Every year I am a witness to a phenomenon I call Intern's Syndrome. I have been teaching dental interns for over 30 years.

At present I am an attending dentist at Jamaica Hospital and its dental program is one of the finest in the country. Every year we get seven new dental school graduates who have just completed a four-year course in dentistry.

When they arrive, they are bursting with energy and a knowledge of theories and formulas, but they are a little short on practical applications for patient treatment.

That is where the attending dentist comes in. He must mediate between the new intern and the patient.

Let me describe Intern's Syndrome.

When the new graduates first step onto the clinic floor, they are a little afraid. (A new place, new people, new procedures). At this time, they are wonderfully deferential to the teaching of the older practitioners.

"Yessirs" and "Thank you, sirs" fly all over the place. Their concentration on each and every suggestion that comes out of the mouth of an instructor is awe-inspiring. Teaching interns during the first six months is exhilarating.

At about the sixth month a new thinking and attitude start to form. The "Yessirs" turn into "OK" and "I Know" or "Sure, sure." The "Thank you, sirs" slowly start to vanish and are replaced by a wagging of the head or a soft grunt. They act like they know it all, and always did. Intern's Syndrome has broken out.

It promises to be a raging epidemic! After six months, the once-revered instructors are hiding in the lavatories, rather than approaching these newly erudite and perfect practitioners. Around graduation time (the end of June), a swaggering and false confidence is in the air. Fear of the outside world, getting positions and starting new practices is camouflaged with a false bravado.

What is the cure for Intern's Syndrome?

Reality is the only cure!

The reality of negotiating a lease or putting money down on a house or office.

The cost of buying expensive equipment. Making life decisions for your family. These are chastening times and help is needed!

The graduating interns reassume the deferential position and again accept advice and counseling. The cycle is now complete.

My observations of this aspect of human behavior applies to other fields of training and/or apprenticeships.

At the start of a new position we are timid and a bit awkward. As time passes we become more confident and sometimes overconfident.

These young men and women are all fine, enthusiastic, hard-working professionals who will make their parents and teachers proud of them.

This is only one man's observation!