Medical student reflections: The impact of changing aspirations and expectations on wellness

Abstract

As healthcare workers around the world teeter on the verge of burnout, exhaustion, and mental illness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this article seeks to discuss the wellbeing of a significant demographic: The medical students. We describe the effects of expectations on medical student wellness, whether regarding themselves, their college experience, their future, the profession, or the people around them. Recognizing these as potential sources of problems and future burnout, we propose possible interventions that could rectify these issues and promote their well-being.

Keywords

• medical student
• medical student expectations
• mental health
• wellness