AFFILIATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Name: Rand Abdulrahman
Education Details:
MB BCh BAO from RCSI Bahrain & Foundation Doctor at Wexham Park Hospital
What is your motivation for pursuing a career in surgery?
Mybiggestmotivationhastobethecharmandthe art of surgery. There is appreciation for delicacy, cleanliness, swiftness, and grace I have always thought of it as the most gentle speciality, and one requiringthemostrapportwithpatients.Iseeitasa complete form of medical practice; often times, the ‘buck ends’ with surgical intervention, and I have always wanted to be at the centre of that elegant dance.
When choosing a training pathway, there are many factors to consider, and for each of those, surgery alwaysseemedliketherightanswerforme.It’slong and challenging; what medical speciality isn’t? I always believed if you do something you love, you willneverworkadayinyourlife,sosurgeryitis What about finding your tribe? Surgeons have invested time in my development, encouraged, and pushed metogrow Whenitcomestotribe,surgeryitis But isn’t it competitive? I like a good challenge, so surgeryitis.
Ihavefoundbeautyineverydaywork,impactfuland meaningful work. I consider myself lucky to feel so passionateaboutwhatIdoforaliving.Itisnolonger ajob,butverymuchaprivilege,sosurgeryitis
What has been the best piece of advice you have received since you started becoming interested in pursuing a career in surgery?
Fortune favours the prepared.
Despite our best efforts, things don’t always go as planned. This is particularly stressful in our career where almost all decisions are high risk and require extended time investments One of my mentors told me that being prepared, putting efforts into more than one venture, and being open to change can bring about results we never knew we wanted.
In other words, serendipity can play a bigger role in our careers if we remain receptive to our surroundings.
Why did you apply for Affiliate Membership of RCSI?
What I have found is that those on the pathway of surgery often think of it as a solo venture, even with peers along the same path With the working hours and the rarity of other trainees in the same field, there can be a sense of isolation. This compounds the difficulty of the pathway, particularly the pressure of meeting the requirements to move to different stages Perhaps the time when the feeling is most overwhelming is before completing the membership exam or being in formal surgical training; at this stage, a junior identifying as a ‘surgeon’ is accompanied by a feeling of imposterism, and sometimes shame for not having met the formal requirement to be a surgeon, despite their passion.
When I came across the concept of affiliate membership, I found comfort in it. It was an opportunity to be a part of a cohort with the same feelings, and to be led by those we respected the most in the field. Passion can only take you so far, you need guidance, organisation, and encouragement Signing up for the Affiliate Membership seemed like the logical next move in my career
How do you see Affiliate Membership benefiting you and your career ?
Due to the high demand and challenging requirements of the career, it is often difficult to find clear guidance for tackling it. It is even more difficult to troubleshoot an issue or find alternative pathways when faced with a hurdle, so the idea of having a community with whom I can share experiences seemed necessary.
It became more inviting when there was communication with the organisers and I realized that it was a two-way street They are willing to hear our thoughts as trainees, and shine light on what we thought was important,; help us answer questions that we would otherwise not be able to answer. The pathway was no longer one of solitude
I believe I am extremely fortunate to have come across two greats in our careers that I consider to be mentors; Prof Martin Corbally and Prof Thomas Walsh.
They have both played an invaluable role in my career so far Their advice and guidance have helped me progress, learn, grow, and challenge myself They were patient and supportive enough to share their clinical, academic, and research experience. Above all, I have had the privilege of observing them and learning from both their skills and attitude.
Having mentors has shaped my ambitions and helped me put down structured plans for my goals. Again, I am very lucky to have the advice and input of Prof Walsh and Prof Corbally.
Do you have any mentors? Who? Working alongside my father, Dr Bashar Saleh L to R; Dr Jamal Hashem, Prof Thomas Walsh, Prof Nuha Birido, myself, Prof Martin Corbally, and Dr Ahmed Shakib