How to Become a Doctor

INTRODUCTION

Some said is complex, some said is very difficult, some said is very demanding, some said it requires a lot of diligence, all are true but I say it is very easy and something you can comfortably become, How and what do you mean some readers might ask, discover as you read a long.

WHO IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR?

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in 2005 when I went to visit my mom who was a Secretary/ Computer Operator at Obioma Hospital Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. I was sick so I went to their hospital to receive treatment and afterwards stay with her till work closure time. As a young boy I looked and observed as some energetic and vibrant individuals went from ward to ward that morning, some were able to make agonizing patients in pains to smile, some made them reflect relief as they assured them they were getting better and some made them laugh as they gave some prescriptions to the nurses for the patients and I came to the conclusion that

"Medical doctors are not just individuals confered with certificate and authorized to treat " patients but individuals with the skills and knowledge on how to diagnose, profer treatment,counsel, encouragement and hope to patients.

To progress we look at 5 major criterias of inspiration

SKILLS

Skills are the basic acquired virtues needed by a doctor to make his medicine experience wonderful.

1. GOOD COMMUNICATION ABILITY.

I escorted a Family friend to Ezeugo Hospital and was opportuned to walk into the consultation room with him, this fellow prior to meeting the doctor was very terrified and uneasy but when he sat with Dr Ezeugo who was an Internal Medicine Physician and the owner of the Hospital, the doctor spoke soflty and assuredly, to my surprise this fellow became lively, told him everything and we both smiled out of the doctor's office after the consultation and diagnosis then it became clear to me why a lot of people rush to his hospital.

Good Communication skills makes you a good listener giving you also the ability to give your patients the lively atmosphere to tell you their problems and that makes your diagnosis perfect.

2. COMPASSION AND CARE.

Patients and hospital experience is not like the cadaver we cut in Anatomy Laboratory dissection class in medical school that has no feelings of pain, a doctor must be humane, show compassion and care.

I watched as Dr. Ukwueni who is a surgeon in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Umuahia showed a patient who undergone Apendixectomy 2 days earlier how to catwalk and asked her to catwalk alongside and everyone laughed so hard at her own style. Is expedient a doctor show care and love to his patients making them know they are safe with you. A doctor must be humane and not arrogant and carefree.

3. GOOD COMPOSURE AND ORGANIZED.

A doctor is a leader and a beacon of hope, your ability to remain calm even in the midst of challenging conditions, pressure and strong cases, doesn't only give you a relaxed and controlled state of mind but the ability to make the right call of action.

A times you hear doctors forgot something inside a patient's body may be like surgical blade, most times it was as a result of a tumultuous conditions that came up during surgery and resulted to disorganization and lack of controlled state of mind.

4. TIME MANAGEMENT ABILITY.

Dealing with human life is serious and at such demands a good time management skills. It is not like medical schools where you come late and some marks are deducted or company settings where customers will have to wait for a longer time grumbling and murmuring because of delayed services.

A doctor being late and out of his shift can result to loss of life.

5. GOOD BEDSIDE MANNERS.

Ability to seat with your patients to inquire about their conditions and progress ensures good treatment and adequate recovery.

6. SOCIABLE AND HUMBLE.

I was once about to enter an examination hall where as we stayed outside the hall heard someone whisper an unclear answer of a question to someone, being one of the brightest and of the most intelligent in my class felt I will be rediculed and belittled if I ask my colleague the answer but thanks to God I was humble enough to ask in more sociable way as that was my number 1 question in the Biochemistry examination of Dr. Naveen and I passed very well.

The ability of a doctor to relate with other doctor colleagues and patients local physician might help a lot in strong medical cases.

LIFESTYLE

The lifestyle of every individual not only doctors determine how qualitative their life and how happy they can be.

Let's look at some lifestyle a potential doctor or a medical doctor should have and expect.

1. THE LIFESTYLE OF READING FOR A LONG TIME.

Do not panick at this life style, it can be fun and something you will enjoy a lot let me show you how.

When I was in the University I had friends who were studying Medicine, I observed that they always come for night class to study from 9pm till 5am the next morning at least 4 days in a week but what caught my attention and made me admire this strenuous exercise so much was the way they conducted this reading activity, they sat in pairs, at intervals they conduct discussions on the topic of study, questions ensues, explanations, jokes and cojoles are not left out, you see them looking so eager to converge the next day.

I asked my Ghanaian friend Joseph how he study that made him the most intelligent in his class, he replied thus

"Reading for long a time has become part of me that as I see it as a great hobby and fun, it makes me so happy and my day fulfilled".

Wow, so expect it, make it lively and make it a fun

2. HAVING A SOCIAL LIFE.

This is what affects most Medical students and doctors as they are glued to only studies and work shift and barely have time for themselves, family and friends resulting most time to problems at homes and a crack gap among friends.

Always create a balance as a potential doctor or medical student during less busy weeks of study and vacation to go on tour and site seeing, cinemas, medical excursion with family when you are off duty and while on work vacation . These will balance your life and make those around you know they are valued.

3. MAKE FRIENDS WITH POTENTIALS.

Having friends not only from the field of medicine but across other disciplines that are smart, intelligent and hard-working will also help you a lot, it makes you know what is happening around and not only engulfed to the medical world.

Also making friends from your discipline sphere that are intelligent might help you too when you have some tough medical cases and conditions.

4. LONG SHIFT LIFESTYLE.

This won't be a problem at all because you have already inconcated the habit of reading for a long time while in medical school so working over shift and 40-60 hrs or more of work a week won't be a hell of experience but you reminisce it as a time you save lives, interact with patients and colleagues and that's awesome.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR.

This shows the roles a medical doctor play towards his/ her patient, covering wholistically the instructions and directives they give to their assistance concerning a patient.

1. RESPONSIBLE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

According to Educaloi.qc.ca published journal, Doctors are expected to make accurate diagnosis, provide adequate treatment and follow up appropriately on patients recovery progress.

In this process he is expected to consult a higher fellow if things are unclear or make timely referrals if the medical case seems unsolvable to him.

2. RESPONSIBLE FOR EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF INFORMATION.

I was in General Hospital Oraifite as Dr. Innocent Umeakunne the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital was telling mildly a HIV patient that her viral load result was bad and if she keep skipping her retro viral drugs will get worse but if she applies diligence will get a much better result.

A doctor is to give patients information towards an intended treatment or surgical procedure, the expected results and success rate, the risk factors and likely negative and unpleasant occurrences, this helps both the patients and their guardians to make a conscious decision on the sustainability of the treatment and procedure.

They should inform them about the risk associated in skipping medications just like the doctor above did.

3. RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISTAKE OF HIS PROCEDURES.

Aspiring doctors and serving doctors should know that as the leader and overseer of their treatment group, they take full responsibility if things goes wrong and that should guide them towards making the right diagnosis and treatment call.

4. RESPONSIBLE FOR PATIENTS CONFIDENTIALITY.

I have a very close friend Dr. Okwuma a Youth Corper Doctor then who one day, I walked into his office when a patient was leaving, from the patient's facial expression and his, I didn't need anyone to tell me it was something very serious, out of curiosity I asked, Senior what is it? He forced a smile and said my friend is just nothing, I remembered it is one of their ethics to keep a patient's issue confidential and I asked no further.

You should be able to keep their prognosis and case confidential as it may damage their trust and things if they start hearing it outside.

COMPENSATIONS OF MEDICAL DOCTORS.

As a medical doctor you have much more to gain than you can ever imagine. In March 2018, I was riding with Dr. Iyke an Orthopedic Physician and currently a consultant in his late 30s in his new Toyota 4runner Jeep, I asked him, Sir what can one gain from being a medical doctor, see his reply below

" He smiled, looked to my face and said, you can never lack food or be hungry, you will be very comfortable in life, medicine gives you the platform to rise gradually to stardom financially, you feel fulfilled and accomplished in life for lives saved".

With the assurance in his reply I felt like registering for medical school the next day.

Let's look at 3 Major Compensations in Medicine.

1. REMUNERATION/SALARY EXPECTATION.

How much does a doctor make?

2. JOB SATISFACTION.

Is one thing to be gainfully employed and is another thing to have maximum job satisfaction like Dr. Iyke and many other doctors I have met.

According to medcsape international compensation report of 2019, average of 75% doctors across the 7 countries mentioned earlier, showed maximum job satisfaction and pledged they will choose medicine again if giving an opportunity to restart.

Medical doctors derive joy, purpose accomplishment and fulfilment from the lives they save and the services they render to the society.

3. SOCIETAL EVALUATION.

I had a friend who was finding it very difficult to attract one beautiful lady he love so much, as luck will have it one day he was struck with one of the amazing benefits and Compensations of being a medical doctor as the lady got to know by chance from someone that he was a medical doctor and the wow expression was written over her face, boom she said automatic yes to him and his green light he has been flashing at her.

All over the world, our Societies respect Medical doctors for what they represent. This respect and high show of gratitude is what makes Medical doctors feel so special and valued.

CAREER PATH.

I was disappointed one day while in University when I asked a friend who was almost in final year of his mbbs the area he will like to specialize or focus in Medicine and responded with no idea yet, this is mostly the mistake people make in their medicine career, inability to specialize in a path earlier, plan about it and know on time where to apply for residency after school.

I have been privileged to meet so many doctors doing well today and one of their secrets to doing well in their area of specialty was they choose it on time, Dr. Steve a Consultant told me he choose to be a surgeon earlier at med school and he decided to do his specialty in Australia and he actualized it. Plan early and actualize it earlier.

Career path in Medicine according to Physician.mohh.com.sg is as follows

1. NON SPECIALIST TRACK.

RESIDENT PHYSICIAN/FAMILY DOCTOR.
MEDICAL OFFICER (3-5 YEARS).
HOUSE OFFICER (1 YEAR).

2. SPECIALIST TRACK.

CONSULTANT.
SENIOR RESIDENT/FELLOWSHIP.
RESIDENT.

M.B.,B.S.

Note M.B.,B.S (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Programme (MBBS)) can be acquired from any accredited University in the world. For the specialist track from the Resident level to the Consultant level is 6 years depending on the programme. Residency is the path taking by doctors that want to specialize in one of the following medicine careers according to webmd.com

1. Cardiologist:- Experts on the heart and blood vessels treatment

2. Colon and Rectal Surgeons:- Concerned with problems of small intestine, colon and bottom.

3. Dermatologist:- They take care of problems with skin, hair and nails.

4. Emergency Medicine Specialist:- They make life or death decisions for sick and injured people.

5. Gastro Enterologist:- They are specialist in digestive organs, including the stomach, bowels, pancreas, liver and gall bladder.

6. Geriatric Medicine Specialist:- They care for the elderly.

7. Hematologist:- These are specialist in diseases of the blood, spleen & lymph glands, like sickle cell disease, anemia, hemophilia and leukemia.

8. Nephrologist:- They treat kidney diseases as well as high blood pressure

9. Neurologist:- Specialist of the nervous system.

10. Oncologist:- These internist are Cancer specialist

11. Obstetrics & Gynecologist:- They focus on women's health, including pregnancy & childbirth.

12. Pediatricians:- Care for children from birth to young adulthood.

13. Ophthalmologist:- They care for the eye.

14. Plastic Surgeons:- They rebuild and repair the skin and body parts.

15. Psychiatrist:- They treat people with mental, emotional & addictive disorders.

Etc.

Check out these areas and decide which to build your medicine careers on.

Medicine is easy when you have the passion and courage and becomes enjoying when you make the whole process to become fun and amazing.

Medicine is and will forever remain the best course and Career in the world.

Choose to become a medical doctor as it is the most noble profession.