Messages of support from clinicians to students

Medical students said they are worried about the impact of the work action on their interactions with their supervisors and on future careers, so McGill’s clinical faculty members wrote to them to express their support for students during this period. Messages are presented in the original language in which they were submitted.
 

The hospitals and clinics feel empty without you. Your contributions are missed. We can't wait to welcome you back. Thank you. I am VERY VERY sorry this is falling on you. 
Anonymous

Dear med students, as the medical student liaison at the royal Vic in otolaryngology, I have to tell you that calling you and telling you to stay home was one of the hardest moments I’ve had as a professor. We know how hard you’ve been working to get into our program, and we really hope this ends soon so we can continue to get to know you, work with you, and eventually accept you into our program. You all acted maturely, and supportively. We appreciated that response and hope to see you soon! 
Jonathan Young

It breaks our ❤️ to do these pressure tactics but our heart would be even more broken if you started your career in a broken 💔 system where the health of patients and healthcare workers don't matter. Don't worry, we will help help you catch up when we get back. Take this time to study, catch up on things, recharge and sleep! 
Dre M Dandavino

We are all so sorry that you are caught in the middle of our work action.  We are so grateful for your sacrifices.  We will all work together to get you back on track when all of this is over 
Dr Hazel

Dear students, I know the past days have been intense and that the current situation surrounding Law 106 has added to the pressure you are already experiencing in your training. Please know that we are fully aware of these challenges and that our actions are also carried out with your future in mind. We are deeply committed to ensuring that you will thrive as future physicians in a health care system that recognizes your value and allows you to practice in the best possible conditions. We will be back to teach you soon, and we very much look forward to continuing our journey together. In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and remember that your dedication, resilience, and compassion are what will ultimately shape the future of medicine. With encouragement and confidence in you all, 
Dr. Geneviève Bernard

I currently see patients 0.5 days/wk and no longer teach. With 40 years of experience as a clinician, teacher, researcher and patient, I don’t think there are any good options;  we must pick the best of bad options. 
I remember being a med student and the stress. My thoughts were necessarily about short-term objectives. This work action could delay your career for a few months or even a year. Not a good option.
But the proposed law will affect those in Quebec for the next few decades. For example, I will lose my own personal family physician of over 50 years because I now live more than 50km from his office. With all the other negative consequences, this seems like a worse option.
We are trying to safeguard the career of Quebec physicians, and safety / treatment of your patients for the next decades. A strategy to achieve long-term objectives will, in the end, be much more beneficial to you overall, both professionally and personally. 
Stay Strong.
Anonymous

Dear medical students and future colleagues,
I know it has been an exceptionally challenging time for you with teaching on pause from specialist physicians, and all of the uncertainty it brings. I also appreciate all of your support in helping to show the government all of the ways that bill 106 will harm our healthcare system and those who work (and will work) in it.
I also wanted to share that am deeply conflicted about these pressure tactics (and I know so many of my colleagues are as well) because of how it directly affects you as medical students. At the same time, I worry that there is no “good” course of action to work together to convince the government to withdraw bill 106 and propose alternatives to healthcare reform. My hope is that working together is the quickest way to get the government to change course, so that we can improve our healthcare system, for now and for the future. For all of us. And that includes you, the future doctors, our future colleagues. 
Dr. Naomi

My heart goes out to you all during this difficult time in your medical trajectory. We are well aware how challenging the uncertainty must be. It may seem hard to believe but I think we will all come out of this stronger than before. Your diligence and hard work will not go unnoticed simply because of this situation.We thank you for your patience, your support, and your understanding through this all! 
Dr. Saman Ahmad

Dear McGill Med Students,
We know this time has been difficult, and we want you to remember how much we admire your resilience and dedication. We are genuinely heartbroken to have had to pause working with you—it’s one of the most meaningful parts of our days.
You’re an important part of our teams, and we can’t wait to get back to teaching and learning together. Hang in there—you’ve got this, we are in this together. 
J-S Pelletier

Chers étudiants et étudiantes. Soyez assurés que tout est fait pour ne pas ajouter d'autres discontinuités dans votre apprentissage du magnifique métier de médecin. Le proverbe disant que ''Le temps perdu ne se rattrape jamais'' est en fait une grande exagération. Des solutions de remplacement sont planifiées, ou déjà en place.
Anonyme

Dearest medical students,
We know and understand that this a stressful time for you, the work actions are weighing heavy on you and we feel so torn knowing that you have to carry this weight with us.
Please know that we are all in this together, we are hoping with all our hearts that our actions today will benefit you tomorrow. 
We cannot wait to get back to what we love: teaching you, caring for patients together. Please do not worry, we will be there for you when the work actions are over and we will go out of our way to minimize the impact on you and your future plans. 
Stay strong. And thank you for your support.
Dr Maya Cholette-Tétrault

Dear future colleagues, I miss interacting with you as you ask the best questions! For those of you with whom I have had the opportunity to work directly with as you explore your interest in Surgery, your letters of support are ready to go for your CaRMS applications. I wish all of the class every success in your professional journey! I look forward to working with more of you after this work action helps us achieve a better work environment for all of us in the future!
Dr. SAF

Don't be discouraged. You are entering the most exciting and rewarding profession on earth. There will be times of professional negotiations that may disrupt our normal routines, but in the end we will continue to serve our patients to the best of our abilities. Be proud.
Dr. Dalton

The impact of our current situation on you and on your training is deeply concerning to us all. Please know that you are not forgotten. You are our future colleagues and the future of medicine in our province. I hope this is all over soon and we can get back to teaching and learning together.
Liane Feldman

Dear students,
Please know that all your clinical teachers are thinking of you in this difficult time. We, the residents and the patients miss the invaluable contributions you make to our learning environment and to the care of patients. Your solidarity is meaningful to us all. We know it will help create a better future for healthcare and medical education in Quebec. I personally cannot wait to get back to teaching and learning from each of you.
Dr. Sternszus

Dear Students,
In these uncertain times, we feel your doubts and your worries, but we appreciate your support in fighting for the autonomy of our profession, which will soon be your profession! We are committed to making sure that everyone graduates with the clinical skills and knowledge that characterize McGill medical students. We look forward to seeing you back on the wards soon!
Dr. Simon Bergman

Dear students,
I miss you…we all do I’m sure!
Can’t wait to have you back at the MGH CCU. We’ll teach and we’ll learn together. Oh, what fun we’ll have! And after… oh, the places you’ll go! (With pardon to the great Dr Seuss).
In the meantime, this too shall pass.
Until then…thinking of you always.
Dr K

Med1s and Med2s: you have got this! You are going to be ok -- keep studying, form your own study groups to really marinate in the material.
Med3s and Med4s: we are doing this for your future careers and the independence of the professions. Keep honing your skills -- we are still working on your CaRMS applications!
Dr. G

Dear Students,
I know that the current situation is destabilizing and concerning. Please know that as one of your clinical supervisors and a site director for Emergency Medicine, I am thinking of you and the impact this work action has on you. While I believe we must act to change the government's decisions, I regret the impact it is having on you. Please know that I, and I am sure many others, are continuing to write CARMS reference letters and do what we can to help you throughout this process. I am looking forward to the changes this work action will bring and to getting back to teaching all of you. Hang in there.
Dr. Sara Ahronheim

We’re standing up for our profession and our patients. Teaching is paused, but our commitment to you remains strong. Thank you for your understanding and solidarity.
Dr S. Laplante

Good afternoon dear students. I am saddened to see you held hostages to the conflict between the ministry and the FMOQ and FMSQ. Know that we are conscious of the burden you carry, will do our best to ensure comes to a rapid and fruitfull conclusion that protects you as learners and future young practitioners as well as the current cohort of physicians devoted to te care of the Quebec population.
We will be there for you once this conflict resolves to assist you in meeting your goals and needs.
Dr. Anne-Marie Gosselin

I hope that things get resolved quickly, to everyone's satisfaction. I'm really looking forward to meeting and working with you in lectures, in small groups, and in the hospital as soon as things get settled. The sooner the better!
Dr. Kevin Schwartzman

Just want to send a word of admiration for the students - have been so impressed with the poised, composed and professional media appearances and with the protests. We all want you back where you belong as soon as possible. Whenever anyone asks me "what are the students like, what will they be like as doctors" I always say "They are amazing, we will be in good hands."
Dr. Tiina Podymow

Dear medical students, uncertainty can be stressful, but I hope we all can take heart in the timeless words of Julian of Norwich: “All will be well, all will be well, all manner of things shall be well.” We must remember that our calling is sacred and that our journey is guided. We can trust that, as Paul of Damascus reminds us, "He who began this good work in you, will carry it on to completion". We can invite the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom, peace, and endurance. We are never alone. We can lean into grace, and know that even in times of great difficulty, there is a wonderful plan for our lives which is still slowly unfolding, even though we may feel our plans may feel frustrated. Courage!
Dr. B

We appreciate the patience of our students and the support that many of them have expressed. Once the work action is over which we really hope will be soon, we will all be actively engaged in solving the challenge of the lost teaching. We look forward to it being soon.
Dr. Simon Wing

As teachers, supervisors, mentors and leaders- please know that we are here for you- during good times and bad times. 
Please know how much we prioritise your education and learning to ensure that you are well equipped to be the best doctors. 
Reach out to us and we will continue to do all that we can to support you as we navigate these particularly stressful times together.
Remember- you are not alone.
Dr. R. Touyz

Dear all, future colleagues-doctors, 
It is a very troubled time in our medical system and around the world. 
I am sorry you go through this stress and terrible uncertainty, particularly now when CARMS is already opened, but I have in mind a saying, maybe attributed to Albert Einstein: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
You are all wise and well prepared, your potential was seen and appreciated, and you are well-rounded humans with a generous future in front of you. Find your best way to spend this unsettled time, by staying in great spirit and strong health, by reading and learning things you always wanted to know, by being grateful for your family, your friends and colleagues, your profession that you chose and your beautiful self!
OP

Dear medical students, we will get through these tough times together. 
Vous êtes nos collègues de demain. 
We are all fighting for your future working conditions and for the future of health care in Québec. 
Vous ressortirez grandis de cette expérience difficile, avec un peu plus de baggage, vous permettant un jour d'affronter les défis qui vous attendent comme futur gradué(e). 
You are not alone. 
À très très bientôt je l'espère.
Dr M-P Bastrash, Block leader FMD Block I

We are lucky that you are supporting us in these difficult times, we are doing this together, for a better future for all of us.
Dr C.

Dear students, 
I am so deeply sorry that you are bearing the impact of this dispute between Family Doctors and the current government. It seems like an important stand for us to take, but my heart sinks when I see how much it makes you worry about how this might affect you. I hope this period is short and that you are back in our clinics quickly. Medicine is an amazing career. I hope this leads to a better future for you.
Dr Teresa Rudkin, Family Medicine

To all of the students,
I recognize what a tough time this has been for you - and I just want to let you know how much I truly miss seeing students here at the hospital every day. Your faces and smiles keep me going. We will do everything we can to minimize the impact it has on you. I am a text/email/phone call away, if ever you need anything. My door is always open :)
Preetha

Dear Students,
I am writing to let you know that I am here for you. I have submitted CARMS references supporting our graduating cohort, and I remain dedicated to supporting you through this challenging time.
Maiya Geddes

Dear future colleagues,
I am fully aware how stressful the situation must be for you, but I can assure you that the decision to stop teaching was not made lightly and is not directed against you personally. You are the future of medicine in this province and this country and like all of the current physicians, I am looking forward to working with you! I know that you can make it through this situation and although it doesn't seem like it, we, the clinical faculty, stand behind you and we will be back with you as soon as possible.
Stay strong!
B.M.