Still can’t believe Yale medical school let me give a commencement address, but I’m glad they did. It was an unforgettable experience. Thanks for watching. Full ceremony can be found here: • 2022 Commencement - Y...
As a former paramedic who had to resuscitate a young man for 45 minutes at a birthday party two days after graduating from medical school, this speech totally hits home with me. Thank you Dr. G for your words and your videos that got me through the practical year. Much love from Germany!
His wife wins all arguments from now on. "No that's okay, I'll do all the dishes after Thanksgiving dinner. I saved your life, by the way. No, that's fine." :-)
In my 12 years in medicine I’ve heard tons of speeches… this is by far the best. As a fellow physician who had a hard week, I needed to hear those words. Thank you… Jonathan 😊
I don't know if you will ever read this doc, but I just want to say something. I have been struggling with a ton of health problems recently. And frankly they arent anything life threatening but I still have been so, so scared. So tired of constantly dealing with this shit. So jealous of other seemingly normal, healthy people. And as a med student, you don't ever really get breaks or time for yourself. I have worried a lot endlessly about my life will be if this continues If my health isn't with me. But I have realised that all anyone can do is keep on moving. Cry. Heck, have a breakdown worse than the opthalmologist would have if there is no Jonthan nearby . Just don't give up. You have handled so many things that life threw at you with grace and poise. If I can have even a percent of that humor, that joy, that poise, I know I will be alright. I hope i will be alright. I hope i can show the kindness and humanity you mentioned so much about. It's a bad day, not a bad life. God Bless, Doc. God bless.
It's a bad day, not a bad life. You're so right. ❤️ I hope you get better. This isn't the end. There are still reasons that life is worth fighting for. You'll make it.
Take time to recover. Reduced your hours if you can till you can get back to working at full speed again. Even though what you're going through is tough, you'll be a better Dr for it. You won't turn away from difficult conversations, you'll know what patients don't want to hear, when they themselves going through the same struggles as you are of "why me". It will make you a better Dr in the long run. I went through a number of years on and off being very sick and have found my pain and struggles are used to help heal those who need it the most🙂.
Just listened to to entire speech. Sir, you’re a great man and your lovely wife is an unbelievable woman. NOBODY can do 10 minutes of correct CPR, but she did. Terror, Adrenalin and love gave her what she needed to save your life. You, with all you’ve been thru, despite fear, pain, anxiety, loss, still looking gallantly forward. Still able to laugh and to gently advise others. Great respect for both of you.
Y'all mean that Ryan Reynolds resembles Dr. Glaucomflecken, who is a truly lived experience, not an imitator of same. I've loved his videos and after this, admire him even more.
I always tear up when I hear you talk about the ten minutes of CPR your wife delivered. An impossible task that she decided would be impossible not to do if it meant saving your life.
WOW! This comment deserves DIRECT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT from @Dr. Glaucomflecken , himself: you are one of his own! Congratulations on the years of dedication 🎉🎉🎉‼️
Family medicine resident from Sweden here. After a horrible week. Full of regrets about speciality choice. What I needed to hear today is this speech. Ready to go back to primary care tomorrow.
@@Snarl_Marx it's a very bad sign when you need motivation from a RU-vid video in order to do your job because you dislike it so much --- time to find a new profesison?
@@kerzytibok3211 I mean, for a lot of people in the medical field it's more than a job. It's a passion. It's incredibly grueling going through med school and even after working conditions can be hell. But that's what they love to do, and someone needs to do it. Doesn't mean they don't have the right to be stressed out and in need of motivation. You're sounding very sheltered tbh or maybe just ignorant? Idk lol
@@Snarl_Marx but if all the family med docs post things like "lots of regrets about specialty choice" then what does that tell you? You don't hear comments like that from dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons.
Given recent events, the message in this speech applies even to us non medical people who are just trying to survive. Thank you for sharing this with us.
As a nurse and loyal scribe myself, I have watched and laughed at your skits over and over for years now. This is the first time my tears weren't from laughter. A very powerful and moving speech sir. Thank you.
Honestly, as someone who works in the prehospital side of medicine, I've been struggling a lot lately on if I want to even continue working in medicine. But after listening to this speech I've found a sort of second wind. Thank you for all you do.
Another prehospital peep, we definitely need to help each other more. Folks at the hospital don't necessarily understand the situations we go into and pull people out of. My dad is an X-ray tech and he mentioned that by the time he gets to see em, the patients we bring in are at least a little bit more cleaned up. Don't hesitate to reach out to the folks you work with. Or online. Or professional help, either.
@@TheMarshmellowLife and @goosetank: It has been a long time since I was on the prehospital side of medicine., but I've never forgotten what a struggle it can be. To those of you out there in the trenches from someone long-removed from that job, Thank y'all for what you do and know that it is greatly appreciated. I couldn't do my job without you getting the patient's to us in a timely and well-cared for fashion.
67 year old surgical assistant here. I've been a Johnathan to all the surgeons for 36 years. I have the patient positioned, prepped, draped and ready to go before the surgeon gets there. I then assist said surgeon doing things like holding body wall retractors for long periods of time and then have to tie 6-0 proline, suctioning, bovieing, etc. After the offending organ is removed or repaired I close up and take the patient back to recovery. The call I've had to take has been as horrible as any resident. Now I'm old and have cancer but the hospital still has me taking call. Today I had to go in and help with a right colectomy that took over 4 hours. Longest one I ever did. Not even a thank you. So please, don't forget your ancillary staff like myself and the scrub techs who work very hard to make your practice possible.
Loved your speech. I have to say I got a little weepy when you talked about a colleague taking your pager when you found out you had cancer again. I am an RN working in Mental Health. I cared for a paediatrician in an inpatient setting with severe depression/PTSD. She was with us for months. A few weeks after discharge she completed suicide. It was devastating for our team. I wis someone had shown her a little kindness, or recognized that she was struggling at work before she became so unwell. So to all health care workers out there, please take care of each other.
I'm not even going to comment on the situation because I can't imagine what you went through or are going through. I just hope you're well and taken care of yourself. Thank you for your kindness and I'm sure it was meaningful
@@trailrider2571 because committing suicide is akin to breaking a law. The mental health field is trying to destigmatize mental illnesses and their possible outcomes. Thanks for asking. It’s a good question.
CPR is probably one of the most basic skills every human being should be able to perform. Really hope teaching it becomes far more prevalent in schools, universities and clinics (I've seen some doctors and nurses do CPR really badly).
CPR badly administered is still better than no CPR. Lack of precision should not be an excuse to hesitate to start CPR during a cardiac arrest. Just make sure help is on the way, and do your best. The life you save, could be mine.
I always believed that CPR & First aid should be part of the school curriculum, how my school did it is that you needed 2 health credits and after health you could either do CPR & First aid or do child development
@@randomlyaccepted5215 ALL good subjects applicable in real life - even if you don't become a parent. ( Dealing with drunks is almost identical to dealing with a cranky three year old.)
@@larryclemens1850 I was gonna do child development but couldn't because the year I was gonna do it COVID hit. How my school child development classes work is that they worked with the special needs elementary school that is right next to our high school
Hey, Dr. G: As as "end-stage" psychiatrist, I always to find ways to build up our colleagues. Watching your videos has to be one of the most edifying things I recommend to colleagues, and do for myself. I will be checking in tomorrow with my own ophthalmologist. You are a tremendous and fun blessing to our profession. I don't know if you think this, but I believe that you were sent to heal doctors.
As a Med student who needed to step away due to burnout and is now back to the Step1 grind, I needed this. THANK YOU for reminding us that 1) it’s hard 2) it’s worth it 3) we are in this together 4) even the neurosurgeon isn’t an automaton. It is hard to advocate for our patients and even harder to advocate for ourselves. Thank you for reminding us that we grow stronger as we lift each other up. (Also super jelly of Yale for booking you)
Thank you all for your kind words! Since this reply I passed step 1 (first try) and started my first rotation (pathology). Can confirm the sketches were spot on 😂😍
RU-vid needs a clap button in addition to a like. This man deserves a round of applause for coming through his life and providing us with insight and entertainment in medicine. 👏👏👏👏👏
I have to be honest, this is one of the best speeches I’ve ever seen. You brought me memories of the Steve Jobs speech, where both of you not only inspire and motivate, but really attest, based on personal experience, how even going through hell, one has to stay positive and most importantly stay alive. Thank you Dr. Glaucomflecken, I’m not a med student or MD. But I still look forward to your videos every day.
Not gonna lie, I dozed off during my graduation's guest speaker speech. This is exactly what we all needed. Thank you passing on the unspoken wisdom from Jonathan.
as someone who did CPR for 40 mins, trading off with my dad on a loved one who didn't make it. thank you for this because I blame myself sometimes but know we tried as hard as we could humanly could.
About 4 years ago, I had no idea how to do CPR, I called 000 and I got talked through how to do it, for 20 minutes, these 20 minutes felt like years. My partner made it thanks to the medics instructing me on how to save her life. ED and paramedics have my respect forever.
This man is a genius. Brilliant, funny, kind, and spot on with medical specialty personalities! I have recommended my friends, family and colleauges watch his skits. I patiently wait for each new one and they are often the best part of the day. Congrats to all the new medical graduates. You have just recieved the very best advise you will ever get. :)
He is that person in real life!! The thought of my grandgirls losing him as a father so young was heartbreaking! We all are SO blessed he is here to love my daughter and the grandgirls!!!
@@wildwoodk9funcenterllc888 You created a warrior woman, a force of nature. I admire her so much. He's alive, and who he is, because of her. That's a wonderful gift you and she gave the world.
You’ve made me laugh a lot but this is the first time you’ve made me cry. As a paramedic this hit very close to home. Not so much the cpr part but the humility and compassion. Thank you.
Congratulations. You just made a 45 year old 12 year hospitalist doing a pulmonary fellowship cry while on call in the ICU at 3 am. Thank you for that speech. And by the way, 10 minutes of cpr? Damn. Im exhausted after 2-3 minutes.
Amazing speech. No one talks about having humanity to each other in medicine. I had a severe burn when I was in pharmacy school and had to email management about retiming an exam. I got a one liner reply asking for proof/documentation from ER (which I sent them). I was so shocked and stunned by the unemotional robotic reply while all year long they’ve been teaching us about having empathy and showing compassion towards patients. But we don’t matter?
I did experience same during my residency. I had undergone emergency appendectomy for Acute Appendicitis in the same hospital where i was working. I was shocked after discharge, my faculty asked me the report of histopathological examination to find out was it truly Acute Appendicitis 😏
Final year med student from Hong Kong. Thank you for the speech - that brought me tears especially after experiencing all the hardships in these recent years.
Thank you, Dr Glaucomflecken. Your speech resonated deeply with me. I became a doctor yesterday! I’m so happy. Although I’m scared of my future as a doctor (in Nigeria), I am encouraged by your story and hope to meet you someday. Your videos were my solace during the long nights I was up studying and feeling sorry for myself. All the best, Dr Glaucomflecken.
I am so glad you became a doctor. You are very courageous to be a doctor. Just know folks may not always thank a doctor however I know they need doctors and are grateful for those who chose it as a career.
Best speech ever to exist. I clicked on it because i thought it was a sketch then realised it wasn't and actually listened to it with the best concentration I've had for any speech ever
Dr G. I dare say that you won't see this comment, as this video is now over a year old, but thank you for uploading it. Those are sentiments I needed to hear. Since 2017 I've been beating myself up because starting at age 53, and following a traumatic bereavement, I went through all four years of a medical degree only to give up and drop out after finals. I was utterly burnt out from the effort required to reach the finish line, and I had I gone on I don't think I would have been much use as a resident, moreover the pandemic (which would have arrived in my second residency year) would probably have killed me. All that insight still didn't stop me beating myself up for having quit - and telling myself what a fool I had been to attempt the dream of medical training when I was very obviously way too old anyway! The thing is, doing that training was the way I avoided falling into a pit of despair following the unexpected loss of my partner of 25 years. So I needed to hear your words about showing humanity and compassion, even to oneself. I love your video's. They help me recall all the ridiculous stuff I put myself through chasing an impossible dream, but also they make me realise that life has to go on. I only wish I had your talent for humour, because then perhaps I could still make something useful out of all that training.
You better believe I clapped at the end! Thank you, doc. I believe this message is timeless for all generations of people going into medicine, now and in the future.
This was awesome. I had surgery yesterday, for the first time ever, and as the nurse was telling me the plans and then mentioned the name of the anesthesia doc, I couldn’t help but start giggling and picturing all your characters. As I waited for them to wheel me back, I pulled out my phone and binge-watched a bunch of your videos and giggled. I’m not a medical professional. I’m a stay-at-home mom. But I’ve always loved learning about the human body, and I absolutely adore your content. Thank you for doing what you do. You’re making the world a better place. And thank you to your wife for saving your life! She is Wonder Woman!
As a doc myself I’ve got to say that you are a gift to all docs everywhere. Your videos help us get through this crazy profession. Thank you for all you do. I did not know of your own health struggles until I watched this today. So glad you are okay and I wish you a long, happy, and healthy life! Keep up the great work! We all need you!!
Will, you are a genuine gift to this world. unbelievable strength and resilience to not only overcome what misfortune threw at you, but to do so without diminished humour and optimism. You are a Great Man and leader.
How do I love this? Sitting in medical school right now, tearing up, and so grateful to have found this crowd. And please, all med school admins: have more speakers like this. This is what we need at graduation.
I don’t usually write comments on RU-vid videos, but wanted to say that this was a beautifully written speech. If what I manage to accomplish in my future career is even half-way close to the inspiration and excitement you are instilling in future generations of medical and research professionals, then I could retire proudly. Wonderful job!
This speech literally brought tears to my eyes. I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that today, as I search for my first PA job and was starting to wonder if it was all a big mistake.
hi doc. I wasn't really gonna comment but your speech moved my heart and made me burst out crying. im not even a graduate, im only 22 and in my 4th year. 3 left to go and it feels so overwhelming. with my almost none experience in clinics I've seen so many times the need for humanity in each other. what you said is such a beautiful reminder of something so obvious that we forget so often, and it makes me terribly sad that we need to hear it so that it can shake our constant "im ok, i need to be ok for the patients" facade. when im talking to patients and listen to their pain I can relate and understand, but how many times have we been forced to hide what we feel and need? the countless times i ended hiding in the bathroom to cry cause i only trust like 2 people to help me. all those times the tutor was a little too mean correcting my mistakes. all these years of med school that we through just desensitize us inmensely. we laugh about talking about gross things while eating like it's nothing but we also talk about the patient that died of agressive cancer like its nothing, cause we're supposed to know how to deal with it. we give so much to the patients that we forget to give to ourselves and our classmates/friends, that are going through this exact same thing. and we just forget. thank you dr. just thank you. I have an exam tomorrow. then on friday. then on monday and friday again. i will not forget to hug my friends before and after it from now on. you truly have moved me
My daughter just matched in her chosen field of anesthesiology. We have been watching you and chuckling all through her medical school journey and my colon cancer. All the best to you and your lovely family. (And way to go Warrior Wifey!!)
The neurologist sitting in the back thinking "oh wow, the grown-ups finally let you talk into the mic! Very nice but playtime's over. Let me show you how a real med school graduation speech is done." Jokes aside, that was a well-written and hugely optimistic speech that I think anyone - not just med students - badly needs in these sorely pessimistic times
This hit home. I'd received a call while at work that my mum was admitted to hospital with an estimated week to live. I was bawling my eyes out while typing up clinic notes. My fellow OT Jane put a hand on my shoulder, asked what was up, and ordered me home in the nicest possible way. I probably would have tried to finish my shift. Remind each other that you are human, not service robots. All of us in healthcare are so very bad at looking out for ourselves.
I remember studying my nursing textbook in my mom's ICU room during my first semester of nursing school. And not one of my professors (all nurses) suggested I take some time off, or offered to make accommodations for me -- it was one of the academic advisors (not a nurse) who guided me through the process of taking an emergency leave.
Hey doctor! I'm a brazilian med student (currently in my second year), and I am struggling with the course. Don't get me wrong, I love everything I study, even the boring things. But personal problems and burnout are a constant shadow flying over my head. I joined this world of medicine due to many reasons, one of then is the existencial meaning of dealing with fragilazed people. I used to think that was something that I would see 99% with patients, but every day that passes I see that we are very subjected to that feeling of hopelessness. That though started to consume me and made me feel that I would be trapped into this feeling. I needed this speech. Damn I even cried. Give me congratulations to Jonathan
Ophthalmology resident saved my life. After a 4 hour intake exam, field of vision test is the worst, consulting with The doctor, who told me that my optic nerves were badly swollen and that I had huge blind spots, the resident drove me back down to the University of Chicago out patient center for an MRI, in the rain because my bus card was empty. That scan revealed a massive lesion in my right frontal lobe. Successful resection a few days later, recurrence 9 months later threw chemo and radiation at it. Long story short, it's been 14 years since surgery and 13 years since the first recurrence. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of the poking and prodding of my eyes that took far longer than I had anticipated and a lift back to Hyde Park. Thank you to all of the Opthalmologists and residents whose work catches neurological problems. ETA: Sorry if I missed the mark with my comment. I started it when you first brought up Optho residents. Thank you, Dr. G for your great content. Been very helpful through the past few weeks dealing with this recurrence.
I just passed my final medical exam 3 days before you posted this. Because of Covid there won't be an in-person Graduation ceremony. So thank you so much for this speech! It made me feel like I was sitting in those seats as a graduate!! And yes, I'll be going into ophthalmology! 😂 Greetings from Germany!
Congratulations, and well done!! 🥳You've worked so hard to get where you are now! Not having a ceremony for such a big occasion (although the covid restrictions are already looser in many countries) makes me a bit sad :( But I'm wishing all the best for you !!! 🤩
You are what medicine needs right now, thank you for being a beacon of light for all of us coming up students. I honestly don't know where I would be without you!
WONDERFUL WONDERFUL SPEECH. Nurses and all medical care givers need to live that also...lift others up, work to be compassionate and kind to each other. It is stressful in medicine however very rewarding.
I had no idea about these medical crises you have survived. You are a great human being and I hope the rest of your time on this earth is long and easy!❤️❤️
Take from this speech that seeing someone who is sweating for no good reason is in extremis. My Chinese medical training ( yeah, deal with that) taught me that odd sweating was really unusual and I got my husband to the ED within 20 minutes with his 90% blockage of the Widow Maker. He is perfectly fine now. Jonathan rocks.
Congratulations on getting to deliver this commencement address, can see how much it meant to you to be able to give these new doctors some of the advice you probably wish you'd gotten in their position. Your ability to find and share humour and kindness in even the darkest of circumstances is amazing to watch and I'm hopeful that with this speech you've managed to inspire this new generation of doctors to follow in your footsteps.
Dr. Glaucomflecken; Your commencement speech was the most inspirational one I have listened to, and I have been dragged to many Ivy League University Speeches. Yours was the most humanizing, compassionate, and genuine one, and easily the most memorable. Thank you.
Fantastic speech. It’s incredible how far your universe of characters has reached. You’ve inspired so many people to pursue a career in medicine and you’re videos are absolutely hilarious if not a little morbid sometimes. Thank you for being such a hilarious doctor.
We're so glad you are still with us and in good health, Dr. G. Thank you for your reminders about what is truly important in this world. I quit my STEM PhD program due to burnout, and subsequently was shunned by my colleagues and "friends" because I would not elevate the "go-go-go" system and career path above my own health. We are all human, with bodies and minds that have their limits. Let's use the remaining time that we have in order to care for each other.
Absolutely beautifully written. Funny, inspiring, moving. I haven't heard a speech as great as this and as deserving to be spoken at Yale in a long time.
Such a wonderful, inspiring speech. I think you are a truly amazing person. You have gone thru a lot of medical issues in your life and yet you still give humor thru your videos to help so many others get thru had times. Thank you for being the person you are. Take care.
just finished my first year of medical school and i'm so grateful to have your videos to turn to whenever i'm in need of a laugh. what a hilarious and heart-warming speech; thank you so much for always being such an incredible part of the medical community!!!
