Interview With Senior Resident

always have a book in the bag and study whenever you get time and wherever it is possible, whether you are in OPD, whether you are in a procedure room, wards so whenever you get time just start studying and whatever the cases or anything important topic which you had discussed earlier or you had seen any important cases just try to study that case or that topic at least for 5-10 minutes whenever you get the time in a day. Even after doing your best it becomes hard to keep up with the pace.

7. What is your routine on a daily basis, did you face any challenges in daily routine?

So if I am on call resident then there is no daily routine I have to work till it finishes which has never happened, otherwise on off call day, by 8 am we should be in the ward on round and by 8:30 we have to attend morning discussions with the faculty and after that we have to do OPD work and procedure work till 4-5 pm and then again we have to go for the ward duty and by 6-6:30 we get free and if there’s no other work then we can head home.

8. Any message to the fresher’s for how to manage studies in 3 years?

So guys, don't stress out. Just listen to your seniors and faculties. Do your work honestly. There is no substitute to hard work. Observe the cases and just try to study a bit more about the cases you have seen in that day. In this way you are going to remember it. Try to study at least for an hour daily. Once you enter second year or third year residents then you get more and more time for your study. Keep working hard it will pay you back.

9. Did you receive any awards or scholarships that you have achieved for your hard work in your residency, list out if received.

Yes, I am a curious character and having an appetite for academic award and excellence. I do participate in quizzes and I have won at various state and national level, which includes PGCON, ONYCOCON, etc. In fact, in my department, my professor used to ask some difficult questions related to cases which we had observed in OPD and those who got the correct answers would receive an award in the form of small chocolates and I got more than 100 chocolates in my 3 years of residency.

10. Is there any incident during your residency program that you could never forget. If yes, then share with us.

There are many. But to highlight it here, I would like to state two incidents, first one is once being second year resident, I had diagnosed one very rare case on my own, and my professor was so proud of me that he used to tell other faculty of different colleges that my student had diagnosed that particular case. So whenever memory of this incident flashes through my mind, it makes me feel proud about it. There is another incident when a patient was so happy that he waited for almost 4 hours for me though there were other co resident and faculties available, but still he waited for 4 hours just to get consulted by me and even though I was a resident, still he consulted me. This incident makes me happy even today, so these two incidents are the most memorable ones.

11. As you have finished your education share your dream from here? What are your plans, Private Practise/Academic/Work with a Dermatologist OR join a chain?

So at present I am associated with a premier Institute, AIIMS, and I'm having an interest for academic activity, which includes publication and presentation. So I will continue doing that and maybe in the coming year I will plan to open my own clinic as well to provide affordable, accessible, better and effective skin care to my patients.

12. Any specific achievements, disappointments during your residency?

To win National quizzes, to win trust of my patients which is of utmost importance to me. As far as disappointment is concerned, nothing specific, maybe if I was a little more aware then I could have done much more better things in my residency years.

13. During residency life did you have any pressure or excessive nervousness?

No. I am a very confident person and I stick to my decisions. So nothing as such. Only normal work pressure and on personal front I feel I am a calm, composed and relaxed person.

14. How to manage work-study- life balance?

See, there is always a room for everything. Study for at least one hour daily even that is enough if you are consistent, try to observe as many cases as possible. Each case will teach you something. Have a regular conversation with your family and friends. Take proper sleep, eat good food and enjoy the time. Whenever it is possible, spend sometime catching up with your friends and following your passion and hobbies.

15. What were your professional and personal difficulties?

As far as my professional life is concerned, sometimes, even though I want to do some procedure and I am pretty confident of doing it, but sometimes it is not approved by the faculty. So I am not able to do it. On personal front, I am a bit shy and introvert person so approaching someone was a bit difficult for me.

16. How important is the residents and faculty members relationship?

Yes, it is very important because a good environment flourishes one self and one can grow, whereas a negative environment can decrease the performance. And then one gets surrounded with the negative thoughts rather than concentrating on better and positive situations.

17. Any particular person who through your residency was supportive to you?

Many people, in fact my faculty, here I will name a few, Dr Nitin Nadkarni Sir, Dr.Sharmila Patil Ma'am, Dr. Kiran Godse sir, Dr. Manjot Gautam Ma’am, Dr Parag Sir, Dr Chirag Sir and Dr. Swagat Sir. You always develop a bond with few people for life that is beyond your college which includes my colleagues Dr. Nidhi and Dr. Sheena.

18. What was your research project, what did it involve and what type of support is needed to do a great job?

My research project was on Platelet-Rich-Plasma and its efficacy in Androgenetic Alopecia. It is an interventional study, so patient trust is very important.

19. Any problem or stressful situation you experienced during the residency then how to solve it give your opinion for junior?

Mantra of life is always to stay calm. However difficult the situation is, there is always a way, so always try to be as calm as possible.

Wo song h na -

“Haste gate yaha se guzar, Kal ki tu parwah na kar, Muskurate hue din bitana, Yha kal ka kya ho kisne jana”