November 2022
Neil Menon, PGY1
Alright Neil, welcome to the resident spotlight hot seat. This is not meant to be stressful but more of an opportunity for us to get to know you better. So let’s get right into it!
How do you think the transition has been going from medical school to intern year? What are you excited about? What have you enjoyed so far?
Well, I knew transitioning from medical school to residency would be a big step, but I hadn’t realized how much responsibility I would get so quickly. And I think that has been the biggest adjustment – the sensation of knowing that you are responsible for a lot of processes and a lot of people. But we get a lot of support, so learning to step out of our comfort zone is a cool way to grow. That growth is something that I have really been enjoying and it has been a big part of the transition.
That’s awesome. You know the transition is always hard and we’ve all been through it so I know the feeling. But I think you’ve been doing such a great job with the transition. Many more good things to come in the future with different but better transitions as you go through residency.
So when you think about that transition, what piece of advice do you think you would give to 4th year medical students that will be making that transition to intern year next summer?
I think the biggest piece of advice I’d give is to stay open minded to new ways of doing things. Learning to adapt quickly is really important as an intern - there are so many processes that you are learning at the same time, and trying to integrate it all can be challenging. Intern year has been deeply humbling - I think that people who are able to accept and learn new ways of doing things are more likely to be successful.
That is really good advice and a great mentality to have when going through residency and I think life in general. Learning how to be flexible, willing to adapt, and keeping an open mind will really take you far in your career – so I completely agree.
Alright let’s transition to a few more fun questions – tell me about Neil. Who’s Neil, where’d you grow up, do you have siblings, what’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Yeah, so I grew in Wyoming, Ohio - it’s a small town near Cincinnati. As an adult, I’ve mostly lived on the east coast with a little bit of time on the west coast. And yep, I have a younger sister who lives in the Boston area and I have an older brother who lives in New York City. And then for the last question – I really like spending time outside. I don’t necessarily mean that in terms of hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, that kind of thing… I’m more of a casual outdoors enjoyer. So to me that means going for a walk or even just picnicking outside – that’s one of my favorite things to do when I have time off. There’s a park in my neighborhood and I really enjoy just taking a blanket and a book or headphones and spending time there just being “unplugged”. Actually right now, I’m at Radnor Lake State Park. I just got off work and so I’m here to go for a walk around and enjoy some of the fall colors… and hopefully see some wildlife! This is a really great place for it.
I love it. Being “unplugged” can be so hard to do for a lot of us especially with how good technology has become and how dependent we are of our phones/computers etc. I think that’s a great habit to have and it really keeps you grounded and mentally sound. It gives you the chance to recharge and regroup.
So you went to University of Pennsylvania for medical school and lived on the east coast for a while. Now that you’re in Nashville, what are you most excited to do or try?
Hmm…I think one of the unique things about Nashville is the concert scene. Any and every type of music that you want to see is here. A lot of artists want to come here to perform, and they always seem so excited to be performing on stage in front of a Nashville crowd, and it’s a fun energy. I actually haven’t gone to many concerts in the past, so one of my goals while I’m here in Nashville is to go to lots of concerts to experience new music and socialize with friends.
Nice, well Nashville is definitely called Music City for a reason. Definitely support your resolution to go and see live shows and artists as often as you can because it really is a unique experience. What’s great about Nashville is that there are so many different types of venues from small dive bars, to the Ryman, to Nissan stadium and so that’s always incredible.
And actually I was going to say that all four interns (Levi, Delaney, Veerain, and I) all went to the Rufus Du Sol concert about a week and a half ago. We got a great photo that I’ll send over!
That’s awesome. Fulfilling your resolution with a great artist and great group of people.
Ok, so the last section is just rapid fire questions.
What’s your Favorite Book? Butter: A Rich History
Favorite Cocktail (I had to ask)? Negroni
Favorite Movie? A Beautiful Mind
Favorite Cereal? Combination of Honey Bunches of Oats (Almond) with Honey Nut Cheerios in a 50/50 ratio
Cat or dog? Dog!
Brunch Sweet or Savory? Always savory for me and I get something sweet for the table
Alright Neil, that’s all I got for you. I don’t want to cut into your “unplugged” time so I really appreciate you taking the time the talk and it was wonderful getting to know you a little better!
Interview conducted by Rohan Bhalla, MD