Walking into an emergency room for the first time as a young physician is unforgettable. The lights are bright, the pace is fast, and the stakes are high. For those fresh out of residency or medical school, it can feel like being dropped into the middle of a storm. That’s why mentorship matters so much in emergency medicine. Seasoned physicians like Chris Endfinger MD, who have spent nearly three decades in the ER, know that technical skill is only part of what makes a great emergency doctor. Equally important are the qualities that don’t come from textbooks—calm under pressure, compassion, humility, and the ability to learn from every shift.
Dr. Endfinger has worked in emergency departments across Alabama for nearly 30 years. He’s served as an ER director, cared for thousands of patients, and helped train countless medical students and residents. Through it all, he’s learned that good doctors aren’t just built in the classroom—they’re shaped by experience, reflection, and the wisdom passed down from others. Here are the lessons he believes every young doctor should hear before stepping fully into the chaotic, rewarding world of emergency medicine.
Confidence Is Important—But So Is Humility
When young doctors enter the emergency room, they often feel the need to prove themselves. They’ve trained hard, studied intensely, and finally earned the right to practice medicine. Confidence is essential, especially when making quick decisions under pressure. But Dr. Endfinger is quick to remind new physicians that confidence without humility can be dangerous.
The ER is unpredictable. No matter how skilled or smart someone is, there will be situations that test them. Missing a diagnosis, ordering the wrong test, or simply being unsure is part of the learning process. What matters most isn’t perfection—it’s the willingness to learn from mistakes and ask for help when needed.
Chris Endfinger MD encourages young doctors to recognize the value of teamwork. Nurses, respiratory therapists, and even seasoned paramedics have years of practical experience and insights. Listening to those around you not only improves patient care—it builds respect and trust within the team.
Treat Every Patient Like They Matter—Because They Do
One of the hardest parts of emergency medicine is the volume of patients. The ER never sleeps, and doctors often see dozens of people in a single shift. It can be tempting to focus on speed or efficiency, especially during busy hours. But Dr. Endfinger believes that every patient deserves to be treated with the same care and dignity, no matter how busy the department is.
Sometimes the most meaningful part of a shift isn’t the trauma resuscitation or cardiac arrest—it’s the quiet moment where a doctor sits down, looks a scared patient in the eyes, and explains what’s happening in a way they can understand. Those small gestures of humanity are remembered long after the visit ends.
Young doctors should remember that for many patients, a trip to the ER is one of the worst days of their life. They are scared, confused, and often alone. A calm voice, a patient explanation, or even just a few extra minutes of attention can go a long way.
Don’t Let the Stress Steal Your Compassion
Emergency medicine is physically and emotionally demanding. Long shifts, high-pressure decisions, and constant exposure to pain and trauma can wear down even the most enthusiastic young doctors. Over time, this stress can lead to something more damaging than exhaustion—it can lead to emotional detachment.
Dr. Endfinger has seen it happen. A young doctor starts to go through the motions, treating patients like checklists instead of people. It’s an understandable defense mechanism, but it’s not sustainable. Compassion isn’t just good for patients—it’s vital for physicians, too. It’s what connects doctors to their purpose and keeps burnout at bay.
That’s why he encourages younger colleagues to take care of themselves—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether it’s faith, family, exercise, or hobbies, having a life outside the hospital helps maintain perspective. And on especially hard days, talking with peers or mentors can help process what they’ve experienced.
Learn to Be Present, Even When You’re in a Hurry
The emergency room moves fast. There’s rarely enough time, and patients are always waiting. But one thing that separates good doctors from great ones, according to Chris Endfinger MD, is the ability to be fully present, even in short interactions.
Being present doesn’t require extra time—it requires focus. When walking into a room, put down the phone, close the chart, and give the patient your full attention for just a minute. It makes a world of difference. Patients can sense when their doctor is distracted, and they can sense when they’re being heard.
Presence also helps with clinical care. By really listening to a patient’s story, young doctors can catch subtle details that might be missed in a rushed exam. Over time, this skill leads to better diagnoses, fewer errors, and more satisfied patients.
Medicine Is a Lifelong Education
Finally, Dr. Endfinger tells young doctors to embrace the fact that they’ll never stop learning. Emergency medicine is constantly evolving. New medications, technologies, and best practices emerge every year. Staying current is important—but so is staying curious.
Every shift is an opportunity to learn something new. Sometimes it’s a medical lesson, sometimes it’s a lesson in communication, leadership, or personal growth. Chris Endfinger believes that the best doctors are the ones who reflect on their experiences, seek feedback, and keep striving to improve—even decades into their careers.
He also encourages young doctors to find mentors they trust. Having someone to talk to, ask questions, or debrief after tough cases can make the difference between surviving in medicine and truly thriving in it.
Passing the Torch with Purpose
Emergency medicine is not for the faint of heart. It demands quick thinking, steady hands, and a strong sense of purpose. For the next generation of emergency physicians, having the guidance of experienced mentors like Chris Endfinger MD can be the key to building confidence, avoiding burnout, and finding joy in a demanding career.
Ultimately, the emergency room will always be a place of challenge and reward. It will stretch young doctors in ways they can’t anticipate. But with the right mindset—one grounded in humility, compassion, and curiosity—they won’t just survive it. They’ll grow into the kind of physicians patients never forget.
And that, as Dr. Endfinger has learned over a lifetime in the ER, is the true measure of success.
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