Medicine, Not Just A Course But A Calling - Education - Nairaland
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| Medicine, Not Just A Course But A Calling by mrpackager(m): 1:45pm On May 14, 2015 |
For centuries, the medical doctor has been one of the most respected members of society. Traditional healers of indigenous tribes were revered for their knowledge of the healing arts. In Nigeria, the doctor is called upon not only treat patients, but is also called upon for advice and guidance as well. This is one of the reasons why year in, and year out, Medicine has been one of the most sought after courses in UTME examinations. But what does it mean to be a medical doctor? The Joy of Being a Medical Doctor, I am a surgeon, an orthopeadic surgeon. Orthopaedic surgeons treat diseases and injuries to bones, ligaments and tendons. Yes, I love being a surgeon. Each day when I wake up and look in the mirror, I know that my goal is to help my patients, either directly or by teaching students and resident doctors – hopefully making them better doctors. Medicine satisfies my yearning for knowledge. Patients are often like mysteries in a detective story. They come with problems which the doctor has to decipher. Doctors collect clues in form of what the patient tells them (this is called history), physical examinations and appropriate diagnostic investigations. Using those clues, doctors strive to develop a management strategy which takes into consideration the patient's desires and our best knowledge of the evidence. The doctor patient interaction is special, very special indeed. When I introduce myself to a patient, I almost always sense the patient trusting me, giving me that encouragement that we are working together towards the common goal of getting them over their diseases. It is a very special feeling. You feel very fortunate that patients trust you with their information. I remembered the first time I watched a caesarian section. The surgeon brought the baby boy out of the uterus. I went with the nurse to examine the baby and check his weight and height, count his heart rate, and check his breathing. That day, I couldn't help but marveled at the mystery of creation. I also couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be to be a doctor who can take care of women at the moments of their worst fears and their greatest joy. Some years ago, I managed an eleven year old boy with club foot. The parents were very poor. It took them almost three months to raise the less than thirty thousand Naira needed for the final phase of the treatment. The boy had been walking with a limp all his life. When I took off the POP on his foot, and he saw how close to normal his foot was, he moved to me and held me tightly to himself, saying over and over again "Thank you, thank you….." When I looked at his mother, she had a huge smile on her face and tears were trickling down her face. Those were the kinds of memories that makes being a doctor worth the toils and the tears and the grit that goes into making you one. The challenges of patient care and the non-monetary rewards will continue to make medicine a wonderful field. Yes, many doctors are not making a lot of money, but they are making enough for themselves and their families to be comfortable. Most derive their greatest compensation from the personal satisfaction of caring for all those who came to see them. Sometimes, I wake up wondering why I'm a medical doctor, knowing I could be whatever I had wanted to be. However, with the same line of thought comes the realization that there's nothing else I'd rather be. Do You Have What It Takes to Become a Medical Doctor? Becoming a doctor takes time. After secondary education, you will spend six years in the medical school, one year as an intern and another year as a Youth Corper. That's eight years from starting university to practicing medicine. If you decide to become a specialist, then you are looking at another 4-9 years of residency training in a teaching hospital. This means that to become a specialist doctor, you need between 12 and 17 years of training, counting from your first year in the university. It takes a certain amount of intelligence to become a medical doctor. However, organization and good study habits can make the difference between a mediocre student who gets through medical school and a brilliant student who fails to make it. There are three cornerstones of a successful (this success is not defined by money!) career in medicine: A love for learning in general. A true intellectual curiosity about medicine in particular. A strong desire to help others. Being smart and doing well in the sciences are obviously important components of being a successful physician. But these are not the only requirement, you must also be able to relate well with people. As a physician you have an opportunity to help others. Wanting to help others and enjoying helping others are necessary attributes of a good physician. This is something that cannot be taught. In medicine, you have many choices. In what other career can you choose between delivering babies (Obstetricians), taking care of children (Paediatricians), treating women (Gynaecologists), handling emergencies (Traumatologists), removing a hernia or appendix (Surgeons), helping those with behavioural problems (Psychiatrists), or preventing diseases (Community Medicine)? Better yet, as a specialist, you can teach others your medical specialty, while still practicing your profession. Alternately, you can do research in whatever specialty you choose, with the potential to make a real breakthrough in preventing or treating illness. There is even a Nobel Prize for Medicine. You can become the Wole Soyinka of Medicine! In addition, being a physician is honourable and is held in high esteem. It allows you to live just about anywhere, and provides job security. However, all of this comes at a price. The many years of preparation, the discipline, the awesome responsibility and the long call duty hours can take their toll. Medicine is a unique field and it demands a unique person. What Subjects Should You Take in Your Senior Secondary School to Qualify for Admission to Read Medicine? According to the MDCN Website (the Red Book), the following secondary school subjects are required for medical education in Nigeria: 1. Biology 2. Physics 3. Chemistry 4. Mathematics 5. English . Prospective medical students must pass the West African School Certificate or the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination or any equivalent examination, Such as National Examination Council (NECO), with at least Credit level passes in the above five subjects. They must then either: 1. Pass the JAME Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination) for admission into the University preliminary (premedical) year or 2. Secure exemption from the JAME and the University Preliminary year by passing the Advanced Level General Certificate (GCE'A' Level). Higher School Certificate (HSC) or its equivalent examination in: Biology: Chemistry and Physics. Subject to the co-ordinating regulations of the JAME, it shall be the right of the Medical School to select candidates for final admission to their institutions from among eligible candidates who possess these minimum requirements. You need to score a high mark in your UTME examination. In theory, you are advised to score at least 200 in UTME examinations to be considered for admission into most universities, in practice, to be considered for medicine, you may need to score 250 and above. After that, you will need to pass the Post UTME Screening Examinations of the University of your choice very well too. What are Your Choice of Universities? Depending on their ownerships, Nigerian Universities can be divided into three: Federal Universities, State Owned Universities, and Private Universities. According to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), there are 32 medical schools in Nigeria (MDCN is a federal Government parastatal which regulates the practice of Medicine, Dentistry and Alternative Medicine in Nigeria). Twenty five are fully accredited to train medical students while 7 has partial accreditation… source: http://myschool.com.ng/school/news/36488/medicine-not-just-a-course-but-a-calling.html cc lalasticlala fynestboi |
| Re: Medicine, Not Just A Course But A Calling by tohpahz(f): 2:15pm On May 14, 2015 |
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| Re: Medicine, Not Just A Course But A Calling by mrpackager(m): 4:35pm On May 14, 2015 |
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