Why Medicine?
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Source: SheMD
Everything
boils down to this question. The one question your relatives, friends, patients
and even the medical school admissions interviewer love asking. Well, to be
frank…I do not have a perfect answer to it either. Everyone goes into medicine for a different reason.
Source: Kevin MD
Being a
science-stream student since high school made me more inclined towards pursuing a
science degree because I was in my comfort zone. I love interacting with people;
I love the hustle and bustle of the hospital; I love running around on my feet;
I love being able to help people. Putting together everything in a Venn diagram
just made it more obvious that I was suited for a career in Healthcare sciences.
I remembered telling the professor sitting opposite the table during the interview that it was my sister who suddenly had an allergic reaction to the cough syrup she ingested that sparked my interest in medicine. I tried my best to look awed and inspired by that one incident. The truth is, I was not. Cliché as it sounds, I felt that I had to give them a model answer instead of the real answer.
I remembered telling the professor sitting opposite the table during the interview that it was my sister who suddenly had an allergic reaction to the cough syrup she ingested that sparked my interest in medicine. I tried my best to look awed and inspired by that one incident. The truth is, I was not. Cliché as it sounds, I felt that I had to give them a model answer instead of the real answer.
Nevertheless, during my years of practical training in various hospitals, I started to see the reasons doctors stay on being doctors. Although there is a handful who are in it for the money and respected social status, I could see that most doctors are driven by the sheer desire of being able to help their patients feel better.
I happen to
know Dr X, a well-trained and experienced paediatric neurologist in the region,
whom opted to stay in the government hospital despite having offers from
private hospitals. Most doctors would not resist the huge payroll, comfortable
working environment and flexible working hours. I remembered asking him the
reason for turning down such offers and all I got was a simple answer: "What
would happen to my patients whom could not afford the high hospital bills in
private practice? Whom would they see?"
His reply really
struck a chord with me, and I realized that it is his passion and immense care
towards his patients that brought him where he is today. There are so many
other doctors out there with the same attitude towards patients and these
people really deserve a standing ovation. I could only hope that I could one day be
like them, not driven by money or fame, but by the same reason I chose to do
medicine.
I took this
path and have not regretted since (at least, not yet!). Honestly speaking, studying medicine is not
an easy task, but if you feel that you could do it and want to do it for the
right reasons, go for it by all means. Always remember that spark in your heart that made you choose medicine and keep it there during the whole of your career. It will be your greatest driving force.
But if you
are standing at a crossroad trying to figure out what you want to do with your
life at a tender age of 17, my only advice would be to just take a step back
and re-evaluate the things you love to do. The things you could see yourself
doing for the next 30 years. Long as it may sound, medicine is a never-ending journey of studying (and forgetting the things you've learnt! ooops) and rediscovering the wonders of the human body. So....be extra sure before committing!
Source: Pinterest
0 comments