--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, in picking a doctor, you should…" description: "\"I think, in picking a doctor, you should focus less on the degree and more on their knowledge, bedside manner, communication, and patients' experiences..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/mikhail-varshavski-14462_communication_i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-f_1450234.jpg" --- # I think, in picking a doctor, you should focus less on the… ![“I think, in picking a doctor, you should focus less on the degree and more on their knowledge, bedside manner, communication, and patients' experiences.” quote by Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/mikhail-varshavski-14462_communication_i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-f_1450234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/mikhail-varshavski-14462_communication_i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-f_1450234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/mikhail-varshavski-14462_communication_i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-f_1450234.jpg) > “I think, in picking a doctor, you should focus less on the degree and more on their knowledge, bedside manner, communication, and patients' experiences.” [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When choosing a doctor, prioritize practical skills and patient interaction over formal credentials. **In simple terms:** Focus on knowledge and bedside manner, not just degrees. Key Takeaway Prioritize competence and empathy. Themes healthcare patient care trust Mood analytical practical Type informative advisory When to use this quote - selecting a primary care physician - choosing a specialist - evaluating telemedicine services Key Concepts competence communication experience Questions to Reflect On - What qualities matter most to you in a doctor? - How do you verify a doctor’s competence? A Different Perspective Credentials still matter for certain procedures and regulatory compliance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bedside manner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedside-manner/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) ## Related quotes > [You need a good bedside manner with doctors or you will get nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/you-need-a-good-bedside-manner-with-doctors-or-you-will-get-nowhere/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“Next day, after lunch, I went to see "our" doctor, a friendly fellow whose perfect bedside manner and complete reliance on a few patented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/next-day-after-lunch-i-went-to-see-our-doctor-a-friendly-fellow-whose/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Is it going to hurt?" "You bet." Sergeant Major had a lousy bedside manner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/is-it-going-to-hurt-you-bet-sergeant-major-had-a-lousy-bedside-manner/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Hardy Cates," I said, coming into the room, "you behave, or I'll step on your tube." The nurse seemed taken aback by my unsympathetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/hardy-cates-i-said-coming-into-the-room-you-behave-or-i-ll-step-on/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“Morbid anatomy is essential to training and research, but leads many doctors into thinking that life is an agitation in something essentially dead. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alasdair-gray/morbid-anatomy-is-essential-to-training-and-research-but-leads-many/) [Alasdair Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alasdair-gray/) > [These doctors, who had long experience with people in pain in addition to their traditional training and schooling, had discovered that nothing happens without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-jackson/these-doctors-who-had-long-experience-with-people-in-pain-in-addition/) [Marni Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-jackson/) > [“Have we arrived?” “Just.” “Verdict?” “My goodman, do I look like your valet?” “No. She was much fairer. With better bedside manner.” “Adorable, pretending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/have-we-arrived-just-verdict-my-goodman-do-i-look-like-your-valet-no/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [“The midpoint in medicine between excessive emotional involvement with patients and a complete lack of empathy is not a simple one to locate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-montross/the-midpoint-in-medicine-between-excessive-emotional-involvement-with/) [Christine Montross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-montross/) > [“A rush of sensation pulsed through her, lingering long after his touch. The towel quickly fell free. 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Speak in hushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-worth/tread-softly-as-you-draw-near-to-the-bedside-of-a-dying-man-for-the/) [Jennifer Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-worth/) > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More by Mikhail Varshavski > [When we prescribe antibiotics for a strep throat, it's not even for the strep throat. It's for the complications of the strep throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/when-we-prescribe-antibiotics-for-a-strep-throat-it-s-not-even-for/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Think about old people; think about young people, those with immune system problems. They can't really protect themselves well against the flu, so by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/think-about-old-people-think-about-young-people-those-with-immune/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [When you get a full night's sleep, which can vary from 7 to 9 hours for different individuals, it's been proven that all aspects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/when-you-get-a-full-night-s-sleep-which-can-vary-from-7-to-9-hours/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [It is unfair to say one doctor is better than the other based on a degree, especially because we are all trained together during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/it-is-unfair-to-say-one-doctor-is-better-than-the-other-based-on-a/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [The public has this misconception that vaping is a safe alternative when compared to cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/the-public-has-this-misconception-that-vaping-is-a-safe-alternative/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Sleep is a regenerative process where we heal and where our neurons build strong connections. It's like a fountain of youth that we dive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/sleep-is-a-regenerative-process-where-we-heal-and-where-our-neurons/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [The field of medicine is one you have to have a lot of dedication to enter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/the-field-of-medicine-is-one-you-have-to-have-a-lot-of-dedication-to/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [If they are going to be outside, make sure you wash your pets, because your pets will bring in a ton of pollen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/if-they-are-going-to-be-outside-make-sure-you-wash-your-pets-because/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Hospitals feel like they need to increase prices to make up for treating patients that don't pay their bills or that are not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/hospitals-feel-like-they-need-to-increase-prices-to-make-up-for/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Those people who get the flu shot not only protect themselves from getting the flu or reducing their likelihood of developing the flu, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/those-people-who-get-the-flu-shot-not-only-protect-themselves-from/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Most people, when they think about going into medicine, they think they have to give up their lives, and I was the prime example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/most-people-when-they-think-about-going-into-medicine-they-think-they/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [The best date I've had would probably have to be one where I went hiking to a big mountain here in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/the-best-date-i-ve-had-would-probably-have-to-be-one-where-i-went/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [If your child has a strep throat, and you're on vacation, it doesn't necessarily mean that they need antibiotics. In fact, by the majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/if-your-child-has-a-strep-throat-and-you-re-on-vacation-it-doesn-t/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Men are at risk for breast cancer as well. That's absolutely true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/men-are-at-risk-for-breast-cancer-as-well-that-s-absolutely-true/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Doctors have a really big fear of looking unprofessional. I've always said that if you're a professional person, you'll never come off looking unprofessional,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/doctors-have-a-really-big-fear-of-looking-unprofessional-i-ve-always/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) [Explore all 46 Mikhail Varshavski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) ## More Bedside quotes > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [You need a good bedside manner with doctors or you will get nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/you-need-a-good-bedside-manner-with-doctors-or-you-will-get-nowhere/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [Tread softly as you draw near to the bedside of a dying man, for the space around him is holy ground. Speak in hushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-worth/tread-softly-as-you-draw-near-to-the-bedside-of-a-dying-man-for-the/) [Jennifer Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-worth/) > [I stretched out my hand towards the little bookshelf where I kept cookery and devotional books, the most comfortable bedside reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/i-stretched-out-my-hand-towards-the-little-bookshelf-where-i-kept/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [Oh, may she deign to stand atmy bedside When I come to die; and may she call to me And draw me to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/oh-may-she-deign-to-stand-atmy-bedside-when-i-come-to-die-and-may-she/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [“If we know the books located at the bedside, we know much about the man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-l-callister/if-we-know-the-books-located-at-the-bedside-we-know-much-about-the-man/) Douglas L. Callister > [Hospitals are very extreme places - you can be in a maternity room one minute, and by someone's bedside as they're dying the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/hospitals-are-very-extreme-places-you-can-be-in-a-maternity-room-one/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [Medicine is learned by the bedside and not in the classroom. Let not your conceptions of disease come from words heard in the lecture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/medicine-is-learned-by-the-bedside-and-not-in-the-classroom-let-not/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [“Now more than ever, you have to be there for each other. I don’t want either of you staying up all night at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kalanithi/now-more-than-ever-you-have-to-be-there-for-each-other-i-don-t-want/) [Paul Kalanithi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kalanithi/) > [After all, at end of the day, when you're breathing your last, it's not your producer, director, or cast mates by your bedside; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/after-all-at-end-of-the-day-when-you-re-breathing-your-last-it-s-not/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [A good conscience will be found a pleasant visitor at our bedside in a dying hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/a-good-conscience-will-be-found-a-pleasant-visitor-at-our-bedside-in/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The growing professional disciplines of medical ethics and bioethics have had a profound impact on researchers, bedside doctors, associations of physicians, and government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/the-growing-professional-disciplines-of-medical-ethics-and-bioethics/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [I always have several books on the go at any one moment, so it's no good you asking 'What's on the bedside table at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-always-have-several-books-on-the-go-at-any-one-moment-so-it-s-no/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I tell residents, if you gave me two patients with identical problems, and one of them had family at the bedside with a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-hamilton/i-tell-residents-if-you-gave-me-two-patients-with-identical-problems/) [Allan Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-hamilton/) > [My name is Herondale," the boy said cheerfully. "William Herondale, but everyone calls me Will. Is this really your room? Not very nice, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/my-name-is-herondale-the-boy-said-cheerfully-william-herondale-but/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) Browse all 55 Bedside quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think, in picking a doctor, you should focus less on the degree and more on their knowledge, bedside manner, communication, and patients' experiences.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mikhail Varshavski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-focus-less-on-the-degree-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bedside" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-focus-less-on-the-degree-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/mikhail-varshavski-14462_communication_i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-f_1450234.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/mikhail-varshavski-14462_communication_i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-f_1450234.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/mikhail-varshavski-14462_communication_i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-f_1450234.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think, in picking a doctor, you should focus less on the degree and more on their knowledge, bedside…” — Mikhail Varshavski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mikhail Varshavski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think, in picking a doctor,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-focus-less-on-the-degree-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/i-think-in-picking-a-doctor-you-should-focus-less-on-the-degree-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```