University
Armed Forces Medical College, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS)

Current Year
Fourth

Medical Specialty Interested in
Cardiology & Neurology (Internal Medicine)

Most Inspiring Person
There is no one person. Inspiration comes from all sorts of people. My batch mates and lecturers are multi talented Mensa level geniuses (the selection process for this college is very intensive; an IQ test + psych evaluation + an interview by 3 brigadiers and one major general) and they are very inspiring.

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?

Majeediyya school; was 5th place in O' level National Top 10. I was also in the Maldivian National Cadet Corps [MNCC] (which becomes relevant later).

CHSE; 7th place in National Top 10. While doing my A level subjects (Bio, Phy, Chem, Core Math + Mechanics) I also did Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) and Statistics privately and English Literature as a side hobby (got terrible marks in this though).

After this, I worked in Junior Chamber International Maldives and was appointed National Secretariat and was sent to Japan as a Peace Ambassador for a cultural exchange program under Jenesys 2.0 at one point. I was also the deputy editor for the DhiYouth Magazine (DYMag) which was an initiative for youth to have a platform to help young talent get the exposure they need.

Meanwhile I was also working at IGMH as an Clinical Assistant (CAT) for about a year. It was here that I got recommended to higher ups by my then boss to a scholarship position by MNDF to AFMC, which is consistently ranked 2nd or 3rd in all Indian Medical College rankings. After an interview with the then DGAFMS (Director General of Armed Forces and Medical Services) Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ali Shahid I was selected amongst one other who had better marks than I did. One of the deciding factors for getting selected for this scholarship was my prior military experience in the MNCC, my CPE pass (the other candidate hadn't done her IELTS yet; CPE is the highest level of English you can get in Maldives and it is valid for life also I had a decent 89/100 in it), and had a few hobbies like basketball and gymming which is important to have in this college. The prerequisite was joining the army so I quit my job the day after the interview, joined the army the next day and flew off to Pune, India the day after that. The admission process is a bit complicated, as it requires equivalence certificates to be issued from Delhi amongst other things but ultimately I got it done while I was studying in my first year and haven't really looked back since.

When did you first realize you wanted to study medicine?

Childhood probably. My family (& myself) have a lot of medical issues that have plagued us for as long as we can remember so it felt like my responsibility to learn more about it and what I can do to help them and myself.

Take us through a typical study day.

- Wake up at 0700 (if Physical Training is there (usually for first years) then at 0530
- Breakfast at 0800 Classes and clinics from 0830 to 1300
- Lunch till 1400 - Class and tutorials till 1630
- Evening clinics (especially in the final year) OR mandatory sports (swimming/ football/cricket/hockey/volleyball/basketball etc:-) from 1700 to 1800 or 1900
- Dinner 1900 to 2030
- Revise and study from 2030 till 2200
- Waste time after that till sleep at 0000 or 0100

How do you recharge or take a break from studying?

Chess or social media

What is the best part about studying medicine?

Learning how to objectively help someone while quenching your curiosity about your own body and how things function and why things are done. Also, finding out how there is a reason for almost everything.

Name your favorite medical text book.

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.  Maybe Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery. 

Do you study alone or in a group with others? Any reasons?

Both are important but mostly alone. You need to build a basic concept and understanding of a topic before you can go around explaining things to others. Trying to make things up as you go along is punished pretty severely so always build up your own knowledge before discussing it with others to clarify doubts and see what you might have missed out on.

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

Study from the best and latest textbooks, don't limit yourself to undergraduate textbooks just because you're an undergraduate. Never be shy about buying textbooks. E-books are your friend.

If you don't know something, just admit that you don't know so that you can learn now.

Time management is important. Revise topics on the day you first you hear of it in class or clinics.

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

More efficient healthcare delivery and easier accessibility to tertiary level healthcare in a feasible amount of time. Also, an increase in capacity of hospital beds, especially ICU beds. In addition, the high patient to doctor ratio means that the best healthcare is not often provided and thus patients lose their trust in Maldivian doctors and travel abroad.

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

Never lie to yourself by thinking that you know something or you will study something later or you can get away with not noting this down.

Admit that you will never know everything and don't hesitate to say the magic words: "I don't know". Never bluff or try to give a vague answer because you will not only harm yourself you might also end up harming your patients.

Medicine is not for everyone. It means devoting yourself to a life of studying. You'll sacrifice your youth, your social life and your personal time for others. There are no shortcuts. If you still want to do medicine, then that means you will thrive in this field. Also knowing Hindi goes a long way. All the best in your endeavors!

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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