University
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

Current Year
Third

Medical Specialty Interested in
Cardiothoracic Surgery

Most Inspiring Person
My Parents

Single Quality that defines a great Doctor
Empathy

First of all, walk us through the step-by-step processes that you went through to get to where you are today?

I started my Secondary Education in Billabong High International School. I completed 6th - 8th grades here. It's very free in Billabong and that is the place I learned to have fun. Studies are only secondary to enjoying and being yourself.

In the middle of my 8th grade, I transferred to Madhrasathul Ahmadhiyya (now Ahmadhiyya International School), because the fees were getting too expensive. I completed my O'Levels in this school. I started getting into studies and being interested to become a doctor during my time here. In Ahmadhiyya the teachers push you and make you study a lot. And that is one of the reasons I am here right now. It wasn't all studies though, I participated in Athletics and was part of the school band. I was exposed to the disciplined cadet life as well.

After graduation, I started my Higher Secondary education in CHSE. It was different compared to Ahmadhiyya. The teachers don't push you to study. We are provided with the resources and expected to study by ourselves. 

I then applied for a job post in ADK Hospital, since I wanted to get exposed to the field of Medicine by working at a big hospital. I got the job as a Customer Relations Assistant and worked for 4 months. During this time I also completed a Certificate 3 in Arabic language since I've always had an interest in it. The ADK staff were kind enough to give me the morning shift so that I can go to classes at night. 

I saw a different perspective of the Medical field while I was working. It's true that you learn a lot by working with a doctor as a Clinical Assistant, but I saw how managing a hospital was like. I saw irritated, nervous and angry patients coming in to the hospital everyday. I also saw the doctors coming into the hospital at odd hours to look after patients and it gave me a view of how my life is going to be like in the future. 

My mother told me about KDU. Some of her friend's children were studying there and according to them the university was both affordable and had good facilities. Plus they have clinicals along with the theory, hence we get more practice along the way. I applied through the website after they announced that they were accepting applications.

When did you first realize you wanted to study medicine?

I don't know what specifically triggered me to get interested in Medicine. 

I was always interested in the heart and I saw videos of heart surgeries and read stories online. Maybe my interest began after my great-grandfather suffered a Heart attack a couple of years back.

Take us through a typical study day.

We started our clinicals and we are doing Medical rotations in the fourth semester. I wake up latest by 5:30 am, take a shower and complete my prayers. I quickly go downstairs to the front of the hostel in time for the bus to arrive. It's a one hour drive to the hospital. I try to take a nap on the bus, because as a Medical student you must try to get as much sleep whenever you can. By 7 - 7:30 am I reach the hospital. 

Our Medicine rounds were very relaxed since our consultant did not pay much attention to the students. However, surgery were much more serious and the consultant expected a few things from us. We take histories and examine the patients. In a ward there might be 30 beds and students were assigned beds. So the patient on your bed is your responsibility. The consultant would arrive at 8:30 am for ward rounds. We would follow the doctor and if there is an interesting case he would point it out and ask us basic questions from our pre-clinical education. At our level we are not expected to know deep knowledge such as the treatment. 

We are mostly free afterwards, but there are a lot of things we can do if we take the initiative. Procedures such as cannulations, drawing blood, analysis of blood capillary glucose and catheterizations, are available if the opportunity arises. We should ask the intern doctor and most of the times they would allow us to perform these procedures. 

At 12 pm, our clinicals are over and we head to the teaching hospital which is located near the hostel. After lunch and prayers I go for lectures from 2 - 5 pm. We are exhausted by this time and we try our best to stay awake. Even though some students skip lectures, my style of studying is to listen to the lecture and study that when I get home. 

Every week we have Casualty nights on alternating days in a 2-week rotation. After lectures we get on the bus and head back to the hospital until 10 pm. A lot of new patients come in during this time so we quickly check their history and examine them. Afterwards there are a lot of procedures we can perform. 

If it's a casualty night, I don't even attempt to study because I am physically drained by the time I get home. I take my dinner and go to sleep. If it's not a casualty night, I go back to hostel and take a rest until 6 - 7 pm. After dinner I always call my parents and fill them on the details for the day. I then study for a couple of hours before falling asleep at around 11 pm.

How do you recharge or take a break from studying?

When I get distracted or get tired from studying, I watch an anime episode or watch a random YouTube video. Also, I sometimes go for a run 5K run around the hospital before I start my studies. This way I am alert and fresh.

What is the best part about studying medicine?

For me there are two parts to this question. One part is my main reason for pursuing Medicine. That is to know the knowledge of the human body, how it works and the diseases. The Second part is that I get to help a lot of people. The patients in Sri Lanka are very nice and treat us with a lot of respect. 

Moreover, Medicine has changed me a lot. I used to be socially awkward and I started opening up after interacting with patients and students inside the hospital.

Name your favorite medical text book.

Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology.

Do you study alone or in a group with others? Any reasons?

I prefer to study alone since there are too many distractions while studying in a group. There is a common room in the Hostel as well but I could not study there. If I am learning a topic I would do it alone but if I am doing past-papers I might do it with others. Also there are many times when I explain a topic to my friends so we conduct it as a class.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started medical school?

Within a month I quickly adapted to Medical school. It's a lot of hard work. When you see a doctor remember that it's blood, sweat and tears to get to that point. A lot of tiredness and sleepless nights as well. 

Every person has their own way of studying. I learned my way of studying from my mom who is a Mathematics teacher. When I was studying Mathematics in school, she would force me to write down every step for each calculation. This way of studying taught me not to memorize but to understand. In my opinion, this method is very important in Medical school because it is impossible to memorize everything. Somethings you would have to learn to work it out and think on your feet. 

What do you think needs to change in the health industry of the Maldives today?

In my opinion, there should be more public awareness on how the health system works. They must also improve the primary healthcare in the country. Patients in the Maldives straight away consults a Specialist and this should not be the case. They should first consult a General doctor and he/she should direct the patient to a Specialist. This way the workload on the Specialist doctors would decrease and would greatly increase the chance of the patient consulting the correct Specialist.

Finally, what is the one tip/advice you want to give to our readers?

When you're a Medical student, be sure to come back up every time you go down. There are days when you can't study. But make sure you start studying the next day. 

And in some cases the consultants and health professionals will make you feel small and make fun of your lack of knowledge. Don't let this get to you and try harder next time. In my opinion, anyone can become a doctor if they work hard. 

The My Medical Student Life series was created for the sole purpose of helping medical students and aspiring doctors on their journey to become a successful Maldivian Healthcare Professional. Have a suggestion, idea or question? Email us.

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