The parents of one of my patients totally made my day. Even though I don't finish residency for another year and a half, they're already asking about and making plans to follow me to wherever I go. There are only two doctors they think highly of, and apparently I'm one of them. I was so flattered. (Still blushing).

It's a moment like this one that makes the pain of being underpaid, overworked, and under-appreciated more bearable.

Given the difficulty and stress of residency training, the words Thank You just never seem enough.