Our Hidden Curriculums

What exactly is the "hidden curriculum" in medical training? Is it just the unwritten rules and expected "pieces of flair," or is it the critical soft skills we rely on every single shift? In this episode of EM Over Easy, Andy, Molly, Trish, and Drew dive deep into the unspoken culture of emergency medicine. From residency to life as an attending, the crew unpacks the hidden lessons that shape how we practice—and how we live. We discuss the constant tug-of-war between efficiency and empathy, the evolution of showing vulnerability after a tough resuscitation, and the very real struggle of trying not to triage your family members when you go home. Ultimately, the team answers the most important question: How do we take the best parts of the hidden curriculum and finally bring them into the light for the next generation of learners? In this episode, we cover: What is the Hidden Curriculum? (And the classic Office Space "flair" analogy) Service vs. Education: The legacy of house officer shifts. Efficiency vs. Empathy: How to deliver a cancer diagnosis when a trauma is rolling in. Vulnerability in the ED: Normalizing the emotional toll of the pit and learning to compartmentalize. The ED Persona at Home: Why you need to stop treating your family's stories like an ESI 5 triage note. Unlearning the Bad Habits: Why you don't need to die on every single hill with consultants. Making the Hidden, Unhidden: Using simulation and purposeful modeling to teach the unwritten rules of medicine.