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.