By Francesca Mathewes

Physicians in 2025 face a myriad of challenges, from health insurance complexities to the rise in medical misinformation.

Four physicians recently came together to discuss the most difficult lessons they’ve had to learn in the profession.

Question: What’s the most difficult lesson you have learned as a physician?

Robert Duhaney, MD. Office Medical Director at Amazon One Medical (Austin, Texas): The most difficult lesson I’ve learned as a physician is that I cannot control every aspect of a patient’s perception of their care. I cannot meet every patient’s expectations, no matter how much I want to. Early in my career, I believed that every patient would be happy if I worked hard enough and cared deeply enough. Over time, I’ve realized that despite best efforts, patients may walk away unsatisfied for whatever reason, and this weighed heavily on me.

Medicine is a team effort, and even when I provide the best care I can, other pieces of the system may fall short and affect a patient’s perception of their visit, their clinic, or even me as their physician. It’s a balance of knowledge and humility, science and art. What I learned is that the only thing I can control is how I show up: working hard on their behalf, demonstrating genuine care, setting clear expectations, and being honest when we fall short. I’ve learned to find peace in that.

Kenneth Elconin MD. Orthopedic Surgeon at Orthopedic Surgery Medical Group (Los Angeles): The most difficult thing I had to learn as a physician is to just listen to the patient. Let them talk. You can make a diagnosis from just listening to the patient. Asking a few questions and letting them talk, I think, is the most significant part of your evaluation.

Marc Shelton, MD. Associate Professor of Cardiology at the University of Missouri Health System (St. Louis): The biggest difficult lesson that I have learned as a physician is that public opinion, driven by misguided passion fueled by unfounded information through the internet, instead of logic and data, can erode trust in our physicians and medical treatments that have been scientifically vetted and evaluated.

Easwar Sundaram Jr., MD. President of the Texas Institute for Neurological Disorders (Dallas): Unfortunately, the most difficult lesson is that in this world of different interests, including insurances, hospitals and other stakeholders, you are there alone fighting for the patient’s interest against all odds.