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Chairman's Corner
Chairman's Corner
Let them fly away!
Let them fly away!
Ravi Ramakantan
Ravi Ramakantan
Stability is a good thing.
Stability is a good thing.
Each morning, we get up and go to work secure in the feeling that this is just another day.. the only difference will be the patients and occasional ‘new’ residents.
Each morning, we get up and go to work secure in the feeling that this is just another day.. the only difference will be the patients and occasional ‘new’ residents.
We set your goals and ambitions on this stability. We make our plans for patient care, education, research and publishing based on this secure assumption that ‘all’ will be there.
We set your goals and ambitions on this stability. We make our plans for patient care, education, research and publishing based on this secure assumption that ‘all’ will be there.
It was not always like this before. Not at least in radiology. Like the matinee movies, it was a case of “daily change”. We never had more than two or three faculty in the department running the show with residents. Sure, the modalities were less, but the patient load was the same. Someone or the other ended up doing more work.. And then, after a few months, when things seem to have be somewhat settling down, there would be a change. Some one chose to leave KEM for greener pastures in a private practice or a private hospital. The wheels of this cycle never seemed to stop.…or so it seemed.
It was not always like this before. Not at least in radiology. Like the matinee movies, it was a case of “daily change”. We never had more than two or three faculty in the department running the show with residents. Sure, the modalities were less, but the patient load was the same. Someone or the other ended up doing more work.. And then, after a few months, when things seem to have be somewhat settling down, there would be a change. Some one chose to leave KEM for greener pastures in a private practice or a private hospital. The wheels of this cycle never seemed to stop.…or so it seemed.
I have, as head of radiology, seen this cycle for close to 20 years. My reaction to this phenomenon today is the same today as it was 20 years ago. A warm feeling of contentment, a sense of a job well done… one more of our own is stepping out into a world of his/her own
I have, as head of radiology, seen this cycle for close to 20 years. My reaction to this phenomenon today is the same today as it was 20 years ago. A warm feeling of contentment, a sense of a job well done… one more of our own is stepping out into a world of his/her own
“How can you be so unemotional when someone leaves” – many have asked me.
“How can you be so unemotional when someone leaves” – many have asked me.
Sure it is possible - once you realize what it is all about to be a teacher and what a medical school and a teaching hospital are all about.
Sure it is possible - once you realize what it is all about to be a teacher and what a medical school and a teaching hospital are all about.
In the daily humdrum of clinical work, we seem to forget that we are all teachers.. maybe we became doctors first,, but, our position today is that of a teacher and that is why we are here in a medical school. As a teacher we teach all we know. We teach the basic formulas, what chemical reactions they decide to create depend on the individual talent of the taught. We do not have complete control over it. And from this cauldron of chemical reactions are born generation after generation of those that trained at GS and KEM…the legacy of our institutions and departments to posterity –
In the daily humdrum of clinical work, we seem to forget that we are all teachers.. maybe we became doctors first,, but, our position today is that of a teacher and that is why we are here in a medical school. As a teacher we teach all we know. We teach the basic formulas, what chemical reactions they decide to create depend on the individual talent of the taught. We do not have complete control over it. And from this cauldron of chemical reactions are born generation after generation of those that trained at GS and KEM…the legacy of our institutions and departments to posterity –
a few bad ones, a few great ones and most in-between.
a few bad ones, a few great ones and most in-between.
In a pyramidal system of staffing, there is never place for everybody; some will leave; others will have to - even if their hearts are in this place.
In a pyramidal system of staffing, there is never place for everybody; some will leave; others will have to - even if their hearts are in this place.
As a chief or senior faculty, you will interact frequently with colleagues working ‘under you’ …. And, as they make their life’s decisions, they will turn to you for advice with implicit faith that you will take decisions which are in their best interests. You cannot misguide them. You have seen more life than them, you’ve seen the fate of those that have left before them… you are supposed to know.. you are the wise one.
As a chief or senior faculty, you will interact frequently with colleagues working ‘under you’ …. And, as they make their life’s decisions, they will turn to you for advice with implicit faith that you will take decisions which are in their best interests. You cannot misguide them. You have seen more life than them, you’ve seen the fate of those that have left before them… you are supposed to know.. you are the wise one.
Making such decisions for others is not easy.. it never is. You, as their mentor, will have to bring to being a great deal of objectivity in advising them to leave or stay on. These cannot be colored by your personal interests or the interest of the department or, for that matter, even the institution.. All that matters is the best interest of the fledgling that wants to fly - you can neither let them fall to the ground below, nor can you keep them cooped up with the nest – in house arrest. At the right time, there is a need for a right decision. Some of these are most difficult decisions that you make as a medical teacher and a mentor.
Making such decisions for others is not easy.. it never is. You, as their mentor, will have to bring to being a great deal of objectivity in advising them to leave or stay on. These cannot be colored by your personal interests or the interest of the department or, for that matter, even the institution.. All that matters is the best interest of the fledgling that wants to fly - you can neither let them fall to the ground below, nor can you keep them cooped up with the nest – in house arrest. At the right time, there is a need for a right decision. Some of these are most difficult decisions that you make as a medical teacher and a mentor.
Pride in the people we train, gratefulness to those that have given their everything to run the show for us will always be your beacon - even as you advice them to take the ‘bold step’.
Pride in the people we train, gratefulness to those that have given their everything to run the show for us will always be your beacon - even as you advice them to take the ‘bold step’.
And, as change is the way of this world, there will be new generations of fledglings even as the older ones are encouraged to fly - fly away - so that the seeds of learning that our institutions will sow through them will blossom into a million learning centers all over the world, treating patients and training doctors… bringing glory to these great institutions we know as GS and KEM.
And, as change is the way of this world, there will be new generations of fledglings even as the older ones are encouraged to fly - fly away - so that the seeds of learning that our institutions will sow through them will blossom into a million learning centers all over the world, treating patients and training doctors… bringing glory to these great institutions we know as GS and KEM.
So let people fly --- fly away – towards the blue skies and the green pastures- even as you wait with bated breath……to see the fruits of the seeds they carry away from you - to see them to excel.... ...to see them outshine you.
So let people fly --- fly away – towards the blue skies and the green pastures- even as you wait with bated breath……to see the fruits of the seeds they carry away from you - to see them to excel.... ...to see them outshine you.
For, in the life of a teacher, few things can be as heartwarming as being completely outshone by his own former “pupil”!
For, in the life of a teacher, few things can be as heartwarming as being completely outshone by his own former “pupil”!
August 2008
August 2008
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