Hot Tropical back home warming up in Moscow
STAR Education 1 April 2007 has an interesting article : Are you doctor material ? Here’s summary of it :
It pointed out that Dr. Gregory House , of House, is one of the popular medical myths misleading students about the profession these days. MMCouncil and academic Prof Dr Zabidi Azhar says that ” The lack of communication skills is the biggest complain against local doctors. You need to like people and have a caring character, as well as be able to communicate well. ” Another myths , he adds, is that to excel in medicine, one would need straight As. ” It is true that you need to have some brains to be a good doctor but the fact is , a flat 4 CGPA does not a good doctor make. “
Former academic and MMA WP branch chairman Dr Kuljit Singh agreed , ” exam results may not help students when studying medicine, as many of those are result-orientated, many do not have interpersonal skills. To be a doctor, you are required to deal with emotions and feelings; patients are not machines.” he said.
A final-year student said he’d come to realise that the most important thing is to develop good people skills. You need to communicate well, and you need to want to help people.
UKM medical faculty dean Prof Dr Lokman Saim said, ” Students have to know what they are really interested in and why they want to do medicine. Eg. is it bcos they want to help cure people or bcos they like to learn about diseases ? If they are interested in diseases , they are better suited to medical labs, not to hospitals.
” Author of The life of a doctor, Cardiologist Dr ong Hean Teik said, those who are doing medicine for other people usually don’t make good doctors.
UPM medical faculty dean agreed, ” the best doctors are those who are really keen on the vocation, not those who are in it for reasons they are imaagining or not clear of. It is a tough job being a medical student and ten a doctor. It also does not pay as well as other vocations if you compare head to head.So, only true believers in the profession, and those with love for the sick- people with the right attitude and minds - will succeed. “
Dr. Leticia W, who graduated recently advises, ” It’s a calling. You don’t have to be driven by dreams of saving mankind or finding a cure for cancer, you need to be grounded to be a good doctor. It is hard work and sometimes unrewarding. Other times, it takes small things to make it worthwhile, like getting a relieved look or smile or a simple Thank You from patients .”
So, you see, it is not outstanding exam results to make a good doctor. Relax. You have had the right mind of wanting to help people, you even know is to help and not necessarily saving life at times, you have the right attitude knowing that it is not for money that you studied medicine - you will be successful. However , you need to cultivate more metta, caring and develop communicating skills to deal with emotions and non-machine patients like they pointed out. Learn to acquire more knowledge, then apply with right mindfulness - wanting to help people , by using effective interpersonal skills. That should be the way to SUCCESS in medicine !

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