..From the Heart Of a Doctor..
Dr. Sloan MD was being interviewed by Sarah, a freelance education counselor on his experience as a medical doctor. In this rather informal interview session, he has in his own way, shared his insights into medicine and also offered some tips for those aspiring young doctors.
Sarah : Thanks for accepting my invitation.
Dr.SloanMD : It’s my pleasure. Thanks for inviting me as well.
Sarah : What should a student prepare before entering medical college ?
Dr.SloanMD : First of all, he needs to know if medicine is what he wants. For that, it is wiser to stop watching all the medical series like Grey’s Anatomy, ER etc. Instead, he should consider going to hospital and tag along a House Officer (H.O) to understand the nature of work.
Sarah : Tagging along a House officer…?
Dr.SloanMD : Exactly, tagging means he follows the House Officer( H.O ) on call, interview and examine patients on admission besides seeing patients in clinic. That is crucial as it will give the student an idea how is the life as especially being a H.O.
Sarah : Don’t they learn more under Specialists or Consultant in hospital/ward ?
Dr.SloanMD : Of course, in terms of knowledge and experience they are much better than any H.O. However, these aspiring young doctors may not be able to absorb what these Specialists or Consultant has to share simply because they are still new in medical field. You need to know how it is like being a doctor especially during the most challenging period- Housemanship training. In order to have a close taste in that, I would suggest again to follow and see how a H.O work. Most of the H.O in the country work more than 24hrs during on call period. As for me, it was quite usual to work upto 36hrs including 12hrs oncall non stop.
Sarah : Can they follow Specialist and Consultant to see the life of doctor ?
Dr.SloanMD : Well, that is what many students are doing. With due respect, I have no objection. You see a Consultant or Specialist works, you may think that is all being a doctor- seeing patients in clinics, many medical representatives waiting to see Consultant in front of the room. Occasionally, consultants are being required to teach medical students. Then, doing some elective cases in operation theater. Basically, young aspiring doctors may get the wrong notion as being a doctor means having a life like a Consultant whom they have witnessed the life being one during office hours. What happens after office hours, he doesn’t know. Consultants / Specialists would be called to hospital IF needed. While House Officers stay in hospital. That is a major difference.
Sarah : Perhaps that is why many students ask how to become a heart surgeon or brain surgeon instead of how to qualify for a medical doctor.
Dr.SloanMD : Totally agree. I certainly have no objection in that goal setting. However, like I always say you must know if you like football all together instead of just idolizing David Beckham. Like David Beckham, you should know how much he has sacrificed in order to reach his current status.
Sarah : I have met some students doing electives in some hospitals. They do clinical attachment to Consultants and Specialists rather than H.O. Am I right ?
Dr.SloanMD : Yeah. These are medical students who are already in their clinical year. Thus, attaching them to clinical experts would be more helpful. By then, they should already know what to expect in medicine. Certainly, it is not another episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Otherwise, I am afraid it is quite late to make a change.
Sarah : You mean there are students who didn’t finish medical course ?
Dr.SloanMD : Not surprising. There are those who graduated but don’t practice at all. Medicine is emotionally and physically demanding.
Sarah : Supposed a student has decided to take up this medicine after seeing HO training. What is next ?
Dr.SloanMD : Choosing a medical college is important. The first criteria is if it is being recognized by the local Medical Council. It is important to note that even though W.H.O ( World Health Organisation ) recognizes a medical qualification, does not mean Malaysia Medical Council would. Thus, it is crucial to consult MMC ( www.mmc.gov.my ). It is always wiser to check the list from MMC rather than just buying what those agents are selling about the medical colleges.
Sarah : How important is MMC ?
Dr.SloanMD : Let’s put it in a simple manner. You need to register under MMC if you are planning to practice in Malaysia regardless in government or private without which you would be deemed as doctor practicing illegally.
Sarah : Lately, there are many medical colleges offering medical twinning programme. What is your view on that ?
Dr.SloanMD : As I told most of the students and parents, I am not in any way trying to promote any medical college. However, twinning programme has its advantages- saving cost, time (sometimes) and most importantly, it offers the best of both world.
Sarah : What should be considered besides the tuition fees for medical studies ?
Dr.SloanMD : Fees is important as it is one of the most costly undergraduate courses. Besides fees, recognition from MMC, I supposed most of the medical colleges have modern interactive teaching modules which are meant to make the learning more interesting and fun. Anyway, you can’t actually choose or tell the lecturer how to teach you…can you ?
Sarah : Is it true all medical students get ragging in the orientation ?
Dr.SloanMD : Ragging is a sensitive terms during my time. Anyway, the best to do is keep a low profile and respect others all the time even after the orientation. Being a doctor means you are still a human after all… that is a important reminder to keep your foot on the ground.
Sarah : Do all medical students study all the time ? Are they nerds ? Come On..do they have a life ?
Dr.SloanMD : Personally, I choose to believe it is a matter of choice. I had quite a wonderful college time. Representing my Uni twice for National Inter Uni Sport event was cool. Besides, I managed to travel a lot….during my medical student life.
Sarah : What is the most challenging thing being a doctor ?
Dr.SloanMD : Good question. To me is gathering sufficient courage to admit that I don’t know and I shall learn more. Ego is the worst evil for all….that includes medical doctors too.
Sarah : You seem like having a lot to share. Why don’t you include more on these topics on life as a medical doctor in your blog ?
Dr.SloanMD : Well, at the moment I haven’t thought of that. I am more into sharing and exploring the non conventional and alternative therapy.
Sarah : I thought you are a medical doctor , western medicine ?
Dr.SloanMD : True enough, I graduated with medical degree. To me that is not enough, I wish to know more. There are so much to learn. Health is really difficult to define let alone to attain. It is more of a holistic state of physical, mental and spiritual. I keep myself open to receive more knowledge.
Sarah : Interesting indeed. I came to know you read on many topics as well. Robert Kiyosaki…Anthony Robbins…John Grey… I bet those non medical books are as many as medical books ?
Dr.SloanMD : Yeah… I love reading. I lost count on those books. All I know is I need more space to keep those books. Perhaps, a bigger home could be a good solution.
Sarah : Would you like to suggest any books to aspiring young doctors ?
Dr.SloanMD : Sure…but none of those you had mentioned. As for medicine, I would like students to read books by Sir William Osler – “ The Student Life” (http://essays.quotidiana.org/osler/student_life) , “The life of Sir William Osler” by Cusing,Harvey, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1925. It would be great if an aspiring students can read more on Sir William Osler (http://www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/osler/osler150.htm), a truly great physician of all time before enrolling into medical college.
Sarah : You read both books ?
Dr.SloanMD : I had only one- “The Student Life”. Sad to say, I am still looking for the “The life Of Sir William Osler” by Harvey Cushing. Harvey Cushing was a student of Sir William Osler and apparently he stayed next to his room in the John Hopkins days. Osler had a great influence in Cushing who had written the book on this great physician though Cushing eventually became the pioneer in Neurosugery.
Sarah : It has been really interesting chatting with you. I am sure those students have learnt something from you.
Dr.SloanMD : You are welcome.
There are quite a number of private medical colleges offering medical course locally. Most of these colleges offer twinning programmes where part of the medical course would be done in overseas.
Among the more established medical colleges are being listed here .
1) International Medical University, I.M.U
http://www.imu.edu.my/
http://www.imu.edu.my/pro-un-medicine.html
“The IMU Medical Programme is unique with the option to choose to complete the programme locally or at one of the Partner Medical Schools (PMS) located in the United seek new knowledge in medicine, acquire problem-solving and new skills independently, utilising the wide range of teaching-learning resources available, more so since the IMU emphasises self-directed independent learning”.PROF YASMIN ABDUL MALIK,Dean, Medical Sciences
2) Melaka Manipal Medical College , M.M.M.C
http://www.manipal.edu/manipalsite/Users/ManipalHome.aspx
M.M.M.C offers the best of both worlds to medical students …..combining the pre clinical years in Manipal with the clinical exposure in Melaka.
The Melaka Manipal Medical College Malaysia (MMMC) is one of the newest institutions of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), which comprises two universities, 18 professional colleges, 17 other institutions of higher learning, 18 secondary and primary schools, 11 hospitals and 8 rural health centres. MEMG has campuses in India, Malaysia, Nepal and Dubai and twinning programs with universities in USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Nepal and the West Indies
MMMC has its origins in unique circumstances-being the first Indo-Malaysian joint venture in professional education. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and India in New Delhi in 1993 and the state government of Melaka subsequently became a partner in the project. In every aspect, this institution represents a true partnership. The preclinical training is done in Manipal, India and the clinical training in Melaka, Malaysia. The Malaysian government has provided the Melaka and Muar General Hospitals for the clinical training. The MBBS degree is awarded by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, a deemed university.
Manipal Video Clip….
3) Penang Medical College , P.M.C
http://www.pmc.edu.my/
PMC is a partnership with two of the oldest and most respected medical schools in Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and University College Dublin (UCD). PMC students undertake their Pre-Clinical studies at either RCSI or UCD, where they gain a comprehensive understanding of the biomedical sciences necessary to enter Clinical training. Upon successful completion of their Pre-Clinical studies, students return to pursue their Clinical training in Penang. During their period of clinical training in Penang, the students remain registered as full-time students of either RCSI or UCD.
4) University Kuala Lumpur , Royal College of Perak
http://www.perakmed.edu.my/index.php
The Medical Degree programme at UniKL RCMP offers a broad based education and training that leads to the professional qualification of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS – Universiti Kuala Lumpur). The course equips medical students with the skills necessary to continue professional development after graduation.
The curriculum is based on the revised University of Sheffiled MBChb programme which has received LAN’s Accredition (A0541).
5) AIMST University
http://www.aimst.edu.my
It offers an innovative and clinically integrated curriculum that meets the needs of our local, national and global communities. The programme is spread over five years and leads to the MBBS degree. The School has, through an MoU with the Ministry of Health, Government of Malaysia, access to five teaching hospitals and twelve rural health clinics in the State in running its medical programme
It is crucial to check if the University/medical college is being recognised in the country where the doctor eventually wants to practise.
Malaysia Medical Council
http://mmc.gov.my/v1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=109
