What if the most important lessons of residency aren't found in a textbook?

With graduation just days away, Liz shares the three pieces of writing that most shaped her understanding of medicine, residency, and life beyond training. From the realities of surgical culture and physician burnout to the hidden history of American healthcare and the power of personal agency, these recommendations offer a framework for understanding not just residency, but your place within the system.

In this episode, Liz discusses:

- Why Surgeon on the Edge by Frances Mei Hardin is the residency memoir she recommends over The House of God

- What The Social Transformation of American Medicine reveals about the forces shaping modern healthcare

- Why the essay How to Be More Agentic by Kate Hall may be the most important 10-minute read for physicians

- How understanding systems can make you a more effective doctor

- The mindset shifts Liz wishes she had before starting residency

Whether you're a medical student, resident, attending physician, or simply interested in the realities of modern medicine, this episode offers a practical reading list for anyone trying to make sense of the profession, and build a career with intention.

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