Zuger compares two exceptionally different medical students. The first intern is characterized by their substandard work ethic and apathy towards their patients. The second intern is depicted as perpetually exhausted and completely invested in their job. By emphasizing the extreme differences in the two interns schedules, Zuger successfully outlines the effectiveness of their methods and their role in future medicine. Both interns, as indicated by Zuger, were essentially flawed. The first intern, while organized and punctual, only fulfilled the bare minimum requirements of their position. The second intern, while obviously dedicated to their patients health, was often left fatigued and prone to mistakes because of their total commitment to their job. According to Zuger, the first intern is the intern of the future because, unlike the traditional intern (represented by the second intern), they demand organization and teamwork in the workplace. Zuger concludes that neither intern is fundamentally wrong in their system of caregiving, but she asserts that emotional investment is a critical element in future medicine. Zuger clearly has an intimate understanding of the elements that are required of a wallfunctioning hospital and the role of human nature in modern medicine. It is true that doctors and hospital staff must perform their required duties so that patients receive the best care possible. However, due to the inevitable shortcomings of human beings, doctors must also possess enough dedication to accomplish tasks beyond their exact job description. Overall, her essay was perfectly structured and very insightful.