My first call night as an intern, I ran into Dr M, one of the senior attendings, whom I had known for several years. ‘How’s it going?’ he asked me. I told him I was on call. ‘First call?’ He smiled. ‘I remember my first call. About ten o’clock that night, my resident said to me, “I’m going to be just behind that door. Call me if you need me. But remember – it’s a sign of weakness.”’