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KARACHI: Pakistan Islamic
Medical Association (PIMA) organized a seminar on career counseling for
the fresh medical graduates at Liaquat National Hospital Convention
Center on Saturday June 27th which attracted a large number of doctors.
The speakers highlighted the opportunities in various fields enabling
the participants to make up their mind as regards their future career
keeping in view their family as well as financial circumstances.
President of PIMA Karachi Dr. Misbahul Aziz in his welcome address
emphasized the importance of the profession which they have chosen and
urged them to serve the ailing humanity with a healing smile. You have
entered the noble profession which is just not concerned with bread and
butter but being cream of the nation, people look towards you as a role
model. As such you should serve as a beacon of light for others, he
remarked.
Dr. M. Wasay Associate Professor of Neurology at Aga Khan University
spoke about how to plan a career in medicine. He advised the fresh
medical graduates to choose their career carefully in the beginning. It
does not concern about money alone as Rizk of everyone in this world has
been fixed and God Almighty has made arrangements and they will all get
what is in meant for them. Planning for a career is more about the
lifestyle which they want to adopt for the next thirty to forty years of
their life, hence they should opt for something which they enjoy and
like the most. Some of the options available to them are either they
enjoy seeing patients or are interested in research, are more interested
in administrative work or marketing. The decision should be based on
your choice.
Continuing Prof. Wasay said that they must remember that the scope and
opportunities in different fields keep on changing. As such it is
important they know their temperament, their strength and weaknesses.
You should ask yourself whether you can afford to invest further five to
six years in teaching and training keeping in view their family,
financial situation and resources. They can also look at what their
friends are planning and doing. Religion, country of work and welfare
also affect these decisions to some extent. In case they can take a
decision before they graduate, it is the best but they must know what
they want to do before finishing their house job. It is in their own
interest not to remain undecided for too long. Research, Dr. Wasay
emphasized is extremely important. Those who are interested or have done
some research and published some papers will find themselves in a much
better position as it can get them into any training programme. As such
it is very important to know how to write papers and get them published.
Social, emotional intelligence, communication skills are important while
grades, positions and medals are of least importance in deciding the
career. Be realistic, persistent and do have alternate plan if you are
outside your country. Discuss your career choice with your family
members and friends, teachers, seniors before you make a final decision.
Be prepared as the things may go wrong. Chose path which best suites
your personality and you like and enjoy it. Almost 90% of the time you
will get what you plan, but you must believe in yourself and seek help
and blessings of God Almighty, Dr. Wasay remarked.
Dr. Zakiuddin Ahmad briefly talked about PIMA and its accomplishments
while Dr. Tariq discussed the exams conducted by the Royal Colleges of
UK and the current situation in United Kingdom. Passing the PLAB test
does not guarantee a job and these days training slots are very
difficult to get, he added.
Dr. Syeda Kausar Ali highlighted the opportunities in the field of
medical education. Deciding a career, she opined, is a difficult and
challenging task. There are career opportunities in basic sciences,
Forensic Medicine, Medical Education and Pathology and for this various
diplomas and degrees are available from various universities as well as
the CPSP. Now every medical college is supposed to have a department of
medical education, hence there are job opportunities in this field as
well.
Dr. Farrukh Abdali highlighted the opportunities available in the field
of Family Medicine. General Practice, he opined, is a career opportunity
by choice which offers numerous opportunities. It is demanding but has
many advantages. It is most suitable for those who wish to settle in
life early and want an end to endless studies. One can earn upto rupees
fifty thousand to two lac rupees per month based on the locality you
select to practice. It needs a very modest investment and takes about
two to three years to settle. About 30% of the earning will go for
expenditures. After you get settled, there are opportunities in case you
wish to go for further studies. Now MCPS, FCPS and MRCGP qualifications
are available within the country. For a successful Family Practice, one
is supposed to have good knowledge of general medicine, dermatology,
paedaitrics and psychiatry as most of the patients which one come across
in General Practice belong to these disciplines. One can go for a solo
practice. There is the traditional general practice and the consultation
practice is now also well established. Group Family Practice is another
option if few doctors decided to practice jointly. In this way they can
relax, enjoy and have planned holidays as well. You will be supposed to
see from fifty to one hundred fifty patients a day. General Practice,
Dr. Farrukh Abdali remarked is very satisfying and rewarding.
Dr. Kashif Shazllee from Ziauddn Medical University discussed the
Fellowship and Membership qualifications available from the CPSP. He
pointed out that in case you wish to stay in Pakistan which is the best
place to live in any way, look after your family and parents, serve the
poor patients who are neglected, the best option you have is to go for
postgraduate qualification from the CPSP. Academics is a challenging
job. It is important that you do residency in a good institution where
training opportunities are available. CPSP at present offers Fellowship
(FCPS) in fifty three specialties, membership (MCPS) in eighteen
specialties and diploma (DCPS) in two disciplines. He advised the
participants not to go for shortcuts. Three months study can get you
through FCPS-I. Study in good cool environment. In some institutions
residency is available by examination. In case you fail, do not take it
seriously and try again. Consistency will pay and you will be among the
26-30% who eventually does qualify FCPS. He also described the
requirements for FCPS residency, the log book, various examinations and
compulsory workshops before one can sit in the exam.
Dr. Mushtaq gave details about USMLE and the residency opportunities
available in USA. Later on interactive panel discussion was arranged on
career opportunities within Pakistan, USMLE and AMC and other
opportunities besides Royal Colleges Exams and Current situation in UK.
Although the title of the seminar was Career Counseling but it mostly
reflected o the opportunities available rather than offering any
counseling. The topic selected by the organizers was extremely important
which attracted huge gathering of fresh medical graduates but it was
poorly planned in many ways. Firstly the organizers should have briefed
the speakers what they are supposed to highlight and on which aspects
they should concentrate rather than presenting which is available on the
internet or talking about their personal achievements or discussing
generalities. Dr. Wasay and Dr. Farrukh Abdali were the two speakers who
spoke to the point and offered some useful guidelines to the
participants about deciding their career. While Dr. Wasay gave an
overall comprehensive picture, Dr. Farrukh Abdalli talked about
practical aspects about General Practice which is now recognized as an
important specialty in which many of the fresh medical graduates might
have to eventually settle. |
