HOW TO MAKE A PERSONAL PLAN ON HOW TO BECOME A PHYSICIAN
Reynaldo O. Joson, M.D.
Planning is the first step in the managerial process.
Planning is essential in order to make happen what we want
to happen.
Planning is important if we want to be effective and
efficient in the attainment of our goal.
Planning involves initial analysis of situations,
requirements, and actual or potential problems followed by
decision making.
Planning starts with the formulation of objectives. It
starts with deciding where you want to go or what you want to
have or to be.
Since we are on the topic on how to make a personal plan on
how to become a physician, it follows that your general objective
is "to become a physician." From hereon, let's concentrate our
discussion on how to become a physician in the Philippines from
the time you are admitted to a medical school up to the time you
pass the Philippine Board of Medicine examination.
"To become a physician" is a very broad objective. It is
acceptable as the goal or general objective. After formulating a
general objective, you must formulate more specific ones to give
you clearer directions and targets. To be able to do this, you
may want to know what are the governmental and medical school
requirements for you to be able to be certified. After knowing
these, you now formulate your specific objectives.
If you formulate "to be able to pass the Philippine Board of
Medicine examination" as one of your specific objectives, that is
acceptable because it is quite specific already. This objective
entails taking an exam only. If you pass, you pass. If you
fail, you fail.
However, if you formulate "to be able to graduate from the
medical school" as one of your specific objectives, this is still
quite broad. You may want to be more specific by looking at the
medical curriculum of the school, specifically, the instructional
objectives and the criteria for certification. You may also want
to look at other requirements for graduation beside the academic
requirements.
After you have done these things, you probably can formulate
more specific objectives this time around.
Examples of acceptable specific objectives as far as the
school requirements are concerned are:
To be able to attain a passing mark on the
1. Competencies expected of a graduate by the school.
(Enumerate)
2. Skills expected of a graduate by the school.
(Enumerate)
3. Student discipline.
4. Attitudes and traits desired by the school.
(Enumerate)
5. Academic performances based on standards set by the
school.
Another objective which should form part of your plan in
becoming a physician is to pass an internship program. Do not
forget to include this. You have to study the procedures and
requirements of the program for you to be able to make a plan on
this.
After you have formulated clear and specific objectives
based on governmental and school requirements, the next step in
planning is to formulate strategies on how to attain the
objectives. To formulate strategies, you have first to consider
the governmental and school requirements, expectations, and usual
operational procedures. Then, you examine your strength and
weakness and problems, if any, in coping up with these
requirements. Maximize on your strength and improve on your
weakness at the soonest time possible. Develop an effective and
efficient study habit and schedule. Be hardworking and be always
ready to do sacrifices for the sake of your objectives.
Formulation of strategies on how to attain your objectives
can be classified into two groups. These are, namely:
1. Strategies on how to study
2. Strategies on how to pass an examination or
evaluation procedure
You can formulate any strategies you wish, are familiar
with, and dictated by the circumstances. The bottomline criteria
for deciding on which strategies to use are effectiveness and
efficiency. Effectiveness means what are the chances your
objectives will be achieved if you use a particular strategy.
Efficiency means what are the chances an objective will be
achieved using a strategy that entails the least expenditure in
resources, such as time, effort, and cost.
After you have formulated your strategies, you then
determine what will be your methods of evaluation and indicators,
meaning what will tell you that you have already achieved your
specific as well as your general objectives.
After you have decided on the specific objectives, the
strategies to achieve your objectives, and the evaluation
procedures and indicators, the last thing to do in planning is to
write them down. You must come up with a written plan for you to
say that you really have made your plan. The written plan will
be your guide, monitor, and reminder. You can revise your plan
along the way during implementation when you discover you need to
change for the better.
The written plan usually includes at least the following
items:
1. Title of the plan
2. General objective
3. Specific objectives
4. Strategies
5. Timetable
6. Evaluation procedures and indicators
To sum up, the easiest way to remember the various steps in
planning consists of asking the following questions:
1. Where do I want to go? (Objectives)
2. How do I get there? (Strategies)
3. How do I know I am there? (Evaluation procedures
and indicators)
After having considered the above questions, you then write
down your answers in a piece of paper. The piece of paper which
contains the answers to the above questions constitutes your
written and the master plan.