the matrix

In my world right now this makes so much sense:

"So [given your extensive training and how hard you work] in your heart of hearts - why do you not quite feel like [you know everything]?

The experience of a medical and scientific education is transformational. It is like moving to a new country. At first, you don’t know the language, let alone the customs and concepts. But then, almost imperceptibly, that changes. Half the words you now routinely use you did not know existed when you started: words like arterial-blood gas, nasogastric tube, microarray, logistic regression, NMDA receptor, velluvial matrix.

O.K., I made that last one up. But the velluvial matrix sounds like something you should know about, doesn’t it? And that’s the problem. I will let you in on a little secret. You never stop wondering if there is a velluvial matrix you should know about."

- Atul Gawande 

at a graduation speech to PhD and MD candidates by Atul Gawande