Yoshito Nishimura, MD, PhD, MPH
University of Hawaii, PGY3
Why did you choose internal medicine?
Choosing internal medicine as my specialty was driven by my passion for continuity of care and the rapidly evolving nature of the field. As a medical student, I remember I had the opportunity to build long-term relationships with my patients, allowing me to gain deeper insights into their medical histories, lifestyles, and health goals. The reward of seeing patients I cared for in the hospital improve in a clinic setting deeply resonated with me. By staying up to date with the latest medical advancements, research, and best practices, I can make a tangible impact on the quality of care I provide, leading to improved patient outcomes. I am grateful for the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those I serve.
What lesson(s) did you learn in residency that can help you for the rest of your career?
Residency taught me the importance of addressing clinical questions promptly. In busy hospital or clinic settings, time flies, and unanswered questions can lead to outdated knowledge in practice. Developing the mindset to find answers to clinical questions on the same day has helped me maintain an updated knowledge base throughout my career.
Also, the importance of team-based care and interdisciplinary efforts was striking to me. You can barely address patients’ problems by yourself, and how to better involve team members and coordinate everyone’s efforts are among the most crucial parts of internal medicine.
What are your plans for after residency? Are you becoming a chief, going into fellowship, or starting as an attending? What factors or advice from mentors contributed to your decision?
I am becoming a chief resident and planning to pursue a hematology/oncology fellowship. My strong interest in academic medicine and research, and encouragement from mentors who understood my passions, led me to the chief residency path. My most memorable patient interactions have been with hematology and cancer patients, which made me realize that this is the field where I can be both passionate and empathetic.
How has being a member of ACP helped you in your professional life? What resources have been most helpful to you?
I have been involved in ACP since 2016 when I was a resident in Japan and was elected as a resident/fellow committee member there. Since I became involved in the national Council of Resident/Fellow Members in 2021, I learned the impact of ACP on health policy and daily practice, and I discovered ACP resources such as the Core IM podcast and online educational materials.
ACP has been a big help for me in building connections with those who have the same points of view on career goals and professional growth. This is where I always want to return when I feel stuck during my journey as an internal medicine physician.