University
International Medical University

Current Year
Second

Medical Specialty Interested in
Gynecology/Oncology

Most Inspiring Person
My Mother

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 education in Aminiya School, and my Higher Secondary education in CHSE. 

My dream was to study Medicine in UK, and I applied during my A'Levels. In order to join the university, I had to do my IELTS exam.

However, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. My dad was staying in Male' with my 3 younger siblings. So, I spent 6 months in India for my mother's treatment.

I lost my offer to go to UK since I was with my mom in India and could not participate in the exam. 

At the time I felt completely disheartened and upset because I could not pursue Medicine in UK. I was focused on going there ever since I was in Secondary school. 

Yet, I did not want to wait one more year to apply to UK again. 

After I came back from India, I worked in ADK hospital for another 6 months as a Clinical assistant. 

During this time I applied to the IMU partner program in Malaysia which meant that I will be studying my final 2.5 years of Medicine in UK. 

I joined the February 2018 intake, and was actually 1 semester behind my batch students I studied with in Male'. 

In the end I believe it all happened for the best.

When did you first realize you wanted to study medicine?

My mother used to work in ADK hospital back when it was a small clinic. And they had one girl at the reception who sometimes worked as a Clinical assistant as well. 

When I was very young, she would share with me cases she found out while working. And she would tell me that if she got the chance she would have studied Medicine, since she had an interest for it. She had a lot of information regarding Medicine as well. 

I think this is how I gained my initial interest in Medicine. Afterwards, I realized that I enjoyed studying subjects like Biology. 

In addition to this, after my mom's case, Medicine turned out to be something I needed to do, not just something I wanted to do.

Take us through a typical study day.

Usually, the earliest class I would have is at 8 am. So, I wake up at 7:15 or 7:30 am to have breakfast and go to class. 

I don't attend all the lectures. I choose particular lecturers whose lectures I want to attend to, such as Anatomy. 

My preferred method is self-studying so it is hard for me to sit through lectures. 

Currently we are studying the Renal system, and it's only the 2nd week, so it's going rather easy. 

These days, I go through the lecture slides slightly and I don't study every day. But, when the exams draw nearer, I study more deeply and thoroughly. 

If I attend lectures, I come home at 5 or 6 pm, and I always watch a movie or a series episode while having a meal. This way I am not too stressed. 

I try to be involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities as well. This is because I noticed that if I don't have much to do, I slack off and get lazy. But if I have a deadline or a lot of tasks to complete, I am more alert and focused. 

On every Saturday, I plan out my whole week. The free time I get around the extra-curricular activities, are for studying. I find it difficult to study for long periods of time so I keep them short.

How do you keep track of what you need to do in a day?

I am very organized and am very much into planners and organizers. 

My laptop wallpaper is a calendar, I have a desk calendar and also as a I mentioned before, I fill out my planner every Saturday. 

During my 1st semester, I noticed that if I don't write down all the lectures and meetings that I have, I tend to forget them. So I now carry my planner with me everyday.

What do you listen to while studying? Any reasons?

I prefer to study in a silent place, but somewhere I could read out loud. So, the quiet study area in the university does not work. 

When I read out loud, I can easily memorize as well as understand what I am reading.

Name your favorite medical text book.  

Robbins and Cotran - Pathologic Basis of Disease. 

Atlas of Histology with Functional & Clinical correlations by Dongmei Cui.

Best advice for handling criticism?

When you are at the point where people are criticizing you, that could mean that you are already ahead of them. They maybe criticizing you to bring you down.

Whichever way you do anything, whether good or bad, there will be criticism. Hence, there is no point in focusing on it. 

Always focus on yourself, your well-being, and try to focus on what you're trying to do, rather than on those trying to bring you down.

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

For my 1st semester, I bought all the textbooks my seniors recommended. 

But I used to just focus on lecture slides while studying. 

When I now read about a topic I learned in my 1st semester, I realize that I am not too familiar with it. This is because I did not go through textbooks and other resources. 

Now my study routine goes like this; I first watch a video on the topic by Osmosis to get a basic idea. Next, I read through the textbook, followed by the lecture slides. I have a separate notebook for each system, so afterwards I make my own notes. Finally, during exams I read through my notes to learn and memorize.

I should have started this way, but I am constantly learning and getting better each day.

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

I used to spend a lot of time in the hospital when I was younger and recently during my mother's case. 

I realized that most doctors treat patients like a case walking through the door. After treatment they should be sent away.

While I was working as a Clinical assistant I did not notice it since I was working with the doctor and wanted to get it over with. 

However, when I was on the receiving end of it, I realized that as soon as a patient walks in through the hospital doors, how everyone treats you from the receptionist to the janitor, affects the patient's experience.

I want the Maldivian health care system to give more of a Holistic type of treatment. 

To give an example, doctors working in the Gynecology department are working from 8 am to 1 pm. This is not a lot of time but they are assigned to see 40-45 patients. 

It is literally impossible for the doctor to focus on each patient individually.

It is not the doctor's fault since he/she cannot give the required amount of care and attention that the patient actually paid for, in the given amount of time. 

Healthcare is not as simple as treating a disease. Doctors need to be given more time for each patient.

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

If you have a passion to be a doctor, you can do it. 

But, while you're doing it don't forget the reason why you decided to pursue Medicine in the first place. Focus on the reason. 

Don't become a doctor that just goes to the hospital, treat patients for a few hours and leaves. 

Work to be the kind of doctor that gives patients holistic care, and the comfort that we as doctors are actually supposed to give.

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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