Who Will You Learn From?

Welcome back to Ending Physician Overwhelm! As we head into the last week of August 2025 and prepare for back-to-school season, it's time to think about something we do constantly as physicians: learning.

The Evolution of Medical Learning

You've been a professional learner your entire career. Medical school, residency, fellowship, boards, CME requirements - you've mastered the art of absorbing information and passing tests. But here's the question that might change everything: Who are you actually learning from?

If you're like most of us who trained in the early 2000s, your medical education came primarily from older white men reading the same traditional journals and following conventional pathways. While this wasn't inherently wrong, it created a narrow lens that may no longer serve you - or your patients.

Breaking Out of Traditional Learning Boxes

As medicine evolves, so should your sources of knowledge. Whether you're exploring:

• Obesity medicine (where traditional training left massive gaps)
• Menopause care (practically non-existent in most curricula thanks to the WHI study fallout)
• Lifestyle medicine approaches
• New practice models that prioritize patient connection

You need voices that reflect the reality of modern healthcare delivery, not just academic theory.

The Current Medical Learning Landscape

Here's what's happening right now that affects how you learn:

Traditional resources are under threat: With political forces dismantling institutions like ACIP and creating uncertainty around CDC guidance, you're losing historically reliable sources of information.

AI is changing everything: Your residents and students are using AI tools that you may not fully understand, yet you're expected to guide them safely through this new landscape.

Diversity of voices matters: The patients you serve come from all backgrounds - shouldn't your teachers reflect that diversity too?

Finding Your New Learning Path

Ask yourself these critical questions:

• Who is doing the work the way you want to do it?
• Are you open to being challenged and learning new approaches?
• Can you unlearn outdated information that's no longer serving your patients?
• How will you vet new sources of information in an era of compromised traditional resources?

Practical Steps for Better Learning

Seek out practitioners who:

• Are actively treating patients (not just publishing papers)
• Offer practical, real-world applications
• Discuss the full picture including costs, side effects, and patient experience
• Challenge traditional approaches with evidence-based alternatives

Consider learning formats beyond traditional CME:

• Podcasts from practicing physicians
• Courses from specialists doing the work
• Mentorship from independent practitioners
• Books and resources from diverse voices in medicine

The Power