How to Be a Good Physician

And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 1 Samuel 18:23

In medical school, I learned the science behind medicine in the classroom, from professors. The actual practice of medicine, however, was largely learned in the clinic and the hospital, from physicians. It was there, in the exam room and at the bedside, that I observed my assigned physician while he or she cared for the patient. It wasn’t just medicine that I learned though. I also learned behavior. As I watched, I saw how each physician interacted with patients, nurses, and other physicians. I witnessed terrible behavior – arrogance, tantrums, berating, and cruelty – and I vowed never to be like that. I also witnessed noble behavior – kindness, compassion, gentleness, and humility – and I wanted to be like that. I’d like to say that, as a physician myself now, I’ve always displayed noble behaviors. But, particularly in the throes of my addiction, I have been unkind, arrogant, and condescending. Now, attempting to live every day in faith and recovery, I strive to be consistently kind and humble, because that’s the person I want to be. That’s the person I think God wants me to be.

Always choose humility. For me, that’s the lesson of today’s passage. In the story, King Saul offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to David. When Saul’s servants delivered the offer, David replied out of humility. He didn’t have the money for a dowry. He wasn’t royalty. He was a nobody. It’s important to remember though, that at this point, David had already been secretly anointed by Samuel as the next king. David had already defeated Goliath, and the people sang his praises in the streets. David could have let all this go to his head and responded out of entitlement. But he didn’t. Instead, he remained humble and that humility served him well.

I can’t stand arrogance in others. It’s exasperating and it’s annoying. Yet, in my self-centeredness, I’m often tempted to embrace arrogance – Who’s the doctor? That’s not who I want to be though. And that’s not who I think God wants me to be. So, daily, I must choose humility. This doesn’t mean I can’t be confident. Arrogance and confidence are not the same. David strode confidently out to face Goliath, yet he remained humble. Likewise, Jesus was utterly confident in the message he carried, but he carried and delivered it with kindness and humility. As a physician, I can follow in the footsteps of those whom I admire. And, as a Christian, I must follow Christ, striving to become more like him every day. Always choose humility.