MSc, UHM, ABPM, CWSP, FAPWCA, FCCWS, FACHM, FUHM, FACP

Generational Doctors in Medicine

By Jayesh Shah, MD, MSc, UHM, ABPM, CWSP, FAPWCA, FCCWS, FACHM, FUHM, FACP

Choosing a career in medicine is a long-term commitment that can add financial burden, so most students shy away from choosing the field. Many of them who want to become doctors in high school change their path in college because of the vigorous requirements and the years of school required to reach their goal. Growing up in India, I was the first doctor in my family. Most of my family members were engineers. Just like in the U.S., it is very competitive to become a doctor in India. I had to be ranked in the first 600 out of 1.8 million students in 12th grade. I still remember how happy my parents were when I was able to secure an admission to a medical college. I watched my daughter, Prachi, work very hard from high school through undergrad to get all the prerequisites, MCAT and all other rounded experiences that medical schools require for admissions. It made me think that it was relatively more competitive to get into medical school in the U.S. compared to India.

I have now been in the U.S. longer than the years I lived in India. I have been practicing Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine for the last 27 years in San Antonio. My kids were born and raised in San Antonio and observed me working as a doctor. For me, practicing medicine was my calling and I loved what I did. I am sure my passion to serve and help patients positively influenced my children. My daughter Prachi chose to become a physician and my son Aj completed his Bachelor’s in Computer Science. Both kids went to the same middle and high school, but their paths were different. Apart from observing me and my doctor friends around me, we as parents did not try to convince them to choose a career in medicine. I always told them to follow their dreams and choose the career they preferred. I did warn them about the years of time commitment and hard work that was needed. I informed them about being prepared for lifelong learning as they witnessed me taking my board re-certification exams every 10 years. Like any other field, there is no end to learning, no matter how long you practice medicine.

Prachi’s interest in medicine grew when she took a course in Medical Sociology as a Public Health major. For the final assignment in her Medical Sociology class, she was involved in a project about menstrual hygiene and the stigma surrounding menstruation. Her research revealed that this issue was global, including in the United States. Prison inmates and the homeless were severely affected. Women without hygienic sanitary products increased their chance of developing gynecological infections and obstetric complications during pregnancy. She carried her efforts with a few other classmates into “PERIOD,” a nonprofit organization, and opened its first chapter at UTSA. Through

this organization, over 700 menstrual hygiene packages were delivered to homeless shelters like SAMMinistries and Haven for Hope. The program has grown since. Her involvement in the PERIOD organization not only taught her skills necessary to be a good leader, but also reassured her in her decision to pursue medicine.

She also chose the path of medicine because she had first-hand experience of taking care of her wheelchair-bound grandmother at home. She witnessed her grandmother when she had her first stroke. As she helped caring for her at home for the past seven years, she learned a lot from watching her grandmother’s life change drastically, with multiple strokes and dementia until her last breath.

This experience helped her realize the unique health needs of this patient population. By this time, she was sure she wanted to become a physician.

Like me, she also realized that becoming a physician was her natural calling. I am certain she chose the field of medicine knowing what to expect after observing me practice medicine since her childhood.

Prachi completed her first year of medical school. While reviewing her curriculum and watching her study at the University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, I noticed how her medical school education is slightly different from when I became a doctor. I received one- and one-half years of vigorous education in biomedical sciences followed by three years of clinical education via clinical rotations and clerkships. While for Prachi, right from the first year, clinical case-based studies were incorporated with basic sciences. There is a more holistic approach to their medical education. Most of the education is now self-directed, which requires medical students to do a lot of self-study.

In conclusion, I would advise parents not to force their kids to choose their profession, but instead allow them to follow their natural calling. The only advice I gave my kids was to follow their passion and to be the best in whatever path they chose. It is this passion that will allow them to get through the difficult tribulations that will come in whatever path they decide to go. I was happy that my son found his passion in Computer Science and my daughter decided to become a physician who will be serving our community soon.

Jayesh Shah, MD, MSc, UHM, ABPM, CWSP, FAPWCA, FCCWS, FACHM, FUHM, FACP is a wound care specialist certified in Internal Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine and is a member of the Bexar County Medical Society. Prachi Shah is a medical student at UIWSOM.