"On Being a Doctor" You sit there at the beginning of the final leg of your journey. You’re only four years way from fulfilling your dream. For some of you, this dream started many years ago. For some of you, this dream started in college. Some of you may think this dream may turn into a nightmare about to come true. I want you to stop for a moment and pick up a pen. On a blank sheet of paper, I would like you to write something for me. I want you to slowly and painstakingly write your signature on that paper and put the letters “MD” after it. I want you to stare at that signature for a moment and while you’re looking, think about what that “MD” means to you, to your family, and most importantly, to the patients who will come under your care. You haven’t worked up on a single patient yet. I’ve been a physician since before you were born. I wonder what work-up I’m coming on myself. My four hundred thousandth? I also wonder whether I’ve made some difference in the grand scheme of things. I sure hope so. For that’s what this dream is all about: making a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters on this planet. Medicine affords us an opportunity like no other profession to do just that- to get to know them in the most personal and intimate way and making them better off, not worse off for having known you. I hope you take that signature as serious then as you do now. Most of you out there have filled out countless applications of some sort explaining why you want to be a doctor. You may have hesitated to say you want to help people, thinking that people reading your application may view you as naïve, hokey, or unimaginative. But that’s what you should have meant, despite the half-truth you might have written down on the application. It goes even deeper than that. Medicine should be the equivalent of genuine love for your fellow person. Real willingness to try and relieve someone else’s suffering, regardless of the danger it might pose to yourself, regardless of how the suffering person got sick, regardless of whether in your opinion they brought the suffering on themselves, regardless of the hour or whether you’re on call or not, regardless of their beliefs or color, and especially regardless of whether they can pay you. I’m reminded of those brave physicians of the late 1800s and early 1900s who cared for patients with tuberculosis with a gentle tenderness and compassion, knowing full well that they would likely get TB at some point themselves. Greater love than this no man has then to lay down his life for his friend. Anyone can want to help someone who is nice, cooperative, or agreeable. Who doesn’t want to treat someone who is patient, stoic, share your philosophy of life, are attractive, are celebrities one sort of another, or are members of the Augusta National? What about the disheveled, belligerent drunk with rotten teeth and feted breath who has ruined his life who you are asked to see at 4am because he’s sick? This is the sort of a patient who separates the real doctors from the mere “healthcare providers”. How will you speak to your colleagues about him? Will you call him a troll, a GOMER, a dump from another hospital, train wreck, or whatever disparaging term might be invoked when you hit the wards? I hope not. Because here’s an opportunity to show what you’re made of. That hopefully brought you to where you sit now- genuine love and respect for your fellow man, however unlikely your willingness, your kindness, your compassion can turn his life around, or your lack of it could just harden him further. The bottom line is this: If you do not have genuine love in your heart for people, get out now before you go any further. If you’re in it for the prestige or the certain lifestyle because your mother or father was a doctor, you may be brilliant and skilled and have all the tools, but medicine is not your vocation. Go do something else. For those of you who believe a physician is what you’re destined to be, don’t let medicine devour you. Don’t wait on more patients and responsibilities simply to make car payments, mortgage payments, or country club dues. You may hurt someone if you’re overwrought. Take good care of the number of patients you can handle and be content with the income that it may bring you. You won’t starve. Your family needs you at home, your children need to recognize you on sight, and finally don’t allow yourselves to be like so many medical school classes everywhere to “suffer through medical school” together, mean spirited, cut throat and competitive, hoping others did worse on an exam than you did, whining, complaining, toughing it out, and counting on the number of days until you’re through. When you do hit the wards, don’t be sucked in by an intern or resident who is angry at the world and considers a night on call a good one if no patients needed an admission and talks about patients as “hits”. How many hits did you get last night? Some preparation for love of your fellow person that is. You and I might not even be here tomorrow. If today is our last day on earth, let’s make it a day that we could be proud of, where we had a joyful outlook, gave our assigned responsibilities our best effort and made the people who came to play a part in our life today better off for having encountered us. That will often be one of your patients, but it may be one of your classmates, one of your professors, or even the person who sweeps up. Tomorrow will have to take care of itself. It’s not easy to live this way, but you know in your hearts that I am speaking the truth and if you will only embrace this philosophy, you will not find yourself “wishing your life away” as so many of us do. You can close your eyes each night less anxious about some far-off goal and really be enjoying life’s journey and all of the great people, events, and beauty in it. And one of these days, the Good Lord willing, you can sign your name with an MD after it and really know what it means. Carpe diem, brothers and sisters. Seize the day.

@MissVee2024

24 күн бұрын

This speech is beautiful.

@treecejohnson144

24 күн бұрын

Speechless❤

This speech has driven me to tears. I’ve been looking for so long trying to figure out what my true purpose is. I aimlessly went into engineering hoping I could make a difference, Got scolded by politically driven corporate types when trying to make positive impacts in areas of income disadvantaged areas, after a year of this I had lost my purpose . After many months of investigating the possibility of medical school this video was the final nail in the coffin for me, I’ve found my true vocation in the medicine and a practice for me to truly commit the highest degree of good that I can to my fellow brothers and sisters of the world. Congratulations on your success and may god bless you.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

to be able to document the speech we all hear and spread its impact beyond the walls of my medical school is exactly what i wanted to do. so happy to hear it impacting so many :)

@renierpupo9669

5 күн бұрын

Status update I’ve successfully transferred into a Bioengineering Program with a Pre Med track! Looking forwards to the journey :D

Leaving this comment here for the hopeful med school graduate me. I may be a premed right now, but let's see where this goes. Also, ND MD, your channel is a source of inspiration for me, and people like you are why I went into medicine.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

@mayaholt4574

15 күн бұрын

You’ve got this! I’m about to finish my M1 year and, thinking back to premed, I remember how out of reach this used to feel. Now I’m seeing my upperclassmen graduate and that MD feels so close. Being premed can feel defeating and the goal seems so far away but if you put in the hours and work hard you will find yourself where you want to be! Good luck on your journey!

Congratulations Dr Nguyen. The world is a better place for you are in it.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

aw thank you so much :)

This had me bawling like a baby.❤ SO MUCH wisdom, truth, and necessary insight in this one video. I feel better for hearing the words he spoke. What a privilege, I'm certain, for you to have heard it yourself as a new medical student. Thank you for sharing this. It was life-altering. Congratulations on your graduation!!! May your next journey through anesthesia residency be a blessed one.🤗😁

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

ah that means so much :)

That was truly an excellent speech. Congratulations, Andy, and the entire class of 2024!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

My deepest and sincere congratulations, Andy, M.D., on your graduation and your willingness to share these foundational beliefs in what your vocation as a doctor will entail. May God bless your life as a physician. I look forward to the adventures you will have that you may choose to share with us.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much for watching and supporting all this time :)

Andyyyy!!!!! YOU DID IT!!!! Congratulations dude! You’re going to be such a good doctor 😭😭♥️♥️

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

beautiful speech. huge accomplishment. best wishes to you 💐

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations Dr. ND🎊🎉!!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you! :)

Congratulations 🎊 👏 This brought me to tears! Super beautiful words! God bless you in the new chapter thats coming, never give up!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

Great video and congrats! By chance I just watched your asking 73 questions to Dr Cellini. Excellent job on that. All the best to you!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Beautiful speech, I feel like its addressing me, personally because this has been my dream since forever and now im in college doing my undergrad. Looking forward to the best in my life and happily wishing you a big, large Congratulations 🎉🎉, you are finally an M.D.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :) hope i could document the speech to last forever

Had to hold back tears the whole video. Congrats doc, well deserved.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

I’ve been watching your videos for a few years now. It’s been wonderful to watch you progress from a first or second year med student to matching, and now graduation. I started my own journey in medicine last august and now, finishing my first year of med school, I know that I’ll experience that same feeling someday. Thanks for the insight into what lies ahead, and congratulations.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much and congratulations to you finishing up first year :) you got plenty to look forward to

I loved the speech Thank you for sharing Good luck with your residency. You’re gonna be a great anesthesiologist

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

This is most beautiful thing for any medical student love your journey and try to create mine ....❤❤ congrats 🎉

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

One of THEEE most brilliant speeches I've ever heard in Medicine. Thank you for sharing it with us. Thank you for sharing your journey with so many of us. Congratulations on your graduation; we can't wait to see what the next chapter of your journey holds!!!!

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you :)

Congratulations, Dr. Nguyen, MD! I still remember when you were probably in your second year or so and I can't believe you're already off to residency! I wish you the best in your future journey, and look forward to different but still as interesting videos.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

hahaha time goes by so fast. thank you :)

Following your journey through medical school and watching your go from ‘ND MD’ to ‘ND M.D.” has been a great pleasure. I cannot wait for the day when I get to experience what you’re experiencing now. You, Andy, are going to be a wonderful doctor that I’ll endlessly look up to. Go, Dr. Andy!🫶

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you for following along :)

Congratulations Andy!! You’ll be a fantastic doctor 🎉your channel has renewed my interest in medicine ❤ Best of luck and HEAPS of blessings on your journey through residency!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much! :)

Congratulations Dr Andy!!! Have a bright and wonderful journey at Yale

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

I am coming to the end of my premed and I have been scared of medicine because the way people complain about the workload but after this I am convinced I am not going to be a great doctor but THE PEOPLE'S DOCTOR. Thank you and congratulations DR ND

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

You got this :)

Congratulations, Andy M.D.! This speech is addressed to me 😢. I will come back to it, again. And again. Congratulations, once again.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations Andy! I really enjoy watching your videos and your journey when I was a pre-med and now a rising M2. Keep up the amazing work and love 💖

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :) you got something to look forward to

@deborahchen1441

23 күн бұрын

@@NDMD Woohoo!!

Congratulations, Andy!🎉 on achieving your Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.), a remarkable accomplishment🩺! Sharing the pilgrimage and historic moment of your commencement ceremony 🏆❤️. Cheers 🥂🍾 to the beginning of a fantastic journey!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations, I'm very happy for you. You will be a great doctor !

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

Bawling my eyes out over here!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations 🎉 It’s been a journey indeed, there’s surely greater things ahead for you, may all your hard work be rewarded 💕

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

CONGRATULATIONS ND!!! We're all proud of you and we loved your videos, and future stories 🎉🎉🎉. Indeed, even if today may be the last day of our lives, let us make this day to celebrate.

@Ethanvaladez637

24 күн бұрын

Carpe diem

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

Congrats bro!! My goal one day is to become an anesthesiologist and you have been so englighting to not only the good side but the bad/not so fun sides of medical school. A lot of med influencers like to paint a pretty picture but we all know it can be rough. I hope I make it to your point one day and thank you for helping solidify my want to become a physician one day.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Wow, this was so wonderful to watch. Aspiring to be, one day.

Congratulations 🎈🎊🍾🎉!!!! That is wonderful!!

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you :)

love love love love love love this video. Things I didn't expect today was crying in the silent library. Wishing you years of continued success Doc!

@NDMD

11 күн бұрын

haha thank you man :) you got something to look forward to

Wonderful! Congratulations, DR. ND!!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Im currently a premed atm, that was such an inspiring speech. Congratulations on all your hard work :)

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you:)

This was beautiful, from the script to the video and all the artistry in between. An inspiration as I too embark on this new phase. Congrats, Andy!

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you so much!

Congrats Andy, M.D.!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you! :)

Congrats Dr.Andy!!! I have been watching your videos since my freshman year of high school to this year of my last days of HS and your Last your of med school. I want to offer my congrats and thanks for the inspirations your videos provide. I've grown my passion wanting to go on this medical journey from being inspired form your videos you created. Thank you for being so real and showing the highs and lows of your journey I wish nothing but the best for you! Continue to Rise Up!!!

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you for watching all this time :)

Changing the channel name is iconic - congrats!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

hahaha long time coming

Congratulations Andy!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulationss Dr. Andy, finally! Had been in the works for so long!! So proud of you 🫶🏽🫶🏽

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :) supporting from the very beginning

Congratulations Dr Andy !!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

this was amazing!! so proud of you Andy! can’t wait to see the next chapter of your life:)

Blessings and good luck Dr. Andy in your medical career and life.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

Congratulations Dr. Andy Nguyen! So proud of you brother!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you! :)

Congrats on becoming a Doctor! Wow this brought tears to my eyes as I want to embody those attributes as a doctor that the narrator spoke about!

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you :)

Congrats Dr Andy! :D I have followed you since day one, and it's so cool to se your next chapter! :)

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :) its been a long journey

Congrats ND, thank you for all your videos!! Best wishes for a successful residency!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

You are going to be a wonderful doctor!!!! 🎉. Your patients will be lucky. I think you will make important contributions to the field of medicine. I have loved ❤ your videos.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Wonderful video Dr. Nguyen, congratulations on this major accomplishment

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Congratulations 🎉🎉❤❤, you're my real inspiration ❤❤❤😊😊

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

@HopeMusunsa-uw4yd

23 күн бұрын

@@NDMD You're most welcome 😊❤️❤️

So proud and excited to see where you will go in life friend! Very deserving of this day 🎉

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

In 4 years it will be Dr Hamna and Dr Darab In sha Allah

Teared up watching this. You’re going to do great things and have already done great things. The best is yet to come. Congratulations Dr. Nguyen!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

I will watch later, but wanted to say congrats!!!!!!!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

I normally don’t comment but what a video congrats on graduating what journey it must’ve been and what a journey it’ll be! This was a great video! Watching this video today really rose my spirits as I finish my first year of medical school it was a hell of a journey to get to this point and watching this really put some fire back in me to try to finish this year and remember why I am here after so many of the highs and lows that I went through and grew through to get to this point. What a journey it’s been and what a journey it’ll be and I’m looking forward to what the future brings for us! Cheers

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you so much and best of luck in your own med school journey!! You got this :)

Congratulations, as a student currently getting my bachelors in history, one day I will be able to get into medical school too and walk the stage as well, having the feeling of accomplishment.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :) and you got this!

Amazing video! 😇

Congrats Doc🎉🎉

Congrats Andy!!! Your videos have always inspired me when things got tough in Med. Gl in residency!! 🥳

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you :)

Congats!!!!

Congratulations Andy 💐

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations Dr.Andy!!! Well done!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congrats Andy!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations 🎉❤

Beautiful… just beautiful ❤

Amazing work!!! You earned it.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you! :)

WOOOO!! IM SO PROUD OF YOU, DOC! 🤍🤍

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Great video.... doc. ❤

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations !!!!!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Lovely video. Oh, and cute friends.

Congratulations ❤

Congrats brother!!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

Congratulations

Congratulations ❤️❤️❤️

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations Dr.

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congrats. You're an inspiration to me

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you :)

Congratulations!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

incredible bro. congrats.

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Congrats brother ❤❤

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations Doctor!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Proud of you!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations 🎉

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

❤

Congrats again

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you!

@Ssan774

16 күн бұрын

@@NDMD can’t wait for your new accomplishments in the future

Coffee 🥳👏🎊🎊

Congratulations, ND M.D.!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

congrats! coffee

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

👏🏾😌

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you! :)

gz

Congratulations!

@NDMD

19 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Congratulations Andy!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)

Congratulations!!!!

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you so much :)

Congratulations

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you! :)

Congratulations

@NDMD

23 күн бұрын

thank you :)