REVISTA MEDICOS AMSA India’s Quaterly Newsletter
ART & MEDICINE Medicine; Pinnacle of all art forms, The Art of Practising Medicine
NEW SECTIONS Medical Conspiracy Theories, Etymology of medical words
DEBATE Medical school: Pre VS Post-Covid
AMSA EVENTS Recap of all the events happening in the quarter
RISE OF RESILIENCE Issue 13 | January 2022
03
About us
10
A Medical Consuetude
14
Post-Covid Clinical Experience
26
Medical Journalism
37 Conspiracy Theories in medicine
05
Letter from Regional Chairperson
12
Re-starting with Resilience
16
Mental health measures to fight PostCovid stress
28
The Enigma of Medical Words
39
Reader’s Articles
06
Letter from Secretary
07
Note from editor
08
of
Meet the team
TABLE CONTENTS 19
Medical Research
30
22
The art of practising medicine
32
Debate: Medica school
Neurathon
50
66
AMSA Events
The Contagion
24
Memes
34 Surviving Medical School
About us.
AMSA India AMSA India represents Indian medical students interests in all the spheres of our society and thus provides an excellent platform for empowerment. The activities involve medical students in participating in various national and international conferences, academic bonanzas and philanthropic work. The directive of our organization is to inform, educate and counsel every medical student of India. The international activities Conference EAMSC are (January/February), AMSC (Conference: July/August) and AMSEP (Student exchange).
AMSA International AMSA was officially founded in Manila, Philippines in the year 1985, it is an active, dynamic and exciting student-led, not-for-profit and nonpolitical organization with 27 member associates and observer nations. AMSA'S vision is knowledge, action, friendship Le to share knowledge, undertake activities and social services and create International and intercontinental friendships that lasts forever.
About us.
Our Spanish title articulated with love, toward a magazine for and of medicos. To describe this “Spanglish” (Spanish + English) title with soul of medicine and in words of a poet:
Newsletter is the mirror of an organization’s play, The gospel truth and our belief we say. The essence of our organization as detailed is told, And all the future aspirations as destined we unfold. To keep the idea of ‘medicos’ atop, From clinical questions and crosswords to interviews, We’ve got you covered with thought. As in a democracy, our organization solely stands by members, for members and of members that’s what makes it grand. Alas, your love and feedback is what is indeed craved, because in unison are the trails of success paved.
LETTER from the Regional Chairperson
D Dear Readers,
It feels like a great privilege to be able to converse with you all via the medium of the 13th issue of AMSA
India’s treasured newsletter, Revista Medicos. ‘The Rise of Resilience’, the theme of this issue’s newsletter very well resonates with AMSA India’s role as a medical students organisation in the second quarter of its term. With the second wave settling down, the board shifted back its focus to bring around a broad range of events ranging from research to public health, virtual exchanges to academic competitions along with a vast variety of events from our new units, Bioethics and MSFC. This year being the 10th Anniversary year, also saw the board planning a vast variety of activities to celebrate the occasion, during the National Executive Board Meeting. Whilst we formed some new bonds with potential partners from within India and abroad, we are grateful for long standing and continuously flourishing bonds with partners like Logiquest Kaplan. I would also like to take this moment to congratulate the brilliant visionaries behind this newsletter- Chitwan Ghuman (Secretary Newsletter) and Samneet Singh (Chief Editor Newsletter) and the whole Editorial board for curating it very thoughtfully while documenting the exceptional contributions of the members of AMSA India. We hope that you have an enthralling experience while reading through the newsletter. We thank you for your continued interest and support. With many interesting avenues opening up in the next quarter, we hope to welcome more new members to the family. Till then, Stay Tuned and Curious. ‘Empowering Minds, Enhancing Performance’ VivaAMSA! Khushman Kaur Bhullar Regional Chairperson AMSA India 2021/22
From the
SECRETARY'S DESK
D Dear Readers,
“A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.” Throughout the history of nature, the collective has proved stronger than the sole creature. Teamwork has played an essential part in the progression of mankind. Hence, I thank the Regional Chairperson, Khushman Bhullar for appointing me as a part a marvellous team, where I chose my bunch of gems- Anshdeep Singh, Arnav Bansal, Drashti Patel, Guari Mehta, Karthik Shankar, Pragya Chand, Roop Kaur Brar & Soundarya Prabhakar, who done double duty for you, my readers, to enjoy the quarterly Newsletter of AMSA India, The Revista Medicos. The issue, Rise of Resilience, would focus on the various aspects of a doctors’ remarkable everyday regime during this Pandemic. Doctors are selfless and devote their lives in order to eliminate ailments, but still we as Medicos’ faced various unsaid and not cared for problems ourselves while healing others. We hope this issue of Revista Medicos, helps our healers to heal themselves in whatever way possible. Towards the end, we would love if our readers could spare some time to help us remove our shortcomings by filling out the review form attached in the end. And if you have any queries regarding the Newsletter please feel free to contact me at newsletter@amsaindia.in Appreciatively
Chitwan K Ghuman Secretary Newsletter AMSA India 2021-22
From the
EDITOR'S DESK
D
“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must
and survived.”
Resilience is not just standing upright at times adverse but it is accepting your new reality, bending to it and then standing back again.
Dear Readers,
These unpredictable times we have witnessed, not just to maintain the pace but also the quality of newsletter was our prime objective and In this Issue, the essence of rising again after the fall and standing back stronger is well brought about through the major sub-themes. Also, keeping in mind the monotony this Pandemic has brought in our lives, themes like Art & Medicine have been included. Keeping in mind the Mental health issues and the post COVID stress, we have made the best of our efforts, not just to be vocal about them but also to suggest remedies for them. I’d extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Regional Chairperson, Khushman Kaur Bhullar, AMSA India 2021-22, for the unwavering faith in me and Chitwan Kaur Ghuman, Secretary of Newsletter for being an amazing co-lead and Of course, to the heroes under the veil, and My team: Gauri Mehta, Drashti Patel, Pragya Chand, Karthik Shankar, Arnav Bansal, Roop Kaur Brar, Soundarya Prabhakar and Anshdeep Considering the vast diversity we represent, it becomes our utmost duty to live up to the aspirations and demands of our readers and So, I humbly request our readers to please fill in the feedback form and in case if you have any queries regarding the Newsletter, please feel free to contact me at Editor@amsaindia.in. Regards Samneet Singh Chief Editor Newsletter AMSA India 2021-22
MEET TH
NATIONAL OFFICERS, EDITO
An amicable, empathetic, tech savy and Socially awkward procrastinator in her second year MBBS who enjoys editing and creating digital art as much has she loves medicine. She'll probably go miles to make people smile, and believes that kindness is the ultimate virtue. The 19 year old also has an unusual amount of love for plants :)
A student of Sri Muthukumaran medical college, Chennai. A lazy perfectionist who gets the job done with meticulous care to detail and possesses an expansive skill set and a knack for design and editing. She patterns herself from the way she perceives nature and life.
A 2nd Year MBBS student at Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. Being a budding designer and a shooter, he is always curious and enthusiastic to learn new things, he believes there is nothing in the world that you can’t achieve with honest hard work.
A final professional part 1 medical student from Dayanand medical college, Ludhiana. He has a clear, logical mind with a practical approach to problem solving and a drive to see things through to completion. He is a person with fantastic eye for detail, and enjoy order, precision and efficiency in all tasks.
HE TEAM
ORIAL BOARD, AMSA INDIA (21-22)
A med student who lives by the simple motto, to aspire to be cognizant and attempt to seize knowledge in any and every form possible. From academics and healthcare to literature, flow arts and cinema she enjoys and appreciates the essence each of these impart.
A 2nd Year Med student passionate about Football, Films and finding solace in this crazy game called Life.
A not-so-regular third professional student who finds solace in books and poetry.Both Robbins and Oscar Wilde render her equally awestruck,while medicine is her passion,literature is her raison d’être.The concept of holistic treatment of both mind and matter inspires her and her mind palace is an abditory of all-things-delightful. Certified aesthete,she-flaneur and a philocalis, the woman swears by her dynamic playlist and believes in leading The Jedi Life! However,the seemingly quiet hedonist blooms into a loquacious lass once strum to her frequency.
She is an intern at AIMSR. Being confident, expressive and an idealist, she is a firm believer of the fact that power resides where you believe it does. Her infectious enthusiasm and fiery persona makes her unforgettable in every task she undertakes. It’s her hustle and heart that sets her apart. Her passion for Medicine and Surgery drives her to be a healing touch for those in need. A culinary comforter who is able to rustle up mouth watering treats to melt away all stresses. She adores dogs and is always up for an adventure.
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
A Medical
CONSUETUDE “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” -Anne of Green Gables”
Sweet heavy scents of apple orchards-piles of leaves are tossed into the air-rakes scrape across lawns-flannels rest lazily-gusts of wind gently knock on windows-brown leaves glow gold under the warm setting sun, The month of September is a doorway to a season that awakens, invigorates and inspires. It is that time of the year my friend when your Pinterest boards actualise, the oppressive sultry weather seamlessly transforms into a rusty orange landscape veiled by crisp chilly air which is often penetrated by warm sunshine and you feel the verve, the exhilaration to intensify your pursuits. Medicine isn’t just a career, it is a lifestyle and only the fortunate are chosen to embark upon this endeavour. Cicero was indisputable when he opined that “In nothing do men more nearly approach the Gods than in giving health to Men”.While I concede that fall brings about a gush of positivity where all our ideas and interests flourish, I am of opinion that Medicine and Art ain’t two mutually exclusive concepts. Medicine in itself is the pinnacle of all art forms. Surgeons are incontrovertibly the most impeccable artists nature could have ever witnessed and while I am a devotee of this grandeur, I sincerely wish that our “Artists” could also indulge in other “vices” such as Poetry, Music and Literature while staying in their moral compass. REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
My father once told me that Medicine isn’t a sprint race, It ain’t even a Marathon or for that matter any sort of competition that may require you to beat your opponents and graze the finish line first. It is a journey and not a destination. An arduous journey. And what do we do when our journeys are as such, we learn to enjoy it along the way? We do not wait to reach the finish line to finally be able to begin a Life. I most certainly will attract a heap of diversions of opinions but I’ll just take my chance and state that there is no Life outside MBBS. Medicine is itself, a lifestyle. And by the time we realise this, we tend to have skipped past our youth being buried neck-deep in our Baileys’.. How many of us have missed a family function, or crossed out a travel itinerary, skipped a lavish dinner, lied to get out of RSVPing to an engagement or just stayed back to turn in our endless assignments. We only miss the chances we didn’t take, the books we didn’t read, the music we couldn’t enjoy and the places we didn’t visit JUST because the course was TOO much or the postings
were TOO busy! There will come a time when the universe will shake you by the shoulders and the fog will lift from all your misconceptions of how gloomy you have turned your life into desperation. There is no glory in overworking. I repeat. There is no award at the end of the line for anyone who has
diminished their proclivities besides medicine into nothingness.
Let this season of Change inspire you to push past your self-imposed confinements. So go ahead, blot that notepad with your poetic prowess, saturate that celluloid with the panoramas you’d want to relive, nourish your cerebrum with all that fodder those fictions could provide and lastly, break the stereotypes and smash those ceilings which limit your passion outside Medicine.
“In the very end, civilisations perish because they Listen to their politicians and not to their poets” -Jonas Mekas
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RE-STARTING WITH RESILIENCE: Tackling Medical School post-Covid
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” - Marie Curie The Covid19 Pandemic, perhaps the longest and some of the most unnerving months of our lives seemed like an incessant tunnel with no sign of light at the other end. Slowly, day by day until one final day, the flickering light appeared, we stepped back into the world we were yearning for. We were now slowly getting back to our routine, the momentum of life.
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With appreciable self-reflection and a sea of emotions; fear yet excitement and vulnerability yet passion we are now getting back to our very own walk of life- medical school, studies and all that comes with it. A pursuit fueled by the shortcomings felt during he pandemic, we now start afresh with our hearts set on achieving what we root for. Starting, perhaps restarting offline medical school with grinding clinic hours, long theory classes, co-curricular activities and of course the best part - ‘offline friendships’ can be mentally, physically and socially draining.
The first rule of tackling medical school post covid is that we need to consciously take a step back when we’re overwhelmed. At an individual pace, set into a comforting rhythm, introspect and try to find happiness in the longing little moments of life. If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it would be to value our physical and mental health. Invest in yourself, learn and relearn to make up for all the time you lost to covid. When it comes to studies and training in clinical skills- it’s essential to be proactive, spend more time with teachers and patients, even make discussion groups with friends as in the light of supporting others, we learn more. When reading gets monotonous, quiz your friends, scroll through Study grams on Instagram, listen to medical podcasts on Spotify or iTunes and of course watch some excellent videos out there on YouTube.
Work hard, remind yourself why you started in the first place and the results shall align your way, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment.” And while you work hard, remember to keep your creative side intact, let loose sometimes; the balance of life is indeed an art! Last but not the least, it’s important we practice all covid precautions for our safety as well as others. Take an opportunity as being a part of the medical fraternity to educate patients and their kins too. Alas, after the toughest lockdown blues, striving on kindness and hope with the strength we emerge. We rise from the ashes like a phoenix, with resilience in our hearts, day by day making the world a better place.
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POST-COVID CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Rohan and Shreya too ended up experiencing these problems during their Medicine Postings.
Hey, Shreya! Which case do we have to take today?
Yeah, me too. If I’m not mistaken, it was covered during online classes, but I had so many doubts and couldn’t clear them. The Clinical classes conducted online weren’t able to replicate experience of Offline Clinics.
Yes, that’s true. Operation problem though remains. I have no idea how we are going to take this case and present it in front of the resident doctor.
Today we have been assigned a case of alcoholic liver disease. We need to take a detailed history and conduct a system examination.
Let’s try looking it up online. I’m sure that we can find a readymade proforma on how to conduct the examination.
They watched numerous YouTube Videos and skimmed through a few textbooks until they finally mustered up the courage to take the case.
The conversation follows them after they have taken the case before presenting it. I expected the systemic examination to go poorly but I didn’t expect my historytaking skills to be so rusty.
Yes, it’s surprising. History taking was so easy for us before the pandemic but now our skills have surely taken a hit.
Oh God. I have no clue how to conduct a systematic examination.
Yes, let’s do that. It seems like our only option in this situation.
Our systemic examination though was very poor and I fear that it is incomplete. I hope we don’t have to present the case to a strict resident doctor.
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Are you Rohan and Shreya?
(nervously) y-yess ma’am.
Okay. Please systematically present your case.
After their presentation… That was very poor. Do you’ll not study and come for these clinical rotations?
Actually ma’am, we were taught these examinations through online classes and weren’t able to understand the content.
Coming back to offline clinical postings after all those days of learning online medicine sure is strange. I feel like we have become a bit over-reliant on how easy going life was during our online days. The real world, however, has moved back offline and we as medicos are finding it pretty hard to readjust to this.
Hmmm. Learning clinical skills like systemic examination through online classes seems like an impossible task. This truly is an unfortunate situation for you. If this is the case then the poor quality of your presentation is understandable. The issue is that this cannot work in the long run and the lack of clinical experience will affect your future career prospects.
Is it possible for you to teach it to us, ma’am? Once demonstrated, I’m sure I won’t forget!
Sure let me demonstrate. Pay close attention.
This is just a snippet of the issues faced by students in this post covid era. We as students need to take an active effort to hone our Clinical skills else, the future doctors of this country may turn out to be incompetent
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Aaliyah: “It was my dream and passion since childhood to become a doctor, a healer, so that I could be there for all who needed me.”
MENTAL HEALTH POST-COVID STRESS
Husband: “As a psychiatrist with an established practice and years of experience in helping those suffering from mental health issues, you had a well planned and predictable life before COVID struck.” Aaliyah: “My life as well as those of my patients has been thrown into a sea of physical, emotional and psychological turmoil.” Husband: “Your clientele was those already suffering from mild to severe mental illnesses and now post Covid, there are many more individuals who are reaching out to seek help.” Aaliyah: “Covid patients, people who had long ICU stays, health care workers, children, parents and elderly are all battling stressors leading to diverse mental health issues. They range from anxiety, insomnia, depression, PTSD, fear, loneliness, uncertainty, behaviour problems to eating disorders.” Husband: “Due to lockdown you have been unable to take patients for in person therapy. It will be a good idea for you to shift to telemedicine consults” Aaliyah: “Yes! I think that’s the only way I can continue to help my patients. I will need to adopt various measures to fight post COVID stress and those with pre existing mental health issues. Shifting to telemedicine and zoom meetings will help provide a platform for therapy and counselling sessions online”.
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Another difficult and common mental health issue had been dealing with grief. Losing their friends/family members to COVID and not being able to participate in mourning had created a void in their already sad lives. Losing a loved one is not only about closure, but about living life with the grief. She did not advise her patient to be brave or power through while grieving. She helped them to live with the loss, to lean on their memories and experiences with their loved ones. As a mental health practitioner she had devised several ways to cope with grief: Taking time off from work Acknowledging the loss Sharing memories with friend and family Seeking spiritual support Talking to friends Crying it out Social support is key Her parents are still waiting to see her but getting regular help dealing with their mental health issues has given them confidence to power through. Today, they are not only better equipped to handle their stressors but they are also able to provide support and guidance to their friends. Via online counselling, therapy sessions and her podcasts everyone from young to old are able to deal with their mental health issues in a healthy manner. The doors of mental health will open for all once we learn to prioritise our life with our family and friends and establish and follow a healthy lifestyle. Accepting the supremacy of nature and loving all forms of life will be the best measure to attain good mental health.
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Picking up the threads from the comprehensive piece on all about research from our previous edition (#12), we now bring to you the next step in starting about as a research enthusiast: How to choose a topic for medical research? Doing research may seem daunting initially but it is indeed a pleasurable get away from otherwise monotonous medical school academics. The element of fun perhaps stems from the foundation of your research, THE TOPIC! 1. Choose a topic that aligns with your interests. Read articles available on various platforms in your field of interest. Try to speak to faculty or seniors from those fields who are experienced in research. Be observant of the things you perceive in your day-to-day clinical postings or classes. Keep a track of current medical news, even notice what’s happening related to health in your geographical area. The clues often lie in the shortcomings! Maintaining a journal dedicated to your ideas can definitely help assimilate your thoughts. 2. The essence of ‘Novelty’ While doing your background research either in your area of interest or in the process of discovering your interest, try to proactively look for a topic that addresses a knowledge gap. It could be in clinical medicine, medical education, social medicine et al. The aim is to add something new to an existing body of knowledge. The acknowledgement and solution to such lacunae will be the drive behind your very own research!
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3. Assess an old topic with a new and unique context Try to put a potential and unique contextual lens onto existing research. For eg. you can apply your topic of interest in the following domains: -A country that differs from previously researched countries -A unique industry -A unique demographic group or the same demographics type but with different racial and ethnic contributory factors. 4. Narrow down your topic. You can start about with a broad topic but ultimately narrow down to a topic that is specific in nature. Avoid taking a vast topic which can seem never ending. Inability to do so may lead an inconclusive end point while doing your research. 5. Relevance The key to choosing a topic lies in its relevance, applicability and further use to the section of the society that your research essentially pertains to.
Ethics in medical research can be defined as, the application of moral rules and professional code of conduct to the collection, analysis, reporting and publication of information about research. Everything about Ethics Approval Try to answer these questions: Whether what you’re doing is right? How you’re doing is right? And if your chosen sample population is right? Most ethical codes cover the following: Honesty and Transparency Objectivity Integrity Confidentiality Legality Subjects’ protection
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The ultimate aim is to prevent any form of misconduct, plagiarism and maintain integrity of social and moral values. Before applying for ethics approval, one should make sure to keep in account the prerequisites of the particular institute or journal applying for, in order to avoid receptive corrections or even rejections. In conclusion, while pondering over a topic, aim for finding the ‘wow factor’ in your topic that often translates to- originality, truth and transparency, importance and its underlying potential. Also take into consideration ‘FINER’: F- Feasibility I- Interest N- Novelty E- Ethics R- Relevance For instance, after choosing a topic of interest, check if its feasible in terms of time, resources and your ability and the settings required to pursue it as medical student. At last, justify if your research question is answerable?
Be headstrong while the process requires time, patience and numerous sittings of confrontation by various evaluation authorities, finally clearing the institutional ethical standards with a noteworthy contribution towards medical and clinical science
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- Karthik Shankar Paracelsus once said - “Medicine is not only a science; it is also an art. It does not consist of compounding pills and plasters; it deals with the very processes of life, which must be understood before they are guided.” The core purpose of medicine is to heal the sick and help alleviate their struggling. In this day and age, this core ideology seems to have been forgotten. With major advancements in both human medical knowledge and diagnostic technology, medical practitioners have started to practice medicine in a very mechanical, rigid manner and have forgone the art of practicing medicine and thereby, what it truly means to be a doctor.
The central theme behind practicing medicine is empathy. Empathy is “the ability to be aware of the feelings and emotions of other people.” Only if you are able to empathize with the patient can you truly understand what they are going through. Understanding what they are going through is key in order to make a well-informed diagnosis. It is important to differentiate empathy from sympathy. Sympathy involves pitying the patient. This may cloud the judgement of the doctor and make them unnecessarily emotional when dealing with the patients leading to more errors. So as doctors it is essential to empathize with the patient but we must never sympathize with them.
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An important concept that links medicine to the humanities is efficient communication. Intently listening to the patients’ complaints and symptoms help us arrive at a wellinformed diagnosis. It also enables the patient to better understand their illness and increases treatment compliance. It also reduces the scope of misunderstandings between the doctor and the patient. Evident from the repeated attacks on doctors and medical students in the recent past, this art of efficient communication hasn’t been properly practiced. Another key ideology regarding efficient medical practice is compassion. Patients bring fear, anxiety, and self-pity into the examination room. It has always been the doctor's responsibility to calm their fears and provide hope. An expert practitioner is one that is compassionate and supportive of the patient in these dark times. It helps instill confidence within the patient and helps them believe that they too can beat the disease. Sometimes the hope itself is strong enough to kill the disease. Medical schools teach students how to diagnose diseases and select optimal methods to treat diseases, but such knowledge alone is not sufficient to be a good doctor. One needs to be empathetic, supportive, compassionate and a good communicator in order to succeed in their main aim of treating patients. So, is medicine an art or is it a science? In my opinion, medicine is the art of applying scientific principles in order to help treat those in need. So medicine is a key combination of both art and science. Both are inseparable like two sides of a coin. Medical knowledge wrapped around by a layer of art alone can bring relief to the patients.
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES MEMES REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
MEDICAL JOURNALISM Upon googling the EXACT definition of Medical Journalism, we find that, “It is the dissemination of health and medical stories and health-related topics in mass media. It targets the public at large, rather than specific professional groups, by providing health-related information through mainstream media outlets.” Now, the problem of Health Communication is not in the research itself but in the way it is interpreted for the public. And to facilitate the flow of pertinent medical research to the public at large, we rely on the skills of medical journalists. A career in medical journalism offers a rewarding opportunity to delve into any number of carping contemporary concerns from medical, social and environmental policies. Medical and health-related topics are informative, diversified and are widely reported, as these topics influence awareness, attitudes and intentions but may also contribute to change in behaviour, health care utilization, clinical practices and health policies. Reflecting the public's voracious appetite for medical news, health stories are now regularly found as page 1 newspaper stories and as daily segments on prime-time television newscasts hence, medical journalists are facing expanding job opportunities, greater visibility, and the potential to have a more powerful impact. Medical journalists write for a variety of outlets, such as Newspapers, Consumer print publications, radio, television and Websites. With approximately more than 9 million abstracts, the sheer mass of emerging biomedical knowledge is overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is a gap between the wealth of expanding information and the quality of public health, partly because of the difficulty of dispensing this information to the lay public.
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While physicians offer the advantages of understanding medical terminology and having had the clinical experience to guide them in fairly relaying health information, they generally lack the benefits of formal education in journalism. "Don't think you can waltz into a newsroom and suddenly become a star," warns Mr Bloom. "The MD degree won't do anything for you unless you've already proven yourself a first-rate journalist with a track record of superbly written and well-researched medical stories." Medical journalism is the broadcasting of health-related information via media channels. Medical Journalists not only circulate commercial news but also convey evidence-based news and reports holding a lot of credibility and accuracy by delivering information about making complex science comprehensible and acting as a bridge between the scientists and consumers to a broad audience of readers, viewers and listeners. Good general knowledge, inquisitiveness and the capability to pick up new concepts are the primal skills required for this endeavour. Your MBBS Degree is a licence to practice medicine, not a free ticket into the world of medical journalism. You are likely to have much more enduring success if you are driven by a fascination for your subject and a love for the process of communicating it clearly and engagingly If you are adequately fueled by passion and have the ability to go the extra mile, the internet is satiated with fast-track courses that can be considered to kick start your journalist journey. The opportunities in the career of medical journalism are quite robust. Editors want ideas but unfortunately, there are thousands of other journalists ideas as well, so ask yourself, particularly for the consumers: Is this controversial? Is this special? What difference does my idea make? Be prepared for rejection as well, “One day your time may come, but there are no guarantees in journalism.” -J K Rowling Regardless of whether you’re a health communication writer or a medical journalist, your goal should be to clearly and accurately disseminate information about health care and medicine. Medical journalists do this by communicating research, medical news, and scientific breakthroughs to the public. They act as a bridge between medical and science professionals and the general population. I am sure that now we have established why your dissection kit must contain both a pen and a scalpel, why you must be aware of both medical discoveries as well as their subsequent application and lastly why it is of utmost importance to hear from both your steth and medical journalists equally.
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THE ENIGMA OF MEDICAL WORDS As medical students, we often come across the most bizarre words, have you ever paused and gone into where could that word possibly come from? Here are some of the most routine yet enigmatic words with a history of origin ever so interesting that it’ll change your perspective of ‘boring’ medical terminology!
1. WARFARIN – BLOOD, RATS AND ANTICOAGULANTS WARF in Warfarin stands for Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the institute that patented the discovery of this anticoagulant. In the early 1900s, a mysterious hemorrhagic disease in cattle was first noticed by a Wisconsin farmer. This farmer concerned for his cattle, took a bucket of a dead cow’s unclotted blood to the WARF institute where a natural substance called coumarin was discovered present in the hay being consumed by the diseased cattle. This came to be known as dicoumarol. Initially marketed as a rodenticide and heavily used as a poison, it came to clinical use only when a US Army official attempted suicide using this poison. This official who was brought to the hospital as a poisoning case was successfully treated with Vitamin K which led to the revelation of warfarin use as a therapeutic anti-coagulant; finally, being
r
approved for clinical use in humans by 1954.
o d S W
2. KWASHIORKAR The name is derived from the Galanguage
language
of
coastal
Ghana – “kwa ni oshi korkor” translated as "the sickness the baby gets when the new baby comes" or "the disease of the deposed child" or “korkor” – the second one. It is the development of this condition in an older child who has been neglected and weaned from the breast when a younger sibling comes.
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
3. MENSTRUATION ”Menses” in Latin means month, is etymologically related to “moon”, a heavenly body that revolves around the earth monthly!
4. AMYGDALA ”In Latin means “almond”, named after its shape resembling that of an almond.
5. DIABETES The term "diabetes" in Latin translates to "a passer through; a siphon”. The word mellitus (honey sweet) was added after discovering the sweetness of urine and blood of patients with this disease- initially observed in regions of Greece, India and Persia.
6. DUODENUM The Greek word “dodekadaktylon”, literally means "twelve fingers long” derived from its length of about 25-30 cm, approximately equal to the breadth of twelve fingers.
7. Le FORT FRACTURES Named after René Le Fort, a French surgeon who conducted experiments on 35 cadavers inflicting facial trauma of varying magnitude and directions by dropping cannonballs and striking them with a bat. He would then boil the heads to remove soft tissue and record the results. Such experiments determined the areas of the structural weakness of the maxilla designated as "lines of weakness" where fractures occurred, ultimately established as the Le Fort’s Fractures.
8. BARBITURATES Derived from the name ‘Barbara’ and Urea - a constituent of this compound. Barbara is claimed to come from St Barbara’s Day, the day the Nobel laureate Baeyer celebrated his discovery of this compound.
9. UTERUS Comes from the Egyptian word ‘Hysteria’, used for unexplained abnormality of behaviour particularly seen in women- proclaimed as the ‘uterus bearers’; Hysteria is among the first mental disorder attributable to women, a condition demonised and supposedly treated by sorcery and even sexual abstinence. With the advancement in science, such conjectures have however been debunked.
10. MITRAL VALVE: This bi-cuspid valve derives its name from its appearance which resembles a mitre- The bishop's hat.
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
DEBATE
MEDICAL SCHOOLPre Post Covid
Before the COVID 19 induced lockdowns, it seemed almost impossible to imagine a world where medical education was imparted online. The pandemic though, pushed us out of our comfort zone and forced us to improvise. On paper it seems like the online mode of education is far inferior compared to in- person teaching, but this is far from the truth. Let’s take a look at a few scenarios and compare them.
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ONLINE Scenario 1:
OFFLINE You are being taught about the way to perform a CNS Examination on a patient.
Pros: This would be taught within the hospital at the patient’s bedside. This would be giving you a first-hand practical experience of performing the examination, ensuring that you retain it for a long time. Cons: You are over reliant on the teaching abilities of your professor. There is lack of any other external aids at your disposal, meaning that there is a high chance that you may not fully understand what is being taught to you. Add to that, you would be standing for a long time in a crowded ward, making it an uncomfortable experience
Scenario 2:
Pros: You have numerous audio-visual aids (Videos, articles) at your disposal to fully understand the topic whilst it is being taught to you. Add to that, you would be learning it from the comfort of your own home thereby making the experience a very comfortable one. Cons: At the end of the day, you are not gaining real life experience. Until performed physically on a patient, you will not be able to fully understand the concepts.
You have an exam in a couple of days.
Pros: It will force you study. In an offline setting you cannot rely on the internet or textbooks to save you in case you do not know the answer to a question. Cons: It stresses out students excessively which may have effects on the mental health of the students.
Pros: It give you the availability of the internet and textbooks during exam hours which provides you with a safety net in case you are unable to answer a few questions. This puts the students mind at ease whilst studying and writing the exam. Cons: The student develops a very Lax and chilled attitude towards academics which will end up hurting the academic prospects of student in the future. This is because most of the exams in the future will shift back into the offline mode and it will be difficult to re-adapt to the offline mindset of studying for exams.
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NEURA
With the Pandemic slowly dying down, it’s time to test your kn dise Q1) Incubation period of COVID 19 is? a) 12-24 hours b) 1-2 days c) 2-7 days d) 2-14 days Q2) Established modes of transmission of COVID 19 are all except a) Blood borne b) Contact c) Formites d) Respiratory droplets Q3) Estimated overall case fatality ratio is a)<1% b) 2-4% c) 20-30% d) 50-70% Q4) Commonly used in walk-in disinfectant tunnels for COVID 19 is a) 5% cresol b) Cetrimide c) 1% sodium hypochlorite d) Hydrogen peroxide
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S’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
ATHON
nowledge regarding the ins and outs of this paradigm shifting ase.
Q5) ICMR and NIV, Pune, have developed an indigenous COVID 19 detecting ELISA called a) Nischay ELISA b) Aarogya ELISA c) Kavach ELISA d) Chhaya ELISA
Q6) Viral transport media, vacutainers and plastic vials should be deposited in which bag according to COVID 19 BMW guidelines? a) Yellow b) Red c) White d) Blue
Q7) Goggles, face shield, hazmat suit and gloves should be disposed in which container according to COVID 19 BMW GUIDELINES? a) Yellow b) Red c) White d) Blue
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
SURVIVING MED SCHOOL Jeremy Spiegel MD in the ‘Mindful Medical Students’ presents a guide to “staying who you are while becoming who you want to be”. This is among the many books written for a medical student as a lifeline to help them survive the medical school journey. It is not about studying a lot but about studying smart because it is a fact that medical school is hard. It is extremely hard to have a good life while balancing the huge amount of workload with the rest of one’s life. To stay sane and emerge happy in the end, it is imperative to recognize the factors that cause difficulties for students.
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Mountains of information Managing stress Maintaining a social life Time management Persevering Being patient Doing what you love and like Comparing yourself with peers Is a perfect student going to become a perfect doctor?
As the dean of a medical college once said“it’ll be like drinking from the fire hose” It is strange that after saying its extremely difficult I turn around and say it’s not that difficult. Yes, there will be times when students feel like quitting but with a few helpful ways it will teach them how to survive and thrive in med school. REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
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Know yourself
Each student has their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. A self analysis will help you recognise your assets as well as help you to identify the areas where you need assistance. Do you learn by watching videos or listening to lectures in class? Diagrams or flow charts? Textbooks or self made notes?
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Positive mindset
Watch motivational videos or listen to inspirational podcasts when feeling low. Do whatever you need to do to stay away from negative thoughts. There may be times when you do not shine but do not beat yourself over this. Continue to work hard and do not compare yourself to your peers
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Identify what makes you happy
Happiness is needed to deal with stress. Create time for activities that make you happy going to watch a movie with your friends, a football match, Netflix and chill, etc
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Stay organised
A organised student is a successful student. Deadlines are a way of life in med school. Avoid getting suffocated with pressure by devising ways to stay organised. Use calendars, reminders and alarms. Do not leave work for the last day.
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Catch every opportunity
Be open to new opportunities even if they are not within your comfort zone. Becoming a good doctor is not only about memorising facts and learning concepts. A variety of skills are needed. Do research work, become a member of student organisations, volunteer for health camps, attend conferences and workshops - this will help you get the real lessons of life.
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Inculcate good study habits
Prepare notes summarising lectures and highlight important topics and key words Always break down a large paragraph into bullet points as it will be easier to learn them. Visual learners must use a colour coding system. Mnemonics are an effective tool to learn facts. Use diagrams and pictures while studying. ‘Active recall’ is a must to ensure you have understood the topics thoroughly.
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● Time management is the key
Making a schedule every Sunday for the week ahead will ensure you do not miss any task and make the most of your days as there is so much happening in a med student’s life. Be realistic and slightly flexible in your plans to accommodate last minute agendas. Use planners and calendars to manage time. To do lists are another great way to get work done.
● Stop procrastination
Putting off things will just turn to piles and piles of due work and lead to stress. It is rightly said - There are 7 days in a week and ‘someday’ isn’t one of them. Do it today! Act now!
● Stress management
Know when to take a break to prevent burnout. Plan and mange time well to ensure stress free learning. Try to mediate for 10 mins daily to relax your mind. Healthy diet and regular exercise are also imperative to keep stress at bay.
● Learn to seek help when needed
Med school can be overwhelming. Learn to identify signs of needing help and reach out to those around you. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Medical school is next to impossible to navigate alone.Find mentors to guide you and to help you study. Studying in groups or with study partners is also a great way to help each other and revise concepts. Lean o your friend and family for support when needed.
● Make new friends who support you in your journey
It may be hard to keep up with your old friends who are not in medical school. Try to make friends in med school and hostel as they are the ones who will help you get through the programme.
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CONSPIRACY THEORIES IN MEDICINE Dr. Roop Kaur Brar
Conspiracy theories have surrounded various aspects in medicine. Ranging from public health issues to vaccines, cancer cure cellphones and many more. It is strange the way human brain is susceptible to taking in misinformation and spreading it further.
Communities that are marginalised and discriminated against, especially in developing countries fear medicine. The belief that the world and the advances in medicine are mainly targeted towards profit making further fuel beliefs and conspiracy theories. The irrational trust in conspiracy theories greatly impacts the health practices and behaviours of populations across the globe. The detrimental effects of these theories prevents people from accepting vaccines, drugs and new treatment protocols. The fear prevents the acceptance of proven traditional medicines and pushes patients towards alternative medicine. What may start as a prank or viral social media messages or videos develops into strong conspiracy theories. REVISTA MEDICOS
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Conspiracy theories are commonly viewed as ‘explanatory beliefs (either speculative or evidence based) or world views that perceive the current political or social order or historical or future events as an outcome of manipulation by small group of powerful individuals acting secretly for their own benefits against the greater good.’ (Fenster, 1999, and Parent, 2014). In the present day health scenario, the greatest damage is being caused by conspiracies surrounding cancer cure and vaccines.
THE VACCINE CONSPIRACY Concealment of information about vaccines is another popular conspiracy theory. People believe that damage caused by vaccines is being hidden by Pharmaceutical companies and governments to make profits. Parents who would not want to vaccinate their children believe in vaccine conspiracy as they do not trust doctors. Myths and conspiracy theories on vaccines and COVID-19 have had detrimental effects on global vaccines refusals. WHO recognises vaccine hesitancy as the world’s top threat to public health safety. Lack of knowledge, religious beliefs and viral anti vaccine misinformation fuel vaccine conspiracies. The chief concern of health care service providers today is how greatly COVID-19 vaccine refusals will affect the battle against this pandemic. Today we need strong antidotes against conspiracy theories. Studies have brought to the forefront the benefits of the following actions to fight conspiracy theories: Educating the masses through social media platforms Increase awareness about fake evidence and news Old resistance to viral messages and videos Debunking controversies through research Use of science and factual information to counter controversial claims Develop fact checking websites Help people to critically understand and analyse conspiratorial content Highlight the negative and detrimental effects of people following conspiracy theories and distrust in traditional medicine.
THE CANCER CONSPIRACY The cure for cancer and various treatments available for cancer are mixed in conspiracy. The belief in misconception shows shocking results. It is highly improbable that pharmaceutical companies and Governments are hiding the cure for cancer. Moreover, cancer covers over 200 diseases with variety of complexities that do not need a single cure. It is also not possible to keep such a big secret without someone leaking the ‘miracle cure’ if it existed in the Pharma world. Cancers affects the rich and poor alike so it is unlikely that rich people would risk the lives of their loved ones by hiding a cure. Money can not buy all scientists, researchers and diagnosticians and suppress treatment as many are driven by passion for science and quest for discovery. Conspiracy theory proponents propagate hatred for Pharma companies as their popular misconception is that pharmaceutical companies “do not create cures but create customers” Alternative medicines like Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Diet therapy etc. proclaim to cure cancers and mislead innocent people without any reliable research backing. REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
ART & MEDICINE Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “We have art to save ourselves from the truth”. The one big similarity between art and medicine is that both are oceans that know no boundaries. Thus, it is only fair that the limitless expression of art empowers medicine and vice versa. And, to put things in perspective, isn’t the human body a resplendent work of art? During one of my ENT lectures, I had this Eureka moment. Tensor tympani, as most of us know is a muscle in the middle ear. Now, it arises from the cartilaginous part of auditory tube, basically from the anterior wall. It has to reach handle of malleus, directly. Instead, it takes a turn to the medial wall, hooks around the processus cochleariformis and then goes to malleus. Why? Thats because the pull of the muscle is better if it tenses in a straight line. The magic doesn’t stop there. The nerve supply is from trigeminal, the same cranial nerve that supplies muscles of mastication. Thus, when we chew, tensor tympani contracts and ensures that the noise from chewing is effectively cut off and doesn’t damage the ear. That, to me, is art. COVID-19 is a storm that shook the very fundamentals of the society we live in. It has been a very hard test that keeps throwing curveballs reiterating one simple truth. We don’t stand a chance unless we walk each other home. As a final year medical student, sitting at home in utter desperation of not doing enough during the course of the second wave, creative expression is the one last resort that kept me in the moment and prevented me from drowning in the overwhelming reality of the pandemic.
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Shruthi Kirthivasan I am Shruthi, a final year medical student. I am also interested in reading, writing and a bit of singing. I am trying to do my best in med school right now and I am pursuing my grandmother's dream of becoming a doctor. To help others the best we can is our prime duty was the greatest lesson I've emulated from her and I hope to do that to the best of my ability. This one is for her.
To using social media for outreach and sharing beautiful illustrations on how vaccines work, art simplified the complexities of medicine and made it easier for the common man to fathom.So, what better way to talk about art than to talk through art? Awareness campaigns about everything ranging from body positivity to lifestyle modifications work better when they’re illustrated, symbolised, projected as poetry. Medical students, overburdened with endless assignments and test scores, should also be taught to think creatively and have free-minded discussions about the stigmas and grey zones in medical care. The creative talents that they’ve natured doesn’t have to be a victim of endless assignments. Instead, they can be channelised to fuel passion in the course and act as a catalyst in propagating good health care practices. Most importantly, mental health of the students will also be nurtured and protected. Colours make everything better, music fills our mind with emotions. Each one of us is capable of artistic expression, thanks to the beauty of the human brain. Whoever said science and art and science don’t walk in tandem are clearly mistaken. They’re two separate functionalities, existing in parallel lines to ensure that the world functions in harmony and humanity powers through it all.
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
The cascade of Heinous crimes against Humanity at Nuremberg The infamous study on syphilis at Tuskegee Stolen cells from someone’s cancerous Cervix A Phocomelic epidemic awaiting at the end of the Thalidomide tragedy Connecting them allA humiliating history. To fill us all with pathetic shameThe Lack of consensuality.
My own Health & I had no say. My own Life. But I had to silently obey. Every night looking at those blue-eyed Beasts, I pondered who were they? While I suffered torture at their hands in the most unspeakable way.
Dr. Avi Singh An intern at GMC Amritsar & the officer of Bioethics Unit at AMSA India, Dr. Avi is a passionate poet and artist with a soul that feeds on travel. He is an academician & a Quiz master with an ambitious desire to make Medicine as approachable & beautiful for the the upcoming medical fraternity. He believes life isn't too short to experience it all if you have the spirit to live it right.
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
My greatest achievementTo acquire an incurable disease. My only crimeBeing born Black. My only hopeA Blind Bargain with my Body. Walter Reed was born too late to save me. The Nuremberg Code was still in its infancy. The concept of ConsentAn idea too bold & beautiful to see the light of day. A Daring Disclosure, Ensuring Capacity, & Veracious VoluntarinessToo much to ask from the terrorists of the holocaust. The need for Informed consentToo unnecessary a task for those who dealt in scientific Anarchy. And here I am, Having suffered pain like pleasure Lying in my deathbed, Indulging in impossible hope for leisure I try fathom a future Where autonomy is not just a choice; But the only acceptable way. Lack of consentIs not just a formality forgotten But a blunder of this highest order.
A breach of trustIs not just collateral damage But a crime so grave that ends you up in jail I try fathom a futureWhere they ask me what I’d want with my body even after my death. I try fathom a futureToo beautiful to ever exist
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Forget about my whereabouts, for the time being, look at your life, which is more concerning. I have come all along, to say something, wonder what's that? Here is the thingSince ages, you’ve been evolving, and you feel like a supreme being. But it’s strange that you’ve also been struggling to fight and win against a micro-being! Radiation, bushfires or global warming has of course, never been bothering. You never took anything to be alarming And now my viral lesson is indeed terrifying! While you’re in lockdown, the earth’s still rotating for its affection upon us is everlasting. And I observe, you humans are panicking, with all your progress halting. At your wish, you stay chilling, amidst the crisis, till it’s advancing. and then you foolishly start revolting against the ones who are helping! Iobserved something surprising about committed souls and selfless working. In Spite of your selfish raging, stones pelting.. the doctors stood for you, without running.! While you turn a deaf ear and disregard the first line pledges to save you from dying, Wisdom is what you are lacking the cost of which could be devastating!
Vishnuvardhan Thotakura I am from Vijayawada and currently doing internship in Dr.PSI Medical college, Gannavaram,AP. Literature, Clicking some nature photos are my extra curricular areas of interest.. i wish to be Jack of all trades
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
FIGHTING POST COVID STRESS This COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the lives of millions. Nothing has been the same for the past two years. It has not only altered our daily routine but has also afflicted us with a neverending fear and uncertainty of losing someone precious. Our lifestyle has been changed and everyone faced hardships in one or another way such as financial loss, isolation, shutdown or psychological distress. We don’t know what the future will bring for us and this fear has left a deep impact on our mental health. Countless thoughts, anxiety and sadness deteriorate our mental abilities. A complete lockdown has been imposed in many countries as a safety measure against COVID-19, but this measure has its cons. Anxiety, lack of peer contact and reduced opportunities due to lockdown pose a threat to the mental health of children and adolescents. This is more challenging to people with disabilities, low socioeconomic status and trauma experiences. Social distancing and lockdown provided us safety from COVID-19 but failed to protect us from the fear and trauma caused by this disease turning our whole life upside down. Thousands of people have been vaccinated, but still, they are afraid to live their lives normally as before. Many of them lost their loved ones and are so traumatized that they can’t set a foot out of their homes.
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Alia Chittoria I am Alia Chittoria, a third year Medical Student of LN Medical College, Bhopal. My hobbies are Singing, dancing, acting and playing volleyball. I love to organize and host events. I also love to write whenever I feel anxious. It helps to cope up with my mental stress. I am a self-motivated, hard working person which directs my interest in Research, Bioethics and Health care innovations. As much as I love multitasking and discovering my interests, my sole motive remains to help people and be productive for the betterment of the community. I’m aspiring to become a skilled and compassionate doctor.
Many families have been destroyed due to financial loss. Some blame the imposition of lockdown by the government for ruining their lives, whereas some blame this disease for taking away their loved ones. According to me, none of them is guilty, but we are humans. Pain, trauma, sadness, fear and loneliness have crawled up in our hearts. COVID-19 pandemic is a major health crisis. Due to hardships, people are experiencing mental health repercussions. Surveys have shown a rapid increase in the number of adults with symptoms of stress and anxiety. Some people have chosen tohelp themselves by using alcohol and drugs to cope up with the pain and trauma caused by the pandemic. These not only worsen the mental conditions but also weaken the immune system and can induce chronic illnesses. Therefore, it’s essential to take measures and get care. We must be mindful of our physical and mental health. Get enough sleep, eat healthy, exercise, limit screen time and avoid substances like alcohol, tobacco etc. Focus on positive thoughts, set your priorities, ignore misinformation and rumours about COVID-19. Socialize virtually with your friends and colleagues. It’s so easy to connect with other people in this modern era. Online psychological services are also available now. It is difficult for health professionals to help people in distress online, however, it is not impossible. Online self-help psychological exercises, psychoeducation through internet platforms or videoconference meetings with mental health professionals can be helpful to people in need. Take care of yourself and others around you; together we can make a positive impact on this world!
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Tackling Medical school Post-Covid
Shashwat Misra I'm Shashwat Misra, a 3rd year MBBS student from DR RMLIMS, Lucknow. I was previously an NO with the EdBoard AMSA. I enjoy doing almost everything that qualifies to be a literary event and I'm always seeking new experiences and adventures.
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Alaska and Silas, a self-sustained duo, one wouldn't want to mess with. Their journey from strangers to chuddy buddies was craved by all. Always dressed in sync. No one could separate them, not even the professors. They knew Silas would always choose Alaska as his prom, his science exhibition buddy, his partner in crime. Alaska never looked at other guys apart from sexual pleasure, never let any boyfriend come between Silas and her. Their relationship was pure like a diamond, strong like an anchor. But this trust and love could be dangerous. Alaska's father worked at a small healthcare facility, which suffered the same fate as other businesses. Alaska always had the zeal to work during times of need, despite her ill- health. She has to undergo dialysis twice a week, a young girl with dying kidneys. A girl as stubborn as Alaska, the worsening situation of the community and her financially unstable family due to covid, further encouraged her to follow her ardour. Even her family had to take a step back from keeping her to risking her life. This was the first time that even Silas' words couldn't penetrate her ear. Alaska successfully worked at a renowned hospital for 2 weeks, filled her pockets and still bought lunch for the entire family. Spending two weeks amongst the sick without catching the infection herself made her go overconfident and reckless.
Manvi Lamba Manvi Lamba, an enthusiastic 2nd-year med student from Maulana Azad medical college, is hardworking, diligent and perseverant. She has an immense love for nature and its creatures. She loves to write articles, anecdotes and inspirational quotes. She wants to explore the vastness of medicine and not leave any stone unturned.
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INDIA
Weeks passed by. Alaska barely managed to consume a healthy diet with regular exercise. Her 12 hour job didn't allow her to go back home and sucked her potential with each passing day. One night, after a hearty Sunday meal, her temperature started to rise. Within an hour, she was burning. Her throat got dry and chewy. Drinking water was not just enough. Cough lasting for minutes left her nauseated. She felt dizzy and fell to the floor. Her eyes opened at a familiar yet strange place. She heard voices heard before, but wasn't able to recognise them. Her body felt like it belonged to someone else. Odd sightings with revolting muscles made her sigh loudly. A man wearing white plastic came rushing to her. He held her hands and introduced himself as Silas. "Silas," said Alaska before passing out, again. Her condition worsened. The hospital refused her dialysis to avoid the spread of infection. She fought for her life in the ICU for 3 weeks. Silas by her side. He provided her food, kept an eye on her vitals, made her sleep whenever she woke up anxiously and comforted her poor family, who was restrained to see her. The only way Alaska could have found peace was to rest forever. Her innumerable never-ending sufferings demanded every ounce of strength in Silas. He couldn't see the only person he cared the most suffer, even though it was her fault. He blamed Alaska. Nurturing her family was not supposed to be her burden. She should have enjoyed her days at home like the rest, with him. From the day she was admitted to the day her brain died and face lost its spark, Silas didn't lose hope; his faith. Never skipped praying to God, begging for her life. They say Alaska didn't die alone; she took Silas' soul with her.
AMSA INDIA’S
Events
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Bisexual Awarness Week Despite strides being taken in the right direction for the queer community, we still witness disheartening amounts of discrimination and fear amongst them. We often fail to acknowledge and create a respectable space for their struggles and triumphs. In celebration of bisexual awareness week Project साम्य under Public Health and Research Department of AMSA India, organised an event for participants to share their stories, memories and experiences anonymously. The aim was to provide a safe space where participants could voice their deepest thoughts and opinions. All anonymous confessions were featured on the social media handle on 23rd September
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Ethos 4.0 AMSA India had partnered with Department of Education, International Chair in Bioethics, for ETHOS 4.0, Rejuvenate Conscience, an international Bioethics, Medical and Research conference which was held from 12th to 16th November, 2021. The theme for the conference was Bioethics and Healthcare - intertwined ideas for pandemic response to relearn and rejuvenate one’s conscience. Ethiscan- discuss the medical ethical dilemmas. The events conducted were as follows: Ethiview- devise a new ethical narrative Speak Its legal- debate fest Sketch syndrome- ignite the artist in you Reel it on- reel making competition Hear me out- open letter to doctor Enigma- the engineer in you Expiscor- Paper and poster competition Comic-Con- design your bioethics comic Poetry slam- recitation competition Hackathon- discussion on telemedicine The Haha Fest- bioethics themed standup comedy Doc on trial- essay writing on your favourite TV doctors ETHOS 4.0 aimed to provide a platform to have thought provoking discussions and find effective solutions through academic sessions and discussions for obstacles in pandemic responsiveness in the new millennium. It also emphasised on Access to healthcare and One Health as the need of the hour. The conference focussed on the role of Bioethics in Medical Education as a means of achieving equilibrium between medical ethos and quality healthcare in the pandemic era.
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AMSEP India X Hongkong A much-awaited exchange between AMSEP India and Hongkong was conducted between 29/10/21 to 7/11/21. Day 1: icebreakers, interactive activities, debates, and language learning to acquaint delegates with each other. Day 2: Sessions on Nanotechnology in healthcare and its current application and future prospects. Dr.Krishan Rao gave detailed insights and the day was concluded with a round of interactive quizzes and polls. Day 3: Sociocultural day consisting of a virtual tour, live performances & language exchanges. Day 4: Dr.Christopher See was invited for a talk on Blockchain essentials for medical students and an introduction to Chinese medicine. Day 5: Sociocultural session for both the countries and culinary sessions & virtual escape games for the delegates. Day 6: Recap video of all the beautiful memories made during the exchange and on delegates’ experience. A session on community exchange was held finished off by concluding speeches from our respected board members and organisers.
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AMSEP India X Thailand AMSEP India organized a fun-filled and once in a lifetime 6 day long virtual exchange program with delegates from Thailand. The theme was- “Mental Well-being” held on 15th-17th, 22nd-24th October 2021. Day 1- AMSEP India x Thailand started with the opening ceremony and the ice breaking activities included “2 Truths 1 Lie” followed by “Language Twister” where the AMSEP Thailand team taught Thai words and phrases to Indian delegates. Day 2- A session by Mindfulness expert Manish Behl, CEO of Mindful Science Centre and Mindfulness India Summit was conducted on the importance of practicing mindfulness. Acquainted aspects of neuroscience and Emotional intelligence were also savored. Followed by a suicide prevention workshop by Gargi Vishnoi, a counseling psychologist working with fortis healthcare. Finally ending with a mind-bending quiz on clinical psychiatry! Day 3- “Scavenger House” and “Escape the Haunted House” two thrilling games were conducted followed by the “Master Chef” event.
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Day 4- A session on “Mental Health in medical students” by a speaker from Thailand followed by a group discussion on “The Window to Your Heart”. Day 5- India's “Socio-cultural day”, a colorful and versatile event! The session started with a virtual India tour followed by the language learning session where the Thailand delegates were introduced to some Indian languages. A myriad of events like singing and dance performances ended the day with a bang! Day 6- Bidding their experience rich journey, where all delegates shared their fond memories with recap videos was a wholesome end to the exchange program.
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ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
AMSEP India X Indonesia A six-day bilateral exchange program with AMSA Indonesia was equal parts zealous and astounding.
Started off with a grand opening ceremony followed by community service explanation and introduction to Bhumi Foundation. The remarkable opening performances and ice-breaking sessions were enthralling. The academic session was carefully curated to constitute both lectures and fun-filled games.Workshops were conducted to educate the participants on healthcare policies. Socio Cultural events were dynamic and embodied the true spirit of India under “India-Unraveled”, the language exchange program was a genius activity to acquaint our participants in our varied heritage.
AMSA Indonesia held a Wayang workshop and a traditional dance session followed by a Semragan dance tutorial.Special performances were presented by selected delegates and cuisines were also taken into account. Several other presentations on heritage and leadership in medicine were also conducted. The last day of exchange was marked by a game session and presentation concluding with an Award ceremony,a DJ night and an E-letter system. Needless to say that with every exchange here at AMSA, the teams are setting new benchmarks of solidarity and medical harmony.
REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
AMSA Chattisgarh x Goa conducted a one of a kind quiz- BINGER'S TRIVIA on 25th Sept, 2021.
A fun quiz based Medical web series like Grey's Anatomy ,House MD and many more! It contained 2 comprehensive rounds Round One: MCQ pattern via Google forms Round Two: The top qualifiers were then live on AMSA India's Zoom
Pinktober Project Astitva under 𝗣𝗛𝗥𝗗 (Public Health and Research Department) & AMSA India celebrated "Breast Cancer Awareness Month", PINKTOBER!
Winners were awarded certificates from AMSA India.
Binger’s trivia
Informative and thoroughly interactive webinars spaced over three weekends from 8th to 24th October were organised. Important aspects of Breast cancer and it's awareness were addressed, like- The pathology of breast cancer, Epidemiology and screening tests for breast cancer and management. REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Safe Abortion Project Ahaar Abhiyaan of PHRD conducted the “Smile with Superfoods” competition on 27th September-3rd October 2021.
A platform where super healthy and tasty recipes were shared by participants along with their nutrient content and health benefits!
Winners
On the occasion of International Safe Abortion Day, AMSA - India's MSFC Unit conducted a National Level Poster Competition on the
Hara Bhara kabab- Prateek Shrivastava Quinona Biryani - Sharandeep Singh Chia pudding - Simontika Sen
Theme : Safe Abortion "A Medical Necessity" Exciting cash prizes and certificates were awarded to the top 3 National Winners of the event.
Smile with Superfoods REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Obstetric violence is a term used to describe the mistreatment,disrespect and abuse or dehumanized care of women during childbirth by healthcare providers,it has unfortunately become very prevalent and less spoken about.An online webinar on obstetric violence was conducted by the Internal department of MSFC Unit of AMSA India.It was aimed at sensitizing medical students about different aspects of obstetric violence by taking a
Super Intern Project The super intern project in collaboration with the GSL Smartlab was conducted for all those interns who have missed out on experiencing their curriculum due to COVID19.These modules cover everything from academic subjects to communication and skills modules with the help of expert faculties,simulations,game based and skill based learning modules.The 12day program consisted of 2 batches and began from November 1st.
look at some real life scenarios and holding a discussion on how we can tackle the issue. The webinar was organized via zoom and broadcasted on YouTube live on 26/10/21.
Invisible Wounds
REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Research Course
A master class on marketing and sponsorship was conducted by the M&S Dept. of AMSA India to strengthen the concepts and activities of fetching sponsorships for organisations.The topics included wereHow to approach a sponsor and proceed with a potential sponsor How to maintain relationships with a sponsor Drafting a MoU The programme was conducted on 28/19/21 via zoom and the participants were provided with certificates upon completion.
The Bioethics unit of AMSA India in collaboration with Department of Education International Chair in Bioethics and University of Haifa Melbourne Australia presented a 5day workshop to learn about Medical Research,literature review and clinical trials from their esteemed faculty and guests. The comprehensive programme was carefully curated to cater to all the aspects and inhibitions that students face while conducting a research. Day 1/3/4 were allotted for medical research,Day 2 talked about literature review and Day 5 held a workshop on Clinical trials.
Marketing & Sponsorships Masterclass REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
JUST SAY PINK “The human spirit is stronger than anything that could happen to it.” The MSFC Unit of AMSA India conducted ‘Just Say Pink!’, an online awareness session about breast cancer. The session covered: -What is breast cancer and the types. -Risk factors and clinical features. -Genetics of breast cancer.
-Screen/ Self-examination. -Treatment/ Prognosis -Along with an interactive activity
‘The true alchemists do not change lead into gold, they change the world into words.’ The MSFC Unit of AMSA India, in collaboration with IMA-MSN conducted: ‘Spill the Ink’, a national level article writing competition that was open to all medical students. The Theme was: Right to menstruate with dignity: Increasing the pan-India accessibility and affordability of menstrual hygiene products. The deadline for submissions was 31st October. Certificates were provided to the top 3 National Winners Winning entries were also published in the MSFC Unit's newsletter.
SPILL THE INK
REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
As part of the Season 2 of the internationally acclaimed GD series, AMSA India conducted an interactive group session, on the topic of Hypertension: ‘Hypertension: Control the silent pandemic’ in an attempt to curb the upcoming epidemic. This was a 2-day event on the 20th and 21st of November 2021. Day 1 included a webinar, a quiz and shortlisting and team allocation for the group discussion. Day 2 included a Keynote session along with a Q&A session by Dr Gurpreet S Wander regarding the historical perspective and current concepts regarding hypertension. This was followed by a group discussion following which the winner was announced.
HYPERTENSION Control the silent killer
Poster making competition
POPULATION EXPLOSION
Human overpopulation is the concept of human population becoming too large to be sustained by its environments or resources in the long term. To address this issue and create awareness about the growth spurt our nation and the world as a whole is facing, AMSA -India MSFC unit organized a poster making competition under the theme: ‘POPULATION EXPLOSION (population matters)’. Certificates were provided to the winners and participants and winning posters were displayed on AMSA India’s Instagram and the MSFC Newsletter. REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
BioethicsUNESCO
The Bioethics Unit of AMSA-India in association with the Department of Education, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, Haifa conducted a comprehensive course on the Principles of Bioethics and Human Rights complemented with an International Certification from UNESCO Bioethics. The course spanning over six months weeks starting from December involves finely curated modules along with assignments on the diverse aspects of Bioethics. International faculty from Australia, Canada, India, Israel, USA, and UK shall facilitate the teaching and assessment of these modules.
Project Samyaa by AMSA India’s an outreach partner of Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a search for volunteers to shed light on the experiences of those who are by definition,unrecorded,unrecognised and unprotected by analysing the current state of sexual harrassment at the Indian workplaces,increasing awareness and taking steps to address the harrassment. Each volunteer was supposed to get a minimum of 10 responses and they thus,received an appreciation certificate from the Council of Ethics.
Volunteer Opportunity with Council of Ethics, Wicci
REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
World Bioethics Day To celebrate World Bioethics Day, the Bioethics Unit of AMSA collaborated with Department of Education and World bioethics Day Committee, International Chair In Bioethics to conduct 5 online competitions on the theme Informed Consent. The events were: Artistic poster Scientific poster Short film/video Photography Poem writing Certificates were given to the winners
Decoding Research Papers As research is an integral part of the medical field, AMSA India in collaboration with GCMER organised a one day online workshop with Dr. Oshin Behl on 23rd September. She is a Med Candidate at University Clinic Dresden, Department of General Medicine, Germany and is also the Founder of GCMER & MIMER SRC. Dr. Behl is the Co-Author of 10 Research Papers and is the Scientific Editor in Medicine, for Cactus Global. She has presented her Papers in conferences around the world & has won 3 International awards! The workshop focussed on: Basics of Reading a Research paper Guidelines of Writing a Summary Qualities of a Good Summary
ASIAN MEDICAL STUDEN
National Board
Living up to its motto of knowledge, action and friendship, AMSA-India had its first offline NEBM for the tenure. It spanned over 3 days (1st October to 3rd October) and from ice-breaking sessions at the dining table on the first day to the watery eyes at departure on the final day, It unequivocally embodied the friendship part of the motto. The NEBM turned out to be the cornerstone of the various departmental guidelines and It was the arena where every aspect of the new plans and policies was weighed, discussed, approved and planned to bring into action. We, at AMSAIndia, believe in changing with times and upholding our notions and beliefs, the constitution of AMSA-India was updated after discussions, debates, conflicts and consensus by the majority of the voting representatives and Regional chairperson’s approval. The NEBM aimed at bringing about better inter-department collaboration and coordination.
NTS’ ASSOCIATION
Executive Meeting The NEBM would witness enthusiastic faces relentlessly presenting ideas, discussing them and working out their feasibility till the evening and jamming sessions at nights full of fun and laughs. The final day of NEBM witnessed the smiling faces celebrating the 10th anniversary of AMSA-India and was followed by the roundtable which culminated into a special array of events for our members planned for the end of this tenure. Countless conflicts of ideas and disparages to jamming sessions spanning for hours, uncanny eyes on arrival to watery eyes on departure, NEBM turned the Executive board into a closely-knit family with each department spreading its love yarn to its team members and the AMSA-India members.
The
CONTAGION
1: Avi Singh 2: Shrirang Pathak 3: Kumar Abhishek
REVISTA MEDICOS | ISSUE 13
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