Remember moments of tension and relive the emotions involved preparing a test like the MIR is not an easy task for those who took the exam just one year ago. 365 days later, the feelings are mixed. Some are success stories that, looking back, have managed to be exactly where they wanted, even “they would sell their soul to the devil” so that everything stays the same. Others chose a perhaps more complicated path, “start over”this time to gain more momentum and reach the goal.
“What has the MIR given me a year later? Basically, serenity and thinking about me.” This is how he responded Esther Iniesta, from Madrid and graduated in Medicine in Albacete when looking back a year ago. In her case, and it is not the only one of hers, approximately 365 days ago she had finished her first MIR exam but, when she did not get the desired position in her star specialty, PediatricsHe decided try again in 2023.
“On a personal level, it has allowed me to change in many aspects applicable not only to the academic field. I have learned to take things with more serenity, trust me and not give importance to what others might think or say. After all, it is an exam and we should not give more importance of the one you have I hope within a year to be able to say that on a professional level it has given me many good things and be happy with the square you choose“Esther says.
The 2022 MIR was the beginning of a very special stage in the life of the new residents, not so new anymore, because they have been learning the advantages and challenges of the specialty that they chose at the time. The residency phase is, in cases such as that of Paul Nicholas“and radical change” who has given him “many good things”. A native of Seville and an intensive care provider by vocation, a year later he is doing the residence of Intensive Medicine in Barcelonaat the Vall d´Hebron Hospital.
“The residency has given me the opportunity to learn a job that I am passionate about. I have been able to surround myself with a wonderful group of people, from many parts of Spain, and we have been able to create a group of fun and spontaneous people. For me, the residency is being one of the best times of my life“, clarifies Pablo, but also makes it clear that “the working conditions are not good or fair at all.”
The MIR marked the lives of residents a year ago
Dreams were also fulfilled in the case of Joel DomeneR1 they Family and Community Medicine at the San Agustín de Avilés University Hospital and at the Piedrasblancas-Castrillón Health Center, Asturias. For this Catalan, preparing for the exam meant “a race to the bottom” but when he thinks about how he was a year ago and what he has achieved now, he is happy.
“It was clear to me years ago that I wanted to specialize in Family and Community Medicine and I knew from the internships that I had done in the career that it was my goal to achieve. I feel tremendously privileged to have fulfilled my dream and to be specializing in it”, he explains.
For JCL, his path was quite clear. He R1 Endocrinology and Nutrition in Madrid you are sure that you are learning the specialty “but complete” that it can exist, and I knew that for a long time.
“My self from a year ago I would sell my soul to the devil to be where I am now. The truth is that I did not have a realistic alternative, I did not want to repeat the MIR because I saw myself unable to go through something so traumatic And if he didn’t give me my number, I wouldn’t know what to do with my life. A year later, I think that if I had not been able to enter, I would have repeated the MIR, because I can not really see myself doing something else. Can you imagine after six years of studying and one of opposition, doing something that doesn’t make you happy? I don’t go there, it’s just that before I would leave Spain“says the R1.
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“My self from a year ago would sell my soul to the devil to be where I am now” |
MIR applicants see their mental health affected
When Esther was preparing her first MIR call a year ago, his mental health was affected. “I didn’t know how to handle it well. Seeing that did not improve percentiles and even though it was getting worse, comparing myself with my classmates meant that I couldn’t study as I should, I was very afraid of doing it wrong and I was accumulating more and more pressure,” he recalls.
In fact, already in the last lap of preparation practically stopped asking questions and it cost him “a lot” to be able to keep up with the study rhythm.
In addition to mental health, the MIR left in stand-by many aspects of the life of opponents like Joel, who in his case had to go back in time, live with his family again and adapt to the rules of the house. “However, the fact that some of your friends and classmates are in the same situation It helped me cope with it and relativize it. We all had the same insecurities, uncertainties and fears and that helps to feel some relief and focus, in a certain way”, he comments.
Go to phase or go back, the last decision MIR
Almost a year ago, the MIR of the year 2022 faced the last decision: choose a place and start the residency phase or prepare for the exam again. Pablo’s case is a clear example of “taking advantage of opportunities.” “Now really I feel happier than everI am passionate about what I see every day in my ICU, I have learned a lot and I still have a lot more to learn. I like to think that I am the happiest R1 walking through an ICUit is my place, they are my patients and it is the type of work that I want to dedicate myself to”, he maintains.
A different path awaited Esther, but also with a goal, that of work by vocationalthough at first he felt afraid and thought of settling for another different specialty to Pediatrics. It is difficult to turn down a residence and start over, but she was clear that this path was not for her.
“After knowing the results of the MIR 2022 my first reaction was to take a place Because given the opportunity, I didn’t see myself as capable or willing to try again, despite the fact that the results were not what I wanted. Months passed and by talking to several residents I began to consider the idea of repeating it, I did not want to stay with the uncertainty what could happen if he did it again under better conditions”, he explains.
For better or for worse, to end or to start over, the MIR a year ago “has given them a lot.” This is how JCL sums it up, that for him this process was “like a roller coaster”but that he would repeat without a doubt as long as he practiced his specialty.
“The feeling that you can help patients in complex situations, often very serious, is very enriching. Both your knowledge and your empathy and affection add up. I am not used to having patients or family members tell me that they really like how they treat them I treat or how I explain things to him, it’s super cute. That makes a 24-hour day wear a little better,” he concludes.
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