addition by retraction

The idea that you earn some major points as a medical student if you do an exceptional job and remain utterly enthusiastic while performing a seemingly mundane task such as pulling back tissue in surgery for your attending doctor.

Student 1: "I can't believe Johnny got that residency spot. Must've been his positivie attitude and his efforts to do everything he could to help out his attendings in surgery."

Student 2: "Yeah, must've been a case of 'addition by retraction'."

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