University: New Vision University

Current Year: Fourth

Medical Specialty Interested in: Pediatrics/Oncology

Most Inspiring Person: J.K. Rowling

Single Quality that defines a great Doctor: Empathy

First of all, walk us through the step-by-step processes that you went through to get to where you are today?

I completed my Secondary School back in my island. While waiting for the results, I had my first work experience in a Pharmacy. I worked as an assistant to the Pharmacist for a few months. It wasn't a paid job but I had a 9 am - 2 pm routine where I had to go through prescriptions and write the dosages and directions on how to take the medicine in Dhivehi. This experience gave me a bit of an exposure in to the medical world. One of the things I learnt during my time there was that there are many drugs with the same contents. They had different names because of the various pharmacological companies that were making the same medicine.

After a few months, I moved to the capital city Male', for my Senior high school and joined CHSE. Upon finishing while I awaited my results, I started job hunting. I applied to ADK and got a job there as a Clinical Assistant. This was my first real and true exposure into the world of medicine. I worked in ADK for 5 years. Going abroad to study Medicine was always the plan. Although I was applying and getting into different medical schools, there were certain setbacks. As a result, I had to patiently wait for a time until it could become possible. The 5 years I spent at ADK taught me so much and made me more sure about my career choice than I had ever been. 

After considering all my options and taking all the suggestions I received from most of the doctors I worked with, I decided to apply to a medical university in Philippines. There I completed my pre-medicine course. My major was Biology and I graduated from Cebu Doctor's University (CBU) with an undergraduate degree; Bachelor of Science in Biology. It was like they scratched the surface of what medicine is truly about and I was all set to dive in. After graduation, I returned back to Maldives. During this time I was also preparing for Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), just so I can keep my options open. 

One day while scrolling on Facebook, I came across an ad from an agency in India who helped students get medical school placement. I mailed them and came to know about the university I currently study in. The university was a bit new but it was not too overpriced and had a good program. Two of my colleagues were already studying in the same country, so I got in contact with them, gathered information about the place and the structure of teaching. After that I went ahead with my admission and here I am today. Currently in my 4th year of MBBS, and I can firmly say that the decision of coming here was indeed a good one. 

When did you first realize you wanted to study medicine?

From a really early age, I have been enthralled by the workings of life. The significant white coats, the stethoscope that hang around necks, and the sense of playing a hero were popular among my childhood dreams. This dream of mine was not lost as I grew up. I realized that the reality of being a doctor was a much tougher and lengthy road, and it grew to become a fierce ambition. 

My family and loved ones have always supported my dream and encouraged me to reach my goals. 

Take us through a typical study day.

I don't normally follow a strict study routine, since my day to day class schedules are different. But most of my classes start in the morning. So I wake up around 7:30 am, giving me time to take a light breakfast before my class which starts at 9 am. My classes mostly run late until 3 or 5 pm although lately it runs until 7 pm or 9 pm as well. If I get breaks of an hour or two during my classes, I try to read and have a brief idea on the upcoming lecture topic. 

By the time I get home, I'm usually exhausted but I pick myself up to cook and eat. I freshen up my mind by listening to some music, watch an episode from a TV show that I follow or talk to my mum, family members and my guy. I do my best studying in the late hours of the night. Personally, I feel that I'm able to retain most of the information from everything I study during the late hours in the night. I make my own notes from the topic we are taught the same day which I find to be really helpful, plus writing keeps me alert and awake. Despite all the crazy schedules and study hours I always make it a point to pray on time. 

My sleep schedule is just based on how many hours I can safely squeeze in after I finish studying. However, I'm that kind of a person where I really need some amount of sleep to be functioning at my best. All-nighters aren't my strongest forte. Hence, even during my exams I squeeze in at least an hour of sleep to help my brain function at it's best. 

Although the idea of being a doctor sounds so good in our minds, it is indeed arduous and it drains you a lot. The study techniques, understanding, making concept maps and the clinical skills that needs to be mastered requires going through different techniques to find which suits you better. I never rely on just one text book. Read multiple text books on the same topic. I use PubMed and Cochrane Library to check on different research articles written to gather more information and be updated. Moreover, I make use of the YouTube videos; Osmosis & ZygoteBody for Anatomy review and other USMLE lecture videos. My most favorite videos of all time are Dr. Najeeb lectures. They are easy to understand, goes into deep details and I believe it is indeed one of the best tools for a medical student to grasp difficult concepts and ideas. 

I always try to come up with mnemonics to remember certain things and also watch the Sketchy Medical videos, which puts all the important points in a certain topic in pharmacology and pathology in a short video with memory cues which is easy to recall and remember. Understanding the concepts is the hardest part in Medicine. But once you understand that everything else just becomes easier. 

How did you feel when you first moved abroad away from family?

Moving away from home and family for studies was daunting. Having never lived alone my entire life and suddenly having to live alone, handling everything, managing it all was hard. However, I always keep in contact with my family with calls everyday. It gets pretty overwhelming sometimes, specially during Ramadan or Eid and not having any family around. I try to remind myself that nothing great was ever accomplished without making sacrifices. I would not say it get's easier with time, because that would not be true. It never does. I guess you eventually learn to deal with it the best way possible. You learn to accept it and make the most of the time you have with your family when you go back for holidays. 

What is the hardest part of medical school?

The hardest part of medical school I would say is the battle between the sheer amount of information and the vast volume of knowledge that must be learnt, understood and remembered vs the Time Management. It is undoubtedly stressful to absorb such enormous amount of information in such a short time. 

Name your favorite medical text book.  

Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease ; Author : Vinay Kumar, Abbas and Aster  

First Aid for the USMLE 2018 by Andrew H. Zureick, Matthew Sochat, Tao Le, Vikas Bhushan, and Yash Chavda 

A lot of people would have asked you why you're studying medicine. What is your response to them?

There are many different occupations that involves helping people and the society as a whole one way or the other. So yeah, why be a doctor? 

Though people may fail to admit it or realize it health is the one thing that every single one of us values the most. Being a doctor means having the opportunity to be able to restore someone's life or bring a new life into the world which is as rewarding as it gets. Also, because the workings of the human body is nothing less than a miracle, which makes medicine in itself absolutely fascinating. I believe that being a doctor is a full time job which will never be dull because of the variety of experiences and being able to maintain meaningful relationships with the patients. 

I came across this quote from a TV series called The Resident which to me says it all "If it were easy, everyone would be a doctor, because this is the best job in the world. Despite everything. Because of everything".

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started medical school?

We will never be fully prepared. Even after 5-6 years of training and studying we still won't be able to learn everything there is to medicine. It is a field that is always evolving. It will bring the unexpected. Hence, we won't ever be ready for every scenario that could possibly be presented to us. This makes it really important for us to be able to think on our feet, apply the knowledge and to be able to make sensible decisions under pressure. Undergrad Medical school does not teach us how to be doctors. It just provides us with the skills and knowledge which we can apply and use to become better doctors. So understanding the information rather than memorizing it all is the best way to work through med school.

What do you think needs to change in the health industry of the Maldives today?

Maldivian health industry has been improving and becoming better with time. Despite this, there are a few issues that has become a hindrance to achieving quality effective care. 

Quality health services lacking in other parts of the Maldives is a huge issue. Every time somebody gets sick people have to fly to Male. Even if someone suffers serious injuries after a Road traffic accident they need to be sent to Male' for treatment. If in such a situation where the patient is not fit to fly there is nothing that ensures that he gets the care he needs. The quality of health services need to be improved and brought to a good standard not just in Male' but in other parts of Maldives too. Trust needs to be built and maintained in the healthcare industry. People need to be able to get quality care, not sub-standard services for the money they pay to avail it. I believe good healthcare needs to be more accessible enough for any average citizen to be able to afford it. 

Finally, what is the one tip/advice you want to give to our readers?

Don't study to become just a doctor. Study to become a GOOD doctor. There is a huge difference in that. Learn what medicine is all about. It's not all about books and passing exams. It is about understanding and learning to apply that knowledge so that one day you can save not one, but many lives. 

Never Cram. It does not help you learn. Maybe it could help you pass the exam the next day but that is not learning. 

Keep up with the new trends in the world of Medicine. Understand the concepts, do not try to memorize the words. 

Always take time for yourself to relax. 

Last but not the least, make time for your family and loved ones. They certainly have sacrificed a lot so we can go to medical school and fulfill our dreams. So, include them in your journey as much as you can. 

Enjoy your journey and strive to be your best self through it.

The My Medical Student Life series was created for the sole purpose of helping medical students and aspiring doctors on their journey to become a successful Maldivian Healthcare Professional. Have a suggestion, idea or question? Email us.

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