Life as a medical student #2 The lady who inspires me

''What your mind doesn't know, 
your eyes won't see, your ears won't hear, your hands won't feel.''

- Dr Uma Sothinathan

We all look up to strong, independent women. But how do we become one ourselves? There's this one lady - her determination, vision, and strength have always inspired me and is a great example of how we can do anything we set our minds to. Her name is Dr Uma Sothinathan, PU-RCSI Director of Clinical Competency.

I used to dislike her. She is one of the lecturers who emphasises a lot on dress code in university. It really gets on my nerve - it means I have to say goodbye to my skirts and dresses because they are all above knee length! I used to think that she's conservative and demanding. However, not long after I attended her classes and listened to her talks, I realised I was wrong. Proper and decent clothing is a protection to ourselves and also our patients. There's a reason behind everything she does. Deep down, how much she wishes that all of us would make Perdana University proud when we are working in the hospitals in the future. She speaks to us like how a mum speaks to her children. All because she truly cares.

She uses creative methods in delivering quality clinical teaching, with emphasis on reflective practice, mindfulness and shared learning in her students. She made us think - how to be a good doctor? She taught us to be compassionate. She taught us to stop and listen. She taught us to feel. Her humour, her passion in paediatrics, her sparkling eyes when she talks about it. All of these influence my life in ways I am still discovering. 

There's once she made me cry - when she was in-charge of the performance for White Coat Ceremony 2014. It was a group performance. She pointed out my mistake directly, corrected me and said I am not cut out for the stage. She said all these right to my face, I tried so hard not to cry in front of her. I mean, I may not be that talented, but I love stage performance! How could you deny the efforts that I have made to be able to shine on the stage. How could you. I continued to practise, and practise, and practise. She no longer gave any comments, she just sat down at a side and watched. Then when the music stopped, she walked towards me and said, ''You did a very good job. That's the way!'' 

Thank you, for allowing me to grow my own wings. 

Clinical Competency

I despise people who study medicine but think that following dress code is shit.

I started Clinical Competency in this new semester (Junior Cycle 3) and I would like to share with my readers things I have learnt from this module. As a medical student, we are expected to wear decent clothing when we attend our classes. Decent as in no skirts above knee level, no short pants, no open toes shoes, no bangles and watches, and for girls, hair exceed shoulder length must be tied neatly. Why must we do this? You think this is because the lecturers trying to create a fuss? Then you are totally wrong. We wear decent clothing because this is a safety precaution not only to ourselves and also our patients in the future. Doctors are at the highest potential risk for cross infection. Needle stick injuries are so common. How are you going to save someone else's life when you can't even protect yourself well. Imagine you wear open toes shoes and some chemicals just spill on your toes. Imagine you are having a consultation with your patient and while you are sitting down, crossing your legs and your sexy legs attract even more attention than your words. Imagine you are trying to auscultate your patient and your flying long hair is all over your patient's face. Dress codes are set for our convenience. Rules are there for a reason. And of course, when there are rules, they are meant to be followed.

Some private universities in Malaysia never had dress code, medical students just come with t-shirt, hot pants and flip flops. Yes, public universities in Malaysia have dress code, but sadly, it is due to religious reason. However, my university teaches me something. Something that other universities will never teach me - self discipline. Self discipline is so important not only in my future career, and also become a practice in my daily life. We are trained to abide to the dress code, to make us look professional when we start to serve the society, a respect to our profession and also to our patients, and most important of all, our attitudes. You can violate the rules when you graduate. Nobody is going to be there restrict what you want to wear. Attitude determines all. You want to wear mini skirts and shorts when you do medicine? Go away. You just humiliated this noble profession.

No offences.