28/11/2024

In a population of about 8.2 billion people, there are approximately 12.8 million physicians in the world. Of the 12.8 million, only 1.1 million doctors are specialists. There are over 1.5 million medical students across 123 countries worldwide. In the UK alone, 65% of medical school applicants are “politely” rejected yearly.

If you do the math, the odds that you are a medical doctor in general, are 1 in 641, and the odds that you’re a specialist doctor, are 1 in 7 462. The odds that you miraculously got into medical school and are a medical student, are a staggering 1 in 5 464. 

With the year coming to an end, I’d like us to reflect on our journeys so far as medicos, and take a moment to breathe in recognition and exhale gratitude. We work very hard to keep going on this journey: sleepless nights, early mornings, eternities studying, and an even greater amount of time being chastised by mentors in the name of correction. 

It’’s not always easy, especially after a long day or even long years for some of us without seeing our families, without a single sane moment to oneself, and the constant pressure to improve either due to imposter syndrome or never feeling like anything you do is enough. We’ve been through the wringer, you and I, whatever position we may hold today. 

When expressed in numbers, some facts really slap you in the face, and we’re one population of people put in such a unique position to change lives, to inspire others, and to literally shape the worlds of many a patient. What we are always striving to become is so much bigger than us and we are so privileged to have this opportunity. 

When we reflect on what led us to pursue medicine, we often find ourselves simply acknowledging how we arrived. However, for me, the most fascinating question is what keeps us here. Is it honoring purpose? Working towards greener pastures? Bragging rights? Or just simply finding it fun? I don’t know.

However, we all often find ourselves fantasizing about our personal next big thing in this journey.  I owe the inspiration for this post to one Dr Chimozi Tembo, an attending ophthalmologist Physician/Surgeon at the University Teaching Hospitals’ Eye Hospital. Being the totally awesome person that he is, he unintentionally imparted to me the wisdom I’m gonna be sharing with you in this publication. 

As much as this post is aimed at medicos, I think it will benefit everyone who’s looking to pave their path to their next big thing. How can we prepare for what’s ahead of us without standing on the shoulders of giants? 

When in absolute distress and expressing to him how terrible I felt my 6th-year final exams had gone, how I felt lost in the medical world and with no prospects whatsoever, the following points and wisdom arose from our conversation and lifted my spirits: 

(First of all, apparently, we all walk into 6th year thinking it’s gonna be a breeze and then it “wacks” us 💀. It also seems that psychiatrists have always had a thing for traumatizing students during exams. So, uhm, rest assured 💀)

Finding the right specialty seems to be a matter of serendipity. It’s the re-acquaintance of one with a certain specialty just at the right time and under the right circumstances. “If someone had told me that I would become an ophthalmologist back then, I would have laughed in their face!” You see for our Dr, it was literally after five years post med-school that he took the decision to walk the path of Ophthalmology. Not only was it serendipity for him, but inspiration from someone who he greatly respected and worked with. I’m getting from this that we need to normalize uncertainty. It’s okay not to have it all figured out. You’re already here. Everything else will fall into place. 

“Don't be in a hurry to choose a specialty. Once you go in, it's difficult to come out. The worst is doing something and finding later on that it makes you miserable.” This immediately had me thinking, what if everything makes me miserable already before I even finish med school? What if I’m failing to find a single interest simply because nothing makes me absolutely happy? He replied saying that he was also equally worried “…but somehow, I was led to ophthalmology. Everything works out eventually. If at some point you feel clinical medicine is not your cup of tea, you can always do administrative stuff or join NGOs.” I like that part. Cause I think we often forget how broad the spectrum of medicine is and we end up thinking small.

He emphasized that he advises that we finish school first, do our internship, and then decide what to do. Our decision has to match our lifestyle, which we may have a picture of in our heads right now but that may change as we mature and explore our lives further. Taking time with this decision may alleviate the fear of regret. I know for one that choosing the wrong path and finding myself stuck is one of my biggest fears in general. I don’t want to be forced to have a private funeral for the better version of myself that I was gonna have a chance to become had I not rushed things. 

I also expressed to Dr Tembo that one of my fears surrounding choosing a specialty and possibly regretting it was that life is too short to mess anything up. This is true, which is probably why he shared the wisdom that “Life is not too short, but it's enough to do what you want if you plan it well.” Planning it well involves first and foremost the above-mentioned steps. “…also, you can decide not to specialize and be a general practitioner. Nothing wrong.” Precisely.

The above is also something some of us struggle with - thinking that we are never gonna be accomplished enough as doctors if we never specialize. I come from a family of overachievers whether they do it on purpose or if it's just in their nature, so for me, I already know that I can’t not specialize. Some pressures are good. They propel you forward with purpose and determination. “It’s not easy being a doctor. Sometimes we take it for granted!”, “The good thing about being a doctor is that it always commands respect.  You might not even be practicing, but people just love to call you by your title.” 

In the meantime, “My advice is always give whichever rotation you are in your very best. Always strive for excellence.” When it comes to the 5th year/7th year mentorship program, “Being a good mentor to your mentee involves guiding their journey through clinical years, fostering a supportive learning environment, and encouraging them to reach their potential. Be available for them but ensure mutual respect for time and commitments. Encourage them to be bold, ambitious, and confident during their clinical years. Acknowledge achievements. You must be honest with them and guide them if they are straying from academic excellence. Most importantly be a good role model.”

Some things Dr Tembo and I didn’t discuss that may not be too obvious to everyone and that may also help us on our journey towards our next big thing are as follows:

• Consider finding a mentor. 

• Consider the demand for the specialty you want and the opportunities that are available for people in that field. 

• Consider your future goals. How long are you willing to study further? Choose a specialty that matches your commitment preferences. There are many parameters one can use to set goals. By future goals, I don’t just mean academic goals, but life goals in general.

• That being said, I want to remind you that time will pass anyway. If you go like, “I can’t go to med school! I’ll finish at 27! That’s too long!”, you need to realize that one day you’re gonna be 27 anyways. Might as well be 27 and a doctor. So honestly, I feel like thinking time is not on your side and choosing something random cause it's a shorter path is really silly. 

• Consider the amount of practical exposure you’ve had in that field. Is it enough to say you choose it? Or may some “nasty” surprises arise along the way?

• Last but not least, consider your strengths. 

This may be one of the longest posts I’ve ever written but it is so important. This is not only for you but for me too. A future Pearl may need to be reminded of the wisdom gained from that conversation. It’s as I always say, this blog was initially just a public journal, and then you joined in, experiencing life with me as witnessed by my lenses. Thanks for always tuning in ✨ look around or reach out to me for the book “The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty” by Dr Brian Freeman. It was shared with me, to share with you ✨

I’d like to give all the gratitude I can master right now to Dr Tembo, for being a great inspiration, and a sounding voice of reason. I know you’ll keep teaching, inspiring, and changing everyone who comes into contact with you. May you be blessed ✨

Without further ado, the following are words straight from Dr Tembo in conclusion:   

“Never mind the destination. The journey is everything. Trust me when I say I had the time of my life at Ridgeway. Those years were awesome. Then, after my specialisation, I went to India for my fellowship, and it was seriously tough, but also one of the best experiences of my life. Completely changed my outlook towards life and my career. I met amazing people, and it opened so many awesome opportunities.

Once you find your passion, it no longer feels like work. Imagine being paid to do what you love to do. It's the most amazing feeling.

Resilience is a must in our journey. Medicine is hard unless you want to be an average doctor. So you must learn to pick yourself up when things are not going your way. Patients will die despite our best efforts. Surgeries might be unsuccessful or may have complications... you might even be sued by a patient. These are all part of the journey. You learn from everyone and everything.” 

Medicine is not just a career; It's a calling that demands resilience, passion, and thoughtful planning. Embrace the journey, trust the process, and strive to become the best version of yourself in this noble profession. All the best! Ciao ✨