inquisito:

@beneli, i jst stumbled in2 this thread and i have really enjoyed it. My inquisition is that how come u have some amount of knowledge about everything. I will really like to be like you. How can I achieve that in my field (Engineering).

Bros (or sis) as the case may be, I respond to your question with a smile on my face! First of all I must say thanks for the compliment – my sons really have to hear this - you know, that bit about wanting to be like me and all!   

To be honest - and with all sense of modesty! - I think some may say that I fall into that category of people who are naturally 'adventurous' and curious about life . . . and about people. But I must say, that with the adventures have come a lot of mistakes - mistakes, which sometimes are so foolish that on remembering them, my brows now crease over in rubbery blushes! 

Professionally, I don’t know how it works in Engineering, but in Medicine, 'General practitioners' know a bit of everything! And I did practice as a General practitioner in Nigeria for quite some time, both in the private and public sector, in different parts of the country (the East, the West and the North) before I left for the UK almost 10 years ago. I have also had some dealings with the Voluntary sector (NGO’s) and International funding agencies, so have a bit of knowledge of different aspects of healthcare provision. Not to mention that life has been kind to me, so I have made a lot of really good and knowledgeable friends of all sorts of backgrounds who tell me what's going on in their corners of the world . . .   

On a personal level, I have at different times had to research into different things that pertain to my own career pathway, and even until today, I do continue to search and to revise where I am going. In the process, I have picked up snippets of knowledge here and there that do occasionally come in useful to me and to others!

And, I suppose my current role as a Psychiatrist has kept me interested in people – and also in my own 'soulical development'. So, I sometimes do make the effort to learn something knew to help those that I am involved with - in an ‘altruistic self-interest’ sort of way, if that makes any sense to you.

But if I really were to attempt advising anyone on how to become 'versatile' in life - or dare I say, advise someone on how to become slightly more knowledgeable than the average Joe . . . yeah right! . . . I’d say; ‘don't be afraid to learn something new; don’t be afraid to take risks in life’ and don't be afraid to make mistakes either, because once you prevail, you come out a better person!

Mind, I said; 'once you prevail'! You see, some mistakes live with you for the rest of your life, so beware! 

Like i said, i don't know how things work in the Engineering field. My cousins who are Engineers are more interested in the money making, and have at different times dismissed my 'adventures' as a joke. . . so what i have written would only appeal to a certain personality type!

I hope it all makes sense to you, though. If not, my defence is that I am just an aging shrink that also happens to be a bit eccentric. . .

@beneli, thanks for responding.
Guess I still have a lot to go thru.but the mistakes part mennnn!doesnt sound fun.Mistakes in life haunt me alot and I thus dont like making mistakes. Presently am trying to lead a life with zero mistakes,that is if attainable, by always having plans and contigency plans, as well as scrutinizing my thoughts before carrying them out. Anyways, thanks. guess I will work with your other points.

Quote from: inquisito on November 15, 2011, 12:15 PM
@beneli, i jst stumbled in2 this thread and i have really enjoyed it. My inquisition is that how come u have some amount of knowledge about everything. I will really like to be like you. How can I achieve that in my field (Engineering).


Bros (or sis) as the case may be, I respond to your question with a smile on my face! First of all I must say thanks for the compliment – my sons really have to hear this - you know, that bit about wanting to be like me and all!

To be honest - and with all sense of modesty! - I think some may say that I fall into that category of people who are naturally 'adventurous' and curious about life . . . and about people. But I must say, that with the adventures have come a lot of mistakes - mistakes, which sometimes are so foolish that on remembering them, my brows now crease over in rubbery blushes!

Professionally, I don’t know how it works in Engineering, but in Medicine, 'General practitioners' know a bit of everything! And I did practice as a General practitioner in Nigeria for quite some time, both in the private and public sector, in different parts of the country (the East, the West and the North) before I left for the UK almost 10 years ago. I have also had some dealings with the Voluntary sector (NGO’s) and International funding agencies, so have a bit of knowledge of different aspects of healthcare provision. Not to mention that life has been kind to me, so I have made a lot of really good and knowledgeable friends of all sorts of backgrounds who tell me what's going on in their corners of the world . . .

On a personal level, I have at different times had to research into different things that pertain to my own career pathway, and even until today, I do continue to search and to revise where I am going. In the process, I have picked up snippets of knowledge here and there that do occasionally come in useful to me and to others!

And, I suppose my current role as a Psychiatrist has kept me interested in people – and also in my own 'soulical development'. So, I sometimes do make the effort to learn something knew to help those that I am involved with - in an ‘altruistic self-interest’ sort of way, if that makes any sense to you.

But if I really were to attempt advising anyone on how to become 'versatile' in life - or dare I say, advise someone on how to become slightly more knowledgeable than the average Joe . . . yeah right! . . . I’d say; ‘don't be afraid to learn something new; don’t be afraid to take risks in life’ and don't be afraid to make mistakes either, because once you prevail, you come out a better person!

Mind, I said; 'once you prevail'! You see, some mistakes live with you for the rest of your life, so beware!

Like i said, i don't know how things work in the Engineering field. My cousins who are Engineers are more interested in the money making, and have at different times dismissed my 'adventures' as a joke. . . so what i have written would only appeal to a certain personality type!

I hope it all makes sense to you, though. If not, my defence is that I am just an aging shrink that also happens to be a bit eccentric. . .

inquisito:

@beneli, thanks for responding.
Guess I still have a lot to go thru.but the mistakes part mennnn!doesnt sound fun.Mistakes in life haunt me alot and I thus dont like making mistakes. Presently am trying to lead a life with zero mistakes,that is if attainable, by always having plans and contigency plans, as well as scrutinizing my thoughts before carrying them out. Anyways, thanks. guess I will work with your other points.

It probably is attainable.

But one thing that could be added to your list would be to identify a life mentor for yourself. A Life mentor would be somebody, preferably a person who is already doing what you wish to do in life, who takes you under their wings and guides you in your chosen career pathway. Such a person would have already made those mistakes for you - and would wear the badge to show!

Inquisito, I am assuming that you are still young and just starting off in your career. If you're old and life worn, then my apologies as you would already know what i am saying!

To clarify that we are eating from the same pot of soup; by ‘mistake,’ I am talking about having an outcome that is different from the one we hoped for or intended. . .

Now, having sorted out the definition thing, let me state that no matter how airtight our strategies for avoiding ‘mistakes’ in life are, the metaphorical thread of life – our destinies, if you prefer  - is still woven by forces beyond our control. So OUR WILL, my good friend, does not always prevail. Hence, mistakes.

You see, for all people who do dare to take risks in life - for those who dare to lock horns with destiny to create realities out of their dreams . . . or people who just desire to simply grow in their personal lives - ‘mistakes’ are almost an inexorable part of the journey . . . !

Wisdom, however, is in being able to get up, dust ones bottom and then to keep on striving, in spite of those mistakes . . . while reflecting on how not to repeat them ever again. In other words, ‘wisdom’ is fertilised by the mistakes - ours or those made by other people - from which we have subsequently fashioned our desired life outcomes. . . 

Good luck in life!

Its nice to see and read all these informations,

This seems like a great initiative. Speaking personally, I use the internet to get more information about medication and I am often unsure how reliable the information is. A single portal to reliable sites would be a great help in this area and if you want's to get breif knowledge on the same you can visit http://affordablemedz.com/

Are aspirants welcomed here

Ch@nges:

Are aspirants welcomed here

. . . as in aspiring medical doctors, right?

I don't see any reason why not - nobody is too young to learn from!

I'm studying Biomedicine and just waiting to complete my final year of uni.

Is it advisable to move on to a medical school or whatnot ?

^^^

I think it’s important to first ask yourself why you enrolled for a biomedical degree in the first place.

What exactly was your desired outcome when you first enrolled for that course?  The next set of questions would be; ‘what do you really want . . . what is your ‘game plan’ for life . . . and how would a medical degree give it to you?’

Pursuing a career in Medicine after a biomedical degree - or any other degree for that matter - is in itself neither a new thing nor a bad thing. So I doubt anybody would seriously advise you against it, if that’s what you think you need. I also doubt that anybody would stick out there neck and say; ‘go for it!’

Two people – out in the public domain – who come to mind as having completed other degrees before going into medicine, include Chidi Achebe (Chinua Achebe son) and Uzodinma Iweala (our finance ministers son). I am sure there are many others out there. But ultimately, the decision is yours to make!

All the best in your final year exams though. . .

Thanks for your advice Boss.

I'm loving this forum. Its nice to have access to such helpful info. I have a question:
I will soon be graduating from medical school; I would love to know the career options I can pursue with an MBBS degree? Most of my classmates talk about pursuing residencies and specializing in different fields. Are there other options for an MBBS holder who doesn't want to go into clinical medicine.
THANKS FOR UR HELP[/color][color=#000099][color=#000099][/color]

^^^

Igbo boy, I remember you from 2 pages ago when you had asked some things about the USMLE and the possibility of exploring residency opportunities in the USA . . . and then disappeared. On that same page somebody also asked about options open to Doctors with MBBS, who are not interested in clinical practice. Check posts # 376 – 377 here: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-260875.352.html

In summary, the options and career pathways include:

1. Public Health – You’ll need an additional MPH or similar qualification for this. You can end up working with NGO’s, government parastatals etc

2. Academic Medicine – You’ll need to get a Masters in something else and possibly a PhD. You may end up in research or lecturing at a University or working for a Pharmaceutical company.

3. Health Management and Consultancy – You will need an additional degree or experience in Management. There are opportunities for work with local and international Consultancy firms. See here; http://www.mckinsey.com/Careers/Your_background

You could also start your own Consultancy service, if you have a service or skill sets that people are willing to pay for!

Going by the current global economic climate, I would say that your colleagues who plan to start preparing for their primaries on leaving medical school, and getting into residency programmes, are not entirely off-track. From my experience there is a lot of job and economic security in clinical practice . . . even in Nigeria . . . if what is listed by Sartorius at post # 237 on the thread below, reflects the current earning potential for Consultants in Nigeria:  https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-3022.224.html

Those doctors in clinical practice abroad on average earn more than their colleagues in Public Health and in the Academia. Those that are fortunate to be recruited by well established firms like McKinsey and Company may earn a bit . . . actually a lot . . . more. http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/how-much-does-a-director-at-mckinsey-make

But out of interest, what is it about clinical practice that is scaring people like you away?

Thanks beneli, you're a godsend.
I wouldn't say clinical medicine is scary;i personally find it interesting. The problem is knowing which area to plunge into and whether I would forever remain happy practicing it. Imagine, for instance, a paediatrician who becomes disenchanted with children! During my clinical postings, I've had love-hate relationships with almost every discipline/specialty.
I feel strongly drawn to academics and health administration( mark my words, I WILL become Minister of Health someday!!!) but I'm not sure about its economic value in this climes. All book and no pay . . .
Nevertheless, the future is an open book and things may change. I am just trying to get all the info and help from the elders on this forum so that I can properly chart my course.
P.S , Sorry for 'disappearing' after the usmle stuff. School is tedious. Grateful for the help
P.P.S, Just out of interest, at what point in your career did you decide to take the plunge and specialize in one area.

igbo-boy:

Thanks beneli, you're a godsend.
I wouldn't say clinical medicine is scary;i personally find it interesting. The problem is knowing which area to plunge into and whether I would forever remain happy practicing it. Imagine, for instance, a paediatrician who becomes disenchanted with children! During my clinical postings, I've had love-hate relationships with almost every discipline/specialty.
I feel strongly drawn to academics and health administration( mark my words, I WILL become Minister of Health someday!!!) but I'm not sure about its economic value in this climes. All book and no pay . . .
Nevertheless, the future is an open book and things may change. I am just trying to get all the info and help from the elders on this forum so that I can properly chart my course.
P.S , Sorry for 'disappearing' after the usmle stuff. School is tedious. Grateful for the help
P.P.S, Just out of interest, at what point in your career did you decide to take the plunge and specialize in one area.

I know how you feel about the love-hate relationship thing! Below is a rather long rant . . . but bear with me!

To understand where I am coming from . . . and also to answer some of your questions . . . it’s perhaps relevant to highlight that I was drawn into medicine because my ‘old man’ wanted me to become a Doctor. At the risk of boring you, you can say i then grew up knowing that’s what I had to be. Though i found the sciences interesting, in medical school, my pulse really got racing only after I attended a conference organised by the surgery department to discuss the gender reassignment surgery of a young ‘woman’ who believed she was a man trapped in a womans body. . .

The whole idea of how a person could be something other than what was presented to the outside world resonated with some of the existential questions that had started to gnaw at my soul from my rebellious mid-teens. These were the days when they had started talking about hemispheral dominance and its influence on sexual identity and I started reading about some of the interesting stuff that was coming out in the neurosciences. . .

Excitedly I wrote my ‘old man’ (in those days there were no emails and mobile phones) to let him know what I was gradually becoming enthused by . . . and about the fact that I was considering a career in Neuropsychiatry. But from the response I got almost 2 months later, he must have almost thrown a fit on learning about my career interests! You see, my dad though well educated, belonged to the old school that believes that if you’re not a Surgeon or a Gynaecologist, then you’re not a doctor. A paediatrician could pass, but a Psychiatrist? You had to be having a laugh - why on earth would a person want to spend his life treating ‘mad people’?! 

On getting my MD 4 years later, I returned to Nigeria and resigned myself to becoming a ‘proper’ doctor. But deep down . . . in the matrix of my being. . . I knew that ‘business as usual’ wasn’t really for me.

Fortunately, fate had other plans for me . . . !

On finishing my youth service up north, I came down south and got drawn into the human rights circuit in Lagos. I subsequently started volunteering for an NGO that provided medical ‘rehabilitation’ for torture victims and ex-prisoners. Shortly afterwards I started working with children and Young persons in remand homes. My remit was to attend to their ‘psycho-social’ needs. And that’s how I found myself on the path that lead back to my first love.

I left Nigeria 2 years later with the objectives of specialising in Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry but have ended up a General Adult and Rehabilitation Psychiatrist working with those involved with the criminal justice system.

Am I happy with where I am? Let's say that I am aware that happiness is a very strong word; however my career has provided me financial security and that sort of thing.

Do I feel fulfilled? I am not so sure, to be honest: in secondary school, my personal motto was; ’quo non ascendum?’ , which is Latin for ‘how high will I not rise’? And with those words still imprinted on my mind’s eye, I am aware that there are a lot higher heights to be attained . . . and I am nowhere near the top. . .

I hope that somewhere in the above rant, your question about what point in my career I decided to specialise would have been answered. But I would say that a person should specialise in a branch of medicine that really enthuses them once they have found that area. Some people find out quite early in their training. Others find out after their housemanship or youth service. I would advise that a person should not waste any time, once they have decided what they want to do. Don’t get distracted by the petty cash you make, doing locums or working as a junior doctor. Your life is worth a lot more than that! 

With regards to the economic value of academic medicine and health administration, I can only say that each person’s call is different. A lot of opportunities abound out there, if you only dare to think outside the box, no matter what you do. . !

Hello docs,

1. Would be happy if anyone can confirm that Ketamine Infusion treatment for RSD/CRPS is available in Nigeria, and how much it costs.

2. We also need estimates on the cost of Hip Replacement Surgery in Nigeria.

3. Any other advise welcome too. Pls check:

www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-802184.448.html

Thanks

^^^ what is RSD/CRPS?

amaham:

^^^ what is RSD/CRPS?

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

more details on the thread i pasted above, and on Google.

I assume those into pain management, anaesthesia, palliative care and orthopedics would have an idea.

I work as an anaesthetics here in nigeria I cud tell you that pain therapy/clinics is still in the rudimentary stage per se. Is kind of a virgin area in naija so a lot of work shld be done 2 popularise it.

amaham:

I work as an anaesthetics here in nigeria I cud tell you that pain therapy/clinics is still in the rudimentary stage per se. Is kind of a virgin area in naija so a lot of work shld be done 2 popularise it.

so, you would advise that the person try Ghana or India?

Please visit that thread i pasted.

Thanks

.

Hello doctors. Am a 500l med student and am considering writing USMLE exams. I want to know 1.can i do that while still a student? 2.how do i go about it, registartion and all? Thanks

i'm not sure you can take the step 1 exams as a foreign medical student, unless the rules have changed.


schools within the US are allowed to do that, as well as certain schools outside the US but the list isnt generic, meaning its a case by case basis.


however, you can check the USMLE website to get information about this.

your medical credentials have to be certified by the ECFMG first before you can register for the exam. And usually, EFFMG deals with foreign medical graduates, not foreign medical students.

however, check their websites since the rules change all the time.

Tnks.

Good day diddgor, I'm a 300L medical student preparing for part1 mb. I was delighted when I read through your post. I thought I was the only medical student in Nairaland that has the zeal to take the USMLE while still in sch.
Well according the questions you raised, I believe it is possible to take step1 after Part2 mb exam(i.e path and pharm) because the yr2,3 and 4 of our curriculum here in Nigeria covers the USMLE step1 such as Anatomy, Pathology, Microbiology, Genetics or Molecular biology, Physiology, Biochemistry etc. except for Behavioural Science. You can confirm this from the usmle official website: usmle.org while the step 2 CK can be done after graduation (i.e during Houseman ship or later on) because its on O and G, Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery.
Also, there are lots of info that I got from many of the researches I did about the Usmle. I'll upload one of them for you to go through.
Dont bother to ask how I got to know all these because I have been on it before I started yr1. I wish many of our colleagues in school would learn to look ahead into the future so as to be developed for effective medical practice. My advice to you is "try do what you can do when the stuff is still fresh in the treasury" I believe you understand what I meant. Pls, this how far I can go for now. My yahoo Id is eben282 if you have more questions on this issue. Nice to meet you.

pls pardon me, the file did not upload properly. I will reupload it again. Thanks

here is the file

^^interesting info.

do you know anyone who took usmle as a med student?

just curious.

Thanks alot eben28