Medicine is a tough course. No doubt about it. That’s why being a medical student involves working harder than one has ever worked in his or her life in various areas of study including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and pathology, among many others.
According to medical doctors, in order for one to become competent, he needs to go beyond the basic lecture material and satisfy his or her curiosity about what he has been taught. As a medic, this extra detail could one day be put into practice in a clinical situation and could make a crucial difference to a patient.
That’s why when one is studying medicine, he’s not just studying for the next exam but taking the first steps on a course of lifelong learning, building his basis of professional knowledge throughout his medical career.
New doctors–Kurl E. Jamora, Zoe Caitlin Z. Fernandez and Lloyd Christopher S. Lim – topnotchers all from De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI) have adhered to this: to study hard right from the start of medical school and not just for the board exam.
Moreover, they have all aimed to ace the board exams since day one.
“The preparation actually took place when we were still in med school. We studied hard, we took our exams seriously. We joined Transcend, an organization which chooses students to qualify to join local and international competitions. Every now and then our group would be holding this session. So I guess that fueled our knowledge and passion for learning even when we were in med school. That early, that was a big help for reviewing for the board exam,” Dr. Kurt revealed.
“The preparation should really be at the start—at med school— because it would be hard to catch up if you decide (to study and review) the last minute. Since I really aspired to be on top, the effort had to come every day. I had to find the best study practices that worked for me such as watching videos or making my own drawings and a mix or repetition of everything. That’s how I studied and reviewed on my own. It entailed a lot of reading and studying,” Dr. Zoe agreed.
Dr. Lloyd, who preferred studying alone, also agreed. “Ever since, as a child, I wanted to become a doctor. The opportunity came in the form of scholarships. Being on top is my way of paying back. It has become my earliest motivation—I have always wanted to give back to the school and my benefactor, Br. Gus, for the different grants (which allowed me to study and graduate). So while still at med school, I worked hard to prove that I really deserve the scholarship.
In recent years, DLSMHSI has consistently produced topnotchers in medicine and health-related courses. The young doctors confessed to somehow been pressured by this.
“Well the moment you become an achiever, there really are high expectations. People expect you to continue your fate until the board exam. So from the start, the pressure has always been there. It’s just a matter of how we handle pressure and convert it into something more productive and tangible. So this is it! We are proud and happy of our achievement so far,” Lloyd beamed with pride.
“There really was a bit of pressure on the school achievers but I was confident that one of us (240 passers) could make it to the top 10,” Zoe added.
The topnotchers of the 2018 Physician Licensure Examination given in September—Kurl, 1st place; Lloyd, 5th place; and Zoe, 9th place – knew that passing the exam is just the beginning of a new colorful journey as medical doctors.
Kurl is currently wrapping up his internship with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where he is also applying to specialize in radiation oncology. He said: “We miss lunch, other events, and concerns because we have to attend to our job. But this is the job that we chose. It’s a noble profession because we get to change lives every day. Choosing this path entails that, we already from the beginning, chose other people over ourselves and that’s something that we should live with for the rest of our lives.”
Meanwhile, Zoe who also did her internship at PGH, is now contemplating to accept a job offer as a general practitioner (GP) as she still has to figure out her field of specialization.
“My main inspiration in becoming a doctor are the doctors whom I met in the hospital, my higher-ups. Watching them, I realize I wanted to be more like them. But for now, after the board exam, all I want to do is to relax first, maybe to have a good dive,” she said.
Lloyd, on the other hand, is set to continue his service at DLSMHSI where he is currently undergoing pre-residency in internal medicine. Once done, he said he’ll go for cardiology or endocrinology.
“Being a physician is not all about prestige, not all about wearing white or stethoscope. It’s all about sacrificing yourself for others and having real compassion for them especially the indigent patients. So I guess if you don’t have that puso para sa mga nangangailangan, you won’t be able to change much, to achieve what you want for the patient. I think yung mga kababayan natin they deserve more from us, doctors, and from the government,” he said.
For all these little successes at the moment, the young doctors have realized they have greater responsibilities to do. And they all agreed to bring with them the Lasallian values that have rubbed on them: faith, zeal for service, and community.
The young doctors lament the fact that many patients have to overstay for days because they are not able to pay their bills.
“It will break your heart to see them, being well and recovering but because they have to stay, they contract other ailments, hospital-acquired diseases. So I think maraming dapat baguhin most especially in the government health system. People in rural areas don’t have access to physicians even for basic health care. Around 4 out of 10 patients don’t see a doctor until they die. That’s one of the most important in the field that we have to pursue, we have to really achieve. Primary health care has been in the system many years now, 40 years, but there’s little progress,” Lloyd observed.
“Many patients immediately go to the specialists when in fact they can be treated by general practitioners so they may not accrue expenses. We need more primary care physicians to screen diseases before going to specialists. And that would save a lot of resources and time,” Kurl agreed.
“In PGH for the internship, I realized there is a big difference between private and public practice in the country. The best thing doctors could do is think about how they can change the system, how they can better serve patients who are really in need,” Zoe said.
Already, our doctors have set their plan for medical practice.
“I decided to become a doctor when I got exposed to the clinical aspect during early internship. That was the time we got exposed to real patients. That’s when I realized I wanted to become one. I see how doctors manage patients and how patients are grateful for making a change in their lives. So being a doctor you get to do that every day not only to one person but to a lot of people you’re helping every day so that’s very fulfilling. After specialization, I intend to practice back in my province, Bacolod,” Kurl said.
Likewise, Zoe doesn’t mind going to the barrio to serve: “That’s the best thing I did for the internship, going out from private to the public setting. That really exposed me to more patients, more people. You got to see what the system is really like.
“So for future docs get out of your comfort zones. To pass the board, study everything. Work hard for it,” she said.
For Lloyd, future doctors should study as early as now and aim to top the board: “Set your heart for it. There’s no room for half-baked. Strive for it. Whatever happens, keep your eyes on the prize. When that happens don’t forget to thank God and all the people who allowed or who gave you the opportunity to do so.
“Without my scholarship, along with my co-grantees, I won’t be here right now. I intend to come back and practice here in the future. DLSMHSI has not only taught me medical knowledge and skill but also values. De La Salle had made it a point to raise doctors that are not only intelligent and skilled but are also compassionate and with zeal for service,” Lloyd concluded.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza
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“Live by the Spirit of FAITH Serve with the Spirit of ZEAL”
“Enter to LEARN Leave to SERVE”
“The Spirit of FAITH and ZEAL drives us to do good works for the Glory and Love of GOD.”
“GOD of Love set me aflame for Love of You and my neighbour.”
“I will continue O my GOD to do all my actions for the Love of You.”
– Saint Jean Baptiste de La Salle