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Chairman's Corner
Chairman's Corner
I don't know
I don't know
Ravi Ramakantan
Ravi Ramakantan
It was one of those hot but cloudy October afternoons. As I stood sipping a hot cup of coffee outside the canteen , I saw two senior professors -both known for their hot-headedness - animatedly arguing outside the library. I thought a punch would soon follow - but then some one joined me and I lost touch of the "Two Professors Action"
It was one of those hot but cloudy October afternoons. As I stood sipping a hot cup of coffee outside the canteen , I saw two senior professors -both known for their hot-headedness - animatedly arguing outside the library. I thought a punch would soon follow - but then some one joined me and I lost touch of the "Two Professors Action"
Days later, sitting in the cool of the MLT waiting for the Dean to arrive for one of those, now familiar, HODs meeting - I found both those professors - let’s call them Professor O and Professor F -(that's 128 bit encryption) - sitting a few seats away. Curious as to what they were fighting about, I asked -
Days later, sitting in the cool of the MLT waiting for the Dean to arrive for one of those, now familiar, HODs meeting - I found both those professors - let’s call them Professor O and Professor F -(that's 128 bit encryption) - sitting a few seats away. Curious as to what they were fighting about, I asked -
"Hey! What was it that the two of you were fighting about the other day outside the library"?
"Hey! What was it that the two of you were fighting about the other day outside the library"?
"YOU". Pat came the reply from "Professor O"
"YOU". Pat came the reply from "Professor O"
Generally known for my peace making rather than peace breaking nature, I was aghast.
Generally known for my peace making rather than peace breaking nature, I was aghast.
"Now, what have I done?"
"Now, what have I done?"
As Professsor O rambled on, the realization slowly dawned on me that the fight was not about what I had done; but, rather about what I had not done.
As Professsor O rambled on, the realization slowly dawned on me that the fight was not about what I had done; but, rather about what I had not done.
The argument , it turned out, was about how the head of the department of radiology could say that he knew next to nothing of ultrasound and get way with it and ask one of his junior colleagues to do the ultrasound examination of a very close relative of Professor F.
The argument , it turned out, was about how the head of the department of radiology could say that he knew next to nothing of ultrasound and get way with it and ask one of his junior colleagues to do the ultrasound examination of a very close relative of Professor F.
At this time, Professor F joined in His face was smiling - but , inside him , he was dead serious as he said:
At this time, Professor F joined in His face was smiling - but , inside him , he was dead serious as he said:
"YOU can get away with it because you are RR. If any of us say such a thing we would get a "memo".
"YOU can get away with it because you are RR. If any of us say such a thing we would get a "memo".
I did not know whether feel good or bad about it; but I did feel sorry for ProfessorF - I had let him and his relative down - or had I really?
I did not know whether feel good or bad about it; but I did feel sorry for ProfessorF - I had let him and his relative down - or had I really?
Saying "I do not know" comes very easily to me - there are so many things in radiology that I do not know. Should I be ashamed of it; should I slyly hide it? Should I gloss over it; should I say "Well, you know how it is …."
Saying "I do not know" comes very easily to me - there are so many things in radiology that I do not know. Should I be ashamed of it; should I slyly hide it? Should I gloss over it; should I say "Well, you know how it is …."
Early in life, as a radiology resident, I had come under the influence many great teachers. Some like Dr.Sunil Pandya, the former head of Neurosurgery had profound influence on my attitudes. I learnt from him many things in Neuroradiology and many important facets of life. He never consciously taught any of these - but like a true teacher - lead by example.. Watching and growing with him, I learnt that there is no shame in saying
Early in life, as a radiology resident, I had come under the influence many great teachers. Some like Dr.Sunil Pandya, the former head of Neurosurgery had profound influence on my attitudes. I learnt from him many things in Neuroradiology and many important facets of life. He never consciously taught any of these - but like a true teacher - lead by example.. Watching and growing with him, I learnt that there is no shame in saying
"I don't know". - because that is basic intellectual honesty. Soon I realized, that in large teaching institutions such as ours, there in no place for a "I". The department is the "I" and all of us, from the senior-most professor to the junior most resident, are just parts of it. Over the years, as I lived through life, I realized the profound truth behind this philosophy.
"I don't know". - because that is basic intellectual honesty. Soon I realized, that in large teaching institutions such as ours, there in no place for a "I". The department is the "I" and all of us, from the senior-most professor to the junior most resident, are just parts of it. Over the years, as I lived through life, I realized the profound truth behind this philosophy.
We are here as teachers as well as students - we learn as we teach and teach because we want to learn. We are here too as doctors to whom the patients look up and often implicitly trust. It is our prime responsibility to keep that trust.
We are here as teachers as well as students - we learn as we teach and teach because we want to learn. We are here too as doctors to whom the patients look up and often implicitly trust. It is our prime responsibility to keep that trust.
To be able to do this we should draw on the all resources in the department. Our primary responsibility is towards high quality patient care and teaching by the department as a whole. It does not take a great deal of arguing to convince any one that given the vastness of our specialities today, it is not possible for any one of us to be competent (not just 'also ran') in all subspecialties of our discipline - whatever that be. The department is a combined effort - not a personal kingdom of the head.
To be able to do this we should draw on the all resources in the department. Our primary responsibility is towards high quality patient care and teaching by the department as a whole. It does not take a great deal of arguing to convince any one that given the vastness of our specialities today, it is not possible for any one of us to be competent (not just 'also ran') in all subspecialties of our discipline - whatever that be. The department is a combined effort - not a personal kingdom of the head.
We have the obvious choice of being mediocre in everything and perish in mediocrity or have the better option of allowing our colleagues to excel in different subspecialties and set up a department which as a whole, will provide a level of patient care and teaching befitting a teaching hospital. Most departments have made the choice and officially or unofficially there are specialists and subspecialists in most of them.
We have the obvious choice of being mediocre in everything and perish in mediocrity or have the better option of allowing our colleagues to excel in different subspecialties and set up a department which as a whole, will provide a level of patient care and teaching befitting a teaching hospital. Most departments have made the choice and officially or unofficially there are specialists and subspecialists in most of them.
And whenever, I am asked a opinion on something that I feel a colleague of mine can answer better - however "junior" he or she may be - I feel it is my duty in the best interest of the patient - to refer the case to him. When I do this , I feel no guilt or shame-just the warm good feeling that the patient will get the best advice our department can provide.
And whenever, I am asked a opinion on something that I feel a colleague of mine can answer better - however "junior" he or she may be - I feel it is my duty in the best interest of the patient - to refer the case to him. When I do this , I feel no guilt or shame-just the warm good feeling that the patient will get the best advice our department can provide.
This way, I have seen people grow and excel; this way we will provide high quality care across all facets of our chosen speciality, this way we have the luxury of nurturing excellence; this way our residents can learn from masters and hopefully will be motivated to excel. And this way, if I retire tomorrow, nobody will miss me.
This way, I have seen people grow and excel; this way we will provide high quality care across all facets of our chosen speciality, this way we have the luxury of nurturing excellence; this way our residents can learn from masters and hopefully will be motivated to excel. And this way, if I retire tomorrow, nobody will miss me.
Is that not what running a department is all about?
Is that not what running a department is all about?
October 2002
October 2002
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