Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

From rejection to resilience: my journey through emergency medicine residency

Dr. Syed Hasan
Physician
May 8, 2025
Share
Tweet
Share

When I first entered Aga Khan University Hospital as an emergency medicine (EM) resident, it felt like stepping into a whirlwind. The controlled chaos of the emergency department, the endless maze of technology, the pressure to make decisions in seconds—it all felt like too much. To make things harder, this opportunity came only after facing rejection last year—a moment that could have easily shaken my confidence. Some early on even questioned whether I belonged in EM, subtly suggesting that I might be better suited elsewhere.

But setbacks don’t define us; our response to them does. I refused to let doubt take root. Instead, I used it as fuel to grow. With determination, resilience, and unwavering focus, I pushed forward, believing that even in the most challenging environments, growth is possible. Like a lotus emerging from the depths of murky waters—as Theodore Roosevelt said: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

Almost every resident faces imposter syndrome at some point, but when you’re already nursing the wounds of rejection, it hits a little deeper. I reminded myself why I chose this path in the first place: Because I wanted to be there in someone’s worst moment, to offer calm in chaos, to bring clarity when everything else is a blur. I realized that I didn’t have to be perfect. I just had to show up, keep learning, and keep moving forward.

I asked questions, even when I felt embarrassed. I practiced procedures over and over. I leaned on mentors, found strength in my colleagues, and slowly but surely, things started to click. I became more confident, more capable, and more at home in the whirlwind of emergency medicine.

Residency hasn’t been easy. But like a lotus rising from murky waters, I’ve found my strength through the struggle. And I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.

In my final year, I had the honor of serving as chief resident—a role that tested and shaped me in every possible way. It was a crash course in leadership, mentorship, and self-awareness. I learned how to advocate for others, how to manage the chaos behind the scenes, and how to stay grounded even when the weight of responsibility felt heavy. That year didn’t just refine my clinical skills; it transformed me into someone ready to lead from the front.

Now, residency is behind me. The badge says something different, but the mission remains unchanged. This next chapter isn’t a fresh start—it’s a return. A return to where I’ve always belonged, right in the heart of the emergency department. The place where adrenaline meets purpose, and every second matters. The place where voices echo overhead: “ER staff and doctors attend resus room.”

I’m walking back into those halls not as the unsure resident I once was, but as someone who’s grown through every challenge, earned every scar, and is truly ready for whatever comes through those doors.

Because this is more than a job. This is where I come alive.

Syed Hasan is an emergency physician.

Prev

Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies

May 8, 2025 Kevin 0
…
Next

Misconceptions about food allergy safety in the skies [PODCAST]

May 8, 2025 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Emergency Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies
Next Post >
Misconceptions about food allergy safety in the skies [PODCAST]

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • How representation in medicine transformed my journey as a medical student

    Adith Arun
  • Maternal instincts in medicine: the dual journey of motherhood and healing

    Nicolette Siringo
  • Trauma: Encountering the past in the present

    Anonymous
  • Moving forward in medicine with your significant other

    Todd Skertich
  • From penicillin to digital health: the impact of social media on medicine

    Homer Moutran, MD, MBA, Caline El-Khoury, PhD, and Danielle Wilson
  • Medicine won’t keep you warm at night

    Anonymous

More in Physician

  • Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.

    Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD
  • What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value

    Dennis Hursh, Esq
  • How one simple breakfast question can transform patient care

    Dr. Damane Zehra
  • Nurses are the backbone of medicine—and they deserve better

    Matthew Moeller, MD
  • How to change the world: Start by making your bed

    Neil Baum, MD
  • What my first Match Day as a program director taught me about hope

    Ryan McCarthy, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Meds
    • Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • When doctors die in silence: Confronting the epidemic of violence against physicians

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Doctors speak out: Why we’re saying no to burnout

      Aisha Quarles, MD | Physician
    • Avoiding leadership pitfalls: strategies for success in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting

      American College of Physicians | Physician
    • What happened to real care in health care?

      Christopher H. Foster, PhD, MPA | Policy
    • The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients

      Charles LeBaron, MD | Conditions
    • Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?

      Jacob Murphy | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • In the absence of physician mentorship, who will train the next generation of primary care clinicians?

      Kenneth Botelho, DMSc, PA-C | Education
    • Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Physician
    • Health care’s data problem: the real obstacle to AI success

      Jay Anders, MD | Tech
    • What ChatGPT’s tone reveals about our cultural values

      Jenny Shields, PhD | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Meds
    • Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • When doctors die in silence: Confronting the epidemic of violence against physicians

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Doctors speak out: Why we’re saying no to burnout

      Aisha Quarles, MD | Physician
    • Avoiding leadership pitfalls: strategies for success in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting

      American College of Physicians | Physician
    • What happened to real care in health care?

      Christopher H. Foster, PhD, MPA | Policy
    • The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients

      Charles LeBaron, MD | Conditions
    • Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?

      Jacob Murphy | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • In the absence of physician mentorship, who will train the next generation of primary care clinicians?

      Kenneth Botelho, DMSc, PA-C | Education
    • Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Physician
    • Health care’s data problem: the real obstacle to AI success

      Jay Anders, MD | Tech
    • What ChatGPT’s tone reveals about our cultural values

      Jenny Shields, PhD | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...