We recently interviewed Dr. Matt Bocock, valedictorian of the Anesthesia Graduating Class of 2023. He spoke to us about program highlights and shared some wise words for incoming residents.
How does it feel to be selected as the valedictorian of the 2023 graduating class? Can you share your initial thoughts and emotions upon receiving this honor?
It’s such an immense privilege to be chosen as valedictorian- but it also carries a huge responsibility. I found the experience of finding out to be humbling. My role up there was to speak to my incredibly charismatic, selfless and accomplished colleagues, which is no small feat; ten minutes hardly feels like enough time! That said, I know that the character of this group is so strong, and I now have a unique opportunity to use the stage to honor all our loved ones who supported us through a challenging five years. I also can’t lie- I was a bit concerned about my suit fitting me after a stressful Royal College year, but thankfully that did not turn out to be a problem!
Can you share one of your favourite memories from your time in the anesthesia residency program?
I recall as a junior resident, we had a really nice Queen’s Park Ice Cream Social organized by Matt Da Silva and a few other residents which allowed us to sit down on a beautiful day with some PGY1’s and tell them a bit about the program. I remember feeling a bit disconcerted coming into residency, so it was a great opportunity to just bask in the sun and give them a feeling of being welcomed to the Toronto Anesthesia family while also answering any questions. Also, a good handful of us in the program started a squash league back when the McCaul Goodlife used to exist, and after our academic half day lectures we spent some time playing, mostly involving Dr. Riley Glew absolutely dominating us.
As a senior resident, it’s impossible to forget the day we found out our Royal College Applied Examination results at the beginning of May. The pure elation that five years of hard work and dedication had paid off, culminating in the staff who supported us sharing a hug and some tears, was a testament to overcoming struggle and being welcomed into the profession as a consultant.
Over the last five years, did you encounter any setbacks or obstacles that tested your determination and resilience? How did you overcome them?
I think we all had our own unique setbacks- initially for me, I had to greatly revise my expectations of how my work performance was going to be as a PGY1. This is a challenging specialty that is clearly both cerebral and procedural. It simply demands a certain amount of time and experience to achieve mastery — that is why the residency is five years. But, junior residents should take encouragement in the fact that everyone eventually get’s there (seriously, they do).
Another major obstacle was the clinical demands during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our ICU’s were overwhelmed and we were all thrust into situations far beyond our level of training. Shifts often exceeded 30 hours in length by the time we had handed over these units full of patients who were critically ill.
It was very difficult to also manage this time without some of the other things that are so energizing outside of work- world-travel, team -based indoor sports, or just trying out a new restaurant.
Overcoming it required me leaning on my partner, friends, family and colleagues as sources of support and a way to escape a bit of the horror I felt I was becoming somewhat numb to.
Are there any specific mentors, professors or colleagues who played a significant role in shaping who you are today?
Too many to name!
Maybe I’ll start with the ones who were instrumental in showing the value of becoming a clinically excellent community Anesthesiologist while also remaining involved with the Department of Anesthesia at the University level.
Those are Drs. Stephen Lee and Sanjho Srikandarajah from my Program Mentorship group. Apart from just being both amazing people and throwing great social evenings for us a group, they had such sage words of wisdom in terms of career planning, navigating workplace dynamics, and progressing through the hurdles of residency and transition to staff. Additionally, Dr. Andrew Tse’s excellent clinical teaching inspired me to pursue joining the staff at the St. Joseph’s Hospital where I’ll have the opportunity to pay it forward to residents and medical students!
I must mention the mentors who probably facilitated me actually passing my Royal College Examination, and those are Drs. Laura Bosco, Stephen Lee (again), and Zoe Unger, along with my Senior Revision Tutorial/Emotional Support Coach, Dr. Susan Bragg.
Finally, there is Dr. Robert Conn, a former pediatric cardiac surgeon who is the current PARO CEO. I spent five years working on PARO and ended off in the last two years on the Board of Directors and most recently as Vice President, so I’ve had a chance to learn from him during this time. He has such a way with relationships and people and understands the value of finding a brand based in respect and humanity, and then helps others understand and buy into that brand. He has taught me the most about what both big “L” and little “l” leadership entails.
What message or advice would you like to share with incoming residents?
I would echo what I said to my colleagues- you must prioritize taking excellent care of yourself first.
You are not going to be able to fill others with an empty cup, and so if you are starting to feel like you might need some extra support, reach out to a trusted colleague, the Office of Learner Affairs, or the OMA Physician Health Program. People more verbose than myself have written books on what this looks like, but for the most part principles of adequate sleep (difficult with our field), regular physical movement you enjoy, good nutrition, strong and close supportive relationships, and some form of spirituality or meditation practice have been my mainstays.
I would advise residents to keep perspective on what this five year period is — you are an apprentice building your future practice and learning to navigate the hospital workplace. Keep an open mind, treat others well, and really question your staff and mentors on the “why” of the things that they are doing, and decide what you will adopt to build your repertoire for excellent patient care.
Finally, I would say to be very careful with delayed gratification. It’s so easy to say that you’ll make time for things that are consistent with your values “when I’m done residency." Dr. Candace Nayman, a pediatrics resident at McMaster, tragically passed away during the summer of 2022 while I was preparing for my Royal College written exam. In addition to being my friend and sitting on the Board of Directors of PARO, she was just a beautiful person full of vitality, energy and compassion. We are all in a field where we see the fragility of life every single day; this should be motivation to mindfully seek out and embrace all of life’s experiences, both within and outside of work.
