Hospital
Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital (BBMH)

Current Year
Internship

Medical Specialty Interested in
All surgical specialties (General Surgery, Orthopedics, Opthalmology, ENT)

One Word that Describes You
Adventurous

Most Intriguing subject in Medical School
Surgery

What was your path to Medical School like?

I did my secondary schooling in Dharumavantha School. My academic performance was pretty good and I took part in a lot of extracurricular activities. Since then, I was particularly fond of chemistry and biology. 

However, right after mock exams I got chicken pox followed by a secondary infection. I was not able to study at all between mock exams and O'levels as I was admitted in IGMH. In the end, I did my exams sitting on a hospital bed in IGMH with hopes that I can at least pass all subjects so as to not lose a year. Alhamdulillah, I ended up getting 10th place in the National Top Ten. It was definitely below my target but with the condition I did the exams in, I was satisfied. 

For A'levels, I joined CHSE and what I immediately noticed was the change of pace and the major format difference between O'level and A'level. I was having trouble keeping up and ultimately finished A'levels with results just enough to get admission to Medical schools. 

After that I joined ADK hospital as a clinical assistant where I learnt a lot of things about the hospital environment and various responsibilities of a doctors. It gave me some exposure to the Medical field and allowed me to familiarize myself with some Medical terminology. 

During this period, I applied to a few universities from Ukraine, Russia and Bangladesh. After getting placements, I discussed with the doctors working in ADK as to which university I should choose. Ultimately, I decided on University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC).

What was the biggest difference between your expectations of entering Med School when you were doing A'level, and the actual experience of being there?

I always knew Med School was going to be tough. What I underestimated was the sheer amount of content we needed to learn and understand in a very short period of time. 

How is your daily routine like?

We have lectures everyday except Friday from 7/8 am till 1.30/2.30 pm with ward postings from 9 to 11 am.

So I usually wake up for prayer around 5 am and sometimes get around 30 minutes to 1 more hour of sleep and wake up again at 6/7 am. I'll either have coffee or breakfast before I leave for lectures. 

After coming home around 2/3 pm, I'd have lunch while watching something on YouTube. I'd usually get some rest or take a nap till Asr, then I'd start studying and preparing for the Topical Exams (also called Items) which are oral exams based on a topic taught the day before. I'd finish studying around 10/11 pm, have dinner, chat with family and friends and go to bed around 12/1 am.

Do you think Cadaveric Dissection is important for Medical students?

Extremely important. Doctors deal with the human body every day so Medical students should have adequate knowledge and exposure on how real organs, muscles, bones etc look and feel. I do not think that drawings and plastic models are enough to truly understand the human anatomy.

What excites you about medicine in general?

I've always been fascinated by the workings of the human body. What's amazing is that I've been studying it for half a decade and there is still so much more to learn. You can never run out of things to learn in this field which can be quite exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

Name your favorite medical text book.  

SRB's Manual of Surgery by M Sriram Bhat.

What would you say to a student planning to become a doctor, to gain fame and money only?

If fame and money is your goal, there are easier and faster routes to take than becoming a doctor. Becoming a doctor requires a lot of time, commitment, dedication, discipline and will power, even for those who actually want to become doctors because of their love for the field and people. 

What is the most effective way to study in Medical School?

Understanding concepts is key in Medical school. You might be able to memorize and regurgitate it on to the paper early on. But this method will lead to failure ultimately as all subjects of Medical school are interconnected with each other. So you would need to understand the concepts and master the basics to truly succeed in the coming years. 

If you don't understand a topic, go on YouTube and find a lecture on it (e.g. Dr. Najeeb's lectures). Regular revision is important and try not to procrastinate. Start preparing for exams at least one month prior to it. Try to get 2 to 3 rounds of revision before exam day. 

Do you need High grades to become a decent doctor?

Yes and No. 

You need to have an above average understanding in the basic sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) to succeed in Medical school. You would also need high grades if you wish to get admitted into the more prestigious universities especially in first world countries. 

This does not mean you need to score the highest grades in every subject to become a decent doctor. But you still need meet a certain set of requirements to get eligibility to become a medical student.

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

Med School is a long, hard journey. So please choose this path if YOU truly want to be a doctor and not because your parents asked to or any other factor. For all the Med students reading, there will always be ups and down so keep striving and you will reach the end of the road before you know 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.

Advertisement

Related Articles

Recent Articles