My decision to be in family physician began after my father suffered from drug induced gastritis. He was hospitalized for several days, each day he lay on his bed, our family never left his bedside. Apparently the doctor in charge was very compassionate and made the whole experience much more bearable for the entire family. His sense of humor moved my family to extend that when my brothers or sisters became ill, we preferred the same doctor to take care of them.
This experience instilled in me the idea that a family physician as the title implies takes care of the family and remains in touch with them for the long run, that made me decide what field of medicine I wanted to be in. After I graduated from the Institute of Mandalay, I started my residency at the Number 1 Military Hospital of Meiktila. My knowledge on internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics was much applicable there. In the pediatric ward, the only residents who were assigned there were a military officer and I.
We managed the daily changes in the ward, and made changes in treatment plans. During one of my rounds a very young patient suffered from an acute asthmatic attack. I intervened by giving immediate treatment in order to save him. I learned from this experience that knowing when not to hesitate or doubt one’s ability can affect the lives of others. The intriguing aspect of working in a tropical part of the world is the first hand experience with cases involving influenza, cerebral malaria, and snake bites with acute renal failure, acute myocardial infarct with heart failure, miliary tuberculosis, and dysentery among others.
It was up to me and my medical staff to treat a Dengue Hemorrhagic fever outbreak during the raining season. We performed many successful intravenous saline transfusions. We also helped deliver newborns that started suffering from neonatal jaundice. My pediatrician supervisor and I did a transfusion exchange to relieve the neonates of the high levels of bilirubin. Working alone or as a team is an integral part of my character that has helped me throughout my medical career.
I applied for a medical officer’s post at the Mandalay Worker’s Hospital which served the factory workers mostly in the upper part of the country. My rotations in the hospital included internal medicine and general surgery. I learned about traumatic injuries in the factory and alcohol related problems that got me thinking on how I would consult patients with drinking problems. I felt moved to help patients addicted to alcohol, because my country does not educate its people well on this problem.
At last, I wanted to give something back to my community, so I requested a position in my home town; As the School Health Medical Officer of Meiktila. On my line of duty, I was able to talk with children and their parents. My schedule involved visiting the various schools in the district including the schools in rural areas with no air conditioning and at times no electricity. Even during the most sweltering days the smiles from the local students would always invigorate my enthusiasm.
I succeeded in approaching them in a friendly demeanor that made the kids forget that doctors gave painful shots and bad tasting medicine. Helping a person whether young or old throughout their lives is what I want to do. I enjoy the time I spent working in large and small hospitals with doctors and hospital staff. Am confident that am completely able to take up a positive role as a resident in any hospital. The impression a doctor has on a person can be deep and long lasting. The doctor that saved my father and kept our family in good spirits, impressed me, and created in me the desire to be the best doctor I can be.