I wish to educate the general public on the training and expected ability of a medical doctor. This has become pertinent since I have noticed that most persons seem to have little idea about this area. Please note that I do not believe that doctors are the best brains in the society. No, never! To be a doctor you just need to be hard-working with at least an average intelligence; if you wish to talk about the best brains, please look no further than the engineers. 

 

As a medical student I spent my first year in school running semester programs like all other science students on campus. During this time I did 16 courses which included courses in chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer science, and even general knowledge. I did nothing directly related to medicine. From my second year that was the last time I was going to do semester courses. I began a scheme of program that was strange to my other school mates. I started writing my exams after a full year of academic activity. 

 

This is the point where we hardly had holidays and any break in transmission ( i.e strikes) meant we had to start all over again. We read big books just to be sure we were not thrown out from the program. Now this is the meat of this write up. What did the next five years teach me? In my 200 and 300 levels I did a marathon with physiology (study of how the body functions), anatomy(study of the structure of the body) and medical biochemistry(study of the molecular structure of the body). After my 300 level exam about 2/3rd of us that started the program where sent out due to inability to meet up. In 400 level we spent the full year studying two courses. Pharmacology(study of drugs) and pathology(study of diseases). 

 

In 500 level we didnt write any exam. Just did a series of courses that we needed to be an all-rounder in the hospital. So we did courses in psychology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, radiology, anaesthesia, ent, forensics etc. in our final year we did courses in obstetrics and gynaecology, community health and paediatrics. Our final training and thus exam was in MEDICINE AND SURGERY. In total we spent just about 9 months of our full years in medical school studying medicine and surgery. This sounds bizarre I guess. This is the reason why a graduate of medicine can be called â jack of all trade “ master of none. This is the reason why the medical doctor with his all-round training can communicate effectively with any other member of the medical team. With my training for example I can communicate with a nurse,

pharmacist, radiologist, lab scientist etc. I know the basics of all they do. 

 

For me to become a jack of all trade “ master of ONE" I need to further. This is the process called residency. I am allowed to choose any of the areas in medicine except nursing. This is the way it has been from time immemorial. This is because medicine and nursing have always coexisted. Side by side. Whereas all other branches of medicine stemmed from one root. Now this is a list of all the areas I can decide to specialise in. if you dont understand what any mean please consult your dictionary.

 

Note that this list is not exhaustive.

SURGERY PLASTIC CARDIOTHORACIC UROLOGY GENERAL PEADIATRIC/CHILD ORTHOPEADIC NEUROSURGERY EAR,NOSE AND THROAT, FAMILY MEDICINE/GENERAL PRACTITIONER, OBSTEATRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, RADIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY HISTOPATHOLOGY CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY HEAMATOLOGY, INTERNAL MEDICINE PHARMACOLOGY RHEUMATOLOGY GASTROENTEROLOGY DERMATOLOGY PSYCHIATRY PULMONARY PHYSICIAN CARDIOLOGY NEPHROLOGY ONCOLOGY ENDOCRINOLOGY, ICU/EMMERGENCY MEDICINE,  ANAESTHESIA, COMMUNITY PHYSICIAN,  PAEDIATRICS...

 

By the time I have specialised I can then be employed in a hospital setting and referred to as a consultant. As a consultant I am responsible for the ultimate care of my patients. i work along with a team of younger doctors in the direct management of the patient. During the care of these patients we may require the input of another consultant. We may also require the patient to run certain lab investigations, radiologic investigations or even to commence some drugs. 

 

It is not possible to sketch out the scheme of our work on just a piece of paper. However it is important you realise that the medical doctor is at the core (centre) of patient care. We dont wish to be referred to as superior but as the leader of the team; the head; the driver. And just as no vehicle can get to its destination with two drivers; it so applies in medical practice. Every other member of the medical team is as important as the doctor. Its like the human body. No part of the human body is not important. If you say only the head is important, then remove the heart and see what happens. Having watched the happenings in the Nigerian health sector. I wish to express my position. Let this hatred for doctors stop. 

 

Let everyone play his God-given role within the profession. The patient health should be our concern. If you need more clarification on any area of this publication please discuss with a doctor near you. We are becoming ever more willing to tell you about us. Much love. 

 

Dr Kenu Terry

Resident in surgery, FMC, Asaba); 

08036868602 

 

With your prayers I will be a consultant surgeon one day. I may not be the most brilliant among my peers but I can boldly say I worked very hard every step of the way.