The Perfect Medical Student
(results may vary)
CFI project lead: Kenechukwu Odenigbo
CFI advisor: Mary Blazek, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
The clinical year of medical school is often described as the most challenging, not just because of new responsibilities and long hours, but due to the interpersonal and intrapersonal pressures faced in the hospital environment. This project explores how medical students perceive the need to present themselves as capable members of the health care team, and how these experiences shape their personal and professional growth.
To foster reflection and ease anxieties for those entering clinical rotations, the project gathered recorded interviews with medical students from various years as they shared their experiences. Interviews took place in informal settings chosen by each participant and were transcribed to form the basis of an upcoming anthology of creative works.
Aimed at all medical students, this initiative encourages reflection, compassion, and honest conversation within the community — helping students feel supported as they navigate the pressures of clinical training. The completed anthology is intended to inspire both current and future medical students by highlighting shared challenges and the importance of empathy in medicine.
Topic area: Ethics
Q&A with Kenechukwu Odenigbo
In what ways did this project influence your academic or career goals?
Gave me a lot to think about as a future resident in terms of what I consider to be a good clinical student, and the mindset that some of the students will be approaching their rotations with.
What challenges did you face during your CFI project, and how did you address them?
Receiving the finances later than expected - forced me to postpone the interview process and when the finance department finally deposited it, most people had very limited time with away rotations/residency applications and interviews to participate. My timeline was completely thrown off.
What skills did you develop while working on your project, and how might these skills benefit your future career?
Improved my listening skills, transcription skills, close reading.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your CFI project, and why was it meaningful to you?
The conversations! It was so inspiring hearing people talk about what brought them purpose during their clinical year, and how they waded through all the uncertainty, fear and nebulous expectations. It made me all the more excited for the future of medicine hearing what their value and prioritize in their journey to becoming doctors.
