MBBS alumni share life experiences in the medical field

Since its establishment on 16 November 2009, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) has aspired to be the preferred centre of education and research for medical and health sciences. FMHS is devoted to producing competent, professional, compassionate and ethical graduates who are committed to clinical practice, research, lifelong learning and improvement, as well as the welfare of the community and the environment. In no time, it became a highly recognised faculty for nurturing doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists who are well-trained in the medical profession.

The community of faculty professors, researchers, staff, students and alumni whose commitment to excellence, quality and engagement has helped to build the FMHS as a premier learning and teaching institution that continues to set standards of excellence in the academic and medical fraternity. As a result, UTAR’s medical graduates are very well received by the hospitals and more than 250 medical graduates have obtained clinical training and employment thus far.

In view of the 11th anniversary of FMHS this year, the faculty has gathered Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) alumni to share their experiences of working in the medical line. They shared their life experience in the medical field, the challenges encountered along the way, personal views regarding healthcare workers and many more.

Dr Sara

Dr Sara Ruth Zachariah is a graduate of FMHS. She had been working in the medical field for five years. When asked about what inspired her to pursue this field, she said, “I chose to become a doctor because of my family and I was inspired by the stories I heard about my grandfather who worked as a medical assistant in a remote clinic at the oil palm estate. I was further inspired at the age of 12 when I helped my parents to look after my grandmother when she fell ill.”

“One of the challenges is working on-call shifts for 30 hours. I try to be mindful of my health and wellbeing by taking breaks in between for my meals and power naps! Another challenge is breaking bad news. It doesn't get easier! It has taught me how to assess and respond to emotional reactions whether from the patient or their loved ones. One of my proudest achievement would be completing my housemanship in East Malaysia and having the opportunity to be part of the pioneering team in treating the Covid-19 patients as a medical officer. It was an eye-opening experience witnessing firsthand the emotions and anxiety faced by these patients, being isolated and far away from loved ones. Also, a reminder to be grateful for mine,” she added.

She explained the reason she chose to pursue her medical studies at UTAR, “I chose UTAR because it was a well-known and reputable university which provided medical degree at an affordable fee. I also liked the idea of being part of the first batch of medical students produced by UTAR.” “There are going to be tough times where you doubt yourself and the choices made, but do take a minute and reflect why you are in this profession in the first place; which is to treat people who are in need and unwell,” Dr Sara advised and added, “Every doctor should have humility whereby they must be able to accept and acknowledge the mistakes done and be willing to work at it.” Dr Sara currently works as frontline staff in Taiping, Perak.

Dr Eugene Tan

UTAR alumnus Dr Eugene Tan was among the third batch of students in the FMHS. He had been serving as a doctor for almost three years now. He chose this profession because it was challenging, yet humbling and fulfilling at the same time. According to him, new information are constantly made available, new protocols are constantly introduced, hence making changes inevitable in the medical field. “One of the most challenging aspects of the medical field is that it is always changing; what may be relevant in the recent past, may not be so today. So I believe adaptability is a quality important to all doctors in this respect,” he said.

He added, “My advice to those who wish to pursue this field is not to be afraid to talk to your peers or seniors whenever you encounter hardships as it can get quite tough and stressful in this field. We will all go through similar situations at one point or another in our journey, hence sharing with one another could offer insight or solutions to your problems.” When asked of the reason why he chose UTAR, he said, “UTAR was already an established university, to begin with, and had a stellar reputation back when I joined, and also the medical faculty has some of the most well-respected professors in Malaysia.”

“It is still an ongoing battle against the Covid-19 and we are still far from winning it so I wouldn’t call it an achievement, nevertheless I still feel honoured to be able to play a role in curbing the spread of the pandemic,” he finally added. Dr Eugene Tan is currently serving in Kota Kinabalu.

Dr Tan

“I've been working as a doctor for the past five years. I chose this profession because I wanted to help others. Indeed, being a doctor is not the only way to effectively help people in need, or the most efficient. However, for me, being a doctor means being equipped with the knowledge that helps others to do good more than harm,” said another UTAR alumnus, Dr Tan Loong Hui.

Speaking of the challenges met in the medical field, he said, “The challenge was the initial shock of being in contact with real people, real lives which brought real responsibilities. Often an acute sense of inadequacy and helplessness, when faced with issues beyond my knowledge or control, would be the biggest challenge of all.” According to him, these challenges do not fade; one simply has to grow to accept them with humility and resourcefulness, and also by seeking help.

He said, “Working in a fast-paced, ‘make no mistakes’ environment has made many of us, me included, blind to our achievements, and numb to our accomplishments. Pride is a dirty word in Medicine, and rightly so, but it is sometimes skewed towards low self-esteem, and it discounts all our efforts. Nonetheless, I remember the smile patients give us, when we are able to relieve them of their ailments; when they're treated with kindness; and when a depressed patient tells me they are able to work and have a fruitful life after treatment; that gives me a reason to keep striving for my patients and myself,” Dr Tan said and added, “Of course, when I was able to provide relief to the Covid-19 efforts, I felt like a young hopeful medical student, out to ‘save the world’ again. Regardless of how much or little my efforts really helped in managing the pandemic, I believe my contribution was worthwhile.”

“There are many qualities that a doctor will hone over their years of practice to survive and thrive. Although it is impossible to list down, these are some of them. Resilience, both physically and mentally, is a good safeguard for our health and sanity, and to do that, one must not go at it alone. Having a strong social support group, personally and professionally, has helped me tremendously. Being a doctor also requires one to be able to be comfortable with not knowing all the answers, to be able to set boundaries, and to be able to communicate clearly and effectively,” he answered when asked about the qualities a doctor should possess.

Dr Tan is from the pioneer batch of FMHS. According to him, the affordable price offered by the University was the main factor why he chose UTAR in the first place. “We are conditioned as a society to believe only highly expensive things meant quality, however that is not always true. UTAR as a not-for-profit organisation has allowed lecturers and students to focus on the true purpose of education, with less emphasis on commercial values, or fame, or whatever drives the market. UTAR provided us with as much privilege as others to pursue the same dream and cultivate potentials that have just as much, or even more potential than the others. And UTAR protects the rights of all to pursue an education that one chooses,” Dr Tan said.

“The medical profession in Malaysia is undergoing an extremely volatile period. Job security is low, with the advancement in career for many young doctors hanging in the balance. If you are well-aware of all these, and still want to continue to be a doctor, we welcome you with open arms and will cheer you on and support you to achieve this goal,” he advised the juniors at UTAR.

He added, “Remember that we are all gifted with free choice, make use of that freedom wisely. Choose medicine consciously, and when you feel downtrodden in your career, remember why you chose it in the first place, and that will save you many heartaches and tears. Always be ready to accept help and advice; question all knowledge passed to you; be consciously responsible for your choice and actions, and trust me, you’ll become a great doctor.” Dr Tan is currently serving in Selangor.

Dr Cheah

When asked of the reason why he chose this profession, Dr Cheah Yu Wei from the pioneer batch of FMHS, recalled an interesting event that took place during the pre-admission interview to UTAR FMHS. “Interestingly, that was one of the questions Prof Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat asked me during the pre-admission interview to UTAR. Well, it was my ambition and I have been pursuing this since primary school. My final aim is to become a nephrologist, running my own clinic or dialysis centre in the private healthcare sector,” said Dr Cheah.

“Frankly speaking, I have asked myself this question a lot of times during the last five years. This was not an easy road to take and continue to go on, I did not expect so many sleepless nights, separation from my family and loved one to serve the public,” he added. Nevertheless, he is grateful that the transferal to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah has forced him out of his comfort zone and gave him a chance to explore the exquisite culture of Sabah, a place which truly represents Malaysia.

According to Dr Cheah, doctors have to be versatile in many ways, may it be soft skills or core clinical knowledge. As a doctor, one has to work with different people, different patients and different specialities. “I believe in general, doctors must be able to work under pressure, doctors must be highly proficient in clinical skills and soft skills, and most importantly, doctors must possess the will to continue the study of the ever-changing knowledge in the field of medicine. On the other hand, doctors must recognise their limit of knowledge and skill and the timeliness to call for help from peers or seniors. A good doctor should be a good tutor to the junior medical practitioner and should always be ready to help other colleagues who are in need of help,” he said.

Dr Cheah shared, “In terms of working, during housemanship, I believe I was a good house officer. So most of my formal medical officers would like to have me with their on-calls. As a medical officer, I would try my best to ensure my patients receive the most complete care and management plan prior discharge as well as overcoming the social issue and hurdle in getting the best healthcare from the MOH. During this pandemic, I have pledged myself to work with the Covid-19 team from late March 2020 till date.”

Speaking of why he chose UTAR, he said, “Other than providing reasonable tuition fees among all the other private medical schools, the lecturers were the most important reason why I chose UTAR. Our respectable lectures were among the earliest batch of locally trained doctors who understood the nature of doctors the country needs. Hence, the lecturers trained us to cater to the need of the healthcare system in Malaysia. The clinical years prepared us well to handle housemanship and even until the level of professional exams for various speciality exams (MRCP, MRCOG, MRCPCH, etc).”

“As a part of the medical fraternity, especially in the public healthcare sector, we have to always be prepared to face any circumstances and arrangement by the ministry, may it be leaving your loved ones, facing extended working hours or sacrificing rights to take leaves for the benefit of service. Things will be hard in the beginning, however as time goes by your patients, colleagues and seniors will appreciate your help and your presence in the system; you will know that you are on the right track,” Dr Cheah advised.

Dr Ang Jie Ying

UTAR alumna Dr Ang Jie Ying started her life as a medical student in May 2010. She spent five years to complete the MBBS course and two years to complete the houseman training in Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru. She was among the first batch of MBBS students in UTAR. Currently, she is serving at Tawau, Sabah as a medical officer in the Medical Department.

“I have always had a strong interest in being a health care worker from the time I was 12 years old. The interest enhanced greatly when I witnessed the ‘magic’ performed by the paediatrician who cured my younger sister of her illness,” Dr Ang shared. She also said that she visited a lot of education fairs with her parents as she was growing up and later discovered her interest in the medical field. “I felt like I wanted to dedicate my life to it. It was what I wanted. The medical field is fascinating as you can never know everything; there is always new information, new technologies, and new cures. And I wanted to be like the doctor who attended my sister. I wanted to cure people as they could be someone’s parent or sibling,” she added.

“Only a health care worker knows and understands how precious and how merry it is when you manage to improve a disorder or save a life. Sometimes you are appreciated and sometimes you are not, but in the end knowing that you yourself have actually played a crucial role in restoring their health or relieving their pain, be it the patients or their families, is rewarding. You also need to know when to call for help. Health care workers are human too. We all have feelings and emotions like all the other humans; in order to maintain your pace, you must know when to have a break and when to ask for assistance. Also, remember this, you need your family, and your peers,” Dr Ang shared.

She also said, “Building interaction and rapport with patients and their families could help alleviate their pain and suffering as well as easing their anxiousness and concern. Being in the medical line can sometimes be physically and mentally exhausting. However, your soul will feel fulfilled; at some point in life, you will recall why you have chosen this line of work. The day your patients recover, you will definitely feel your role in it, strongly and deeply. These moments are the reasons why I’m holding up till now.”

According to Dr Ang, there are various areas to consider in the medical field. “You can work in the research lab, invent new drugs and prompt new medical discoveries; you can contribute in managing the health care industry, or even participate in the medico-legal area for health care workers and patients’ rights,” said Dr Ang.

Advising the younger generation, she said, “I do encourage others like my younger sister, who is currently completing her final year M.B.B.S studies at UTAR to take up the challenge and responsibility as a Malaysian citizen to serve the people and the country. Understand yourself, discover what you truly love and truly admire; then you will remain strong and compassionate, compassion towards humanity, in this eventful medical life.”

Dr Ang said that she reviewed the background of UTAR, the programme it offered (MBBS) as well as the lecturers before choosing the university. “UTAR provided excellent quality in learning and teaching. The lecturers’ profile showed that they were qualified professionals who can nurture students in respective fields. Although my batch was the first batch to attend the MBBS course, UTAR’s ex-president Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik was highly capable and he brought UTAR to its high peak. This attracted me to select UTAR for my MBBS study. Besides that, UTAR also takes consideration for parents by providing an affordable fee for their children. If I were given a chance to go back to the year 2015, my choice would still be the same,” Dr Ang enthused.

The UTAR MBBS programme follows a systemic and integrated approach that aims to equip graduates with not only the required clinical skills, but also effective communication skills to function as competent and caring doctors. Academic foundation, analytical and critical thinking ability will be provided for engagement in life-long learning, research and continuing professional development. Ethical values, professionalism and moral responsibility to both patients and the community will be instilled in the UTAR graduates.

There are numerous courses available for specialisation and sub-specialisation, some of which include, Obstetrics & Gynaecology; Paediatrics; Orthopaedics; Psychiatry; Ophthalmology; Otorhinolaryngology (ENT); Anaesthesiology; Radiology; Family Medicine; Emergency Medicine; Public Health; Internal Medicine with subspecialty in Cardiology, Rheumatology, Dermatology, Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology, Respiratory Medicine, Rehabilitative Medicine, Metabolic & Endocrine Medicine, Geriatric Medicine; General Surgery with subspeciality in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Breast & Endocrine Surgery; and Pathology with subspeciality in Haematology, Histopathology, Chemical Pathology, Forensic Pathology, Medical Microbiology.

UTAR established its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2009 to educate and train medical students to provide quality healthcare services. The University is now setting-up a hospital in its Kampar Campus that will offer quality and affordable medical and health services in both Western Medicine and Traditional and Complementary Medicine including Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine. The hospital will also provide clinical training for the FMHS MBBS, TCM and Health Science students. There will be an initial phase of a hospital-complex with 250 beds for Western Medicine and 100 beds for TCM and future phase of additional 250 beds. The project will include facilities for out-patient and in-patient treatment, diagnostics and treatment, medical and non-medical support, research and education, and staff, student and administrative centres.

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