Managing your Kid, if have dream to Become a Doctor…..

Last week, when taking to some of my colleagues I got to understand that they want their kids to become a Doctor. Surprised, I was, as same do I think. Then just because of curiosity I happened to ask this question to couple of my friends in India & other countries. Surprisingly, maximum of them want their kids to become a Doctor. Why so? When I deep dived I found that the major reason could be – One) Respect to this profession in the Society, as after God, Doctor is the second life savior, Second) This is the mass service to our society. Although, many a reason could also be hefty earnings this segment have or bla bla bla…., but majorly it’s a sense of responsibility towards Service our Society. So it is clearly stated that many parents dream that their children will grow up and enter the field of medicine. Becoming a doctor is a process that can be encouraged over many years, and parents can play a vital role in their children making that decision. In this article of mine, I tried to understand the subject & provide several tips that parents can follow when encouraging their children to become doctors. However, all of this comes at a price.

The many years of preparation, the discipline, the awesome responsibility, the worry about malpractice and the long hours can take their toll. Medicine is a unique field and it demands a unique person.

Many people think that becoming a doctor is difficult. Others have some sense that becoming a physician takes many years and is expensive. Most people realize that being a physician is difficult yet rewarding. All these people are correct. Becoming a physician is a long, arduous, expensive process that can only be accomplished with great dedication.Becoming a doctor is the pinnacle of decades of education for millions of people. Doctors work with patients for all types of issues ranging from the common cold to terminal cancer. Just how does one become a doctor? These general requirements for becoming a doctor give a basic overview of the education, personality and other factors that go into making someone a doctor. First of all you must be aware of the time commitment involved in becoming a physician. Medicine is a career that requires many years of preparation. Generally most people finishes Senior School (12^th) at an age 17 to 18 and medical school at 22 - 23. Then after 3 years of internship and residency, many physicians begin their career at age 26 -28. In US or Europe, rather its longer.

Working as a doctor can be one of the most rewarding and best-paying professional careers in the US, UAE, India or for that matter, any part of the world. Doctors can expect significantly higher-than-average employment, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and they earned an average median yearly income of $262,891 (In India, presently this earning may be of a range of approx.INR 100000 to 1400000 per annum). Becoming a doctor takes a great deal of time and effort. So if really, you have this dream for your kid to see him / her as Doctor in future, then shouldn’t the plan start from today? Let us work out some plan which may give positive results. First of all, one need to see the attitude & liking of his / her kid as which field he is molding towards? And you can even directly ask them giving some of open options. Believe me, you will get an fair Idea. And if your dream matches with your kid’s thought process, then it need action to start today.

Mothers even starts preparing for a Doctor, even when the child is in her womb, by start reading plenty of Med Books & watching medical programs. Does It work? Don’t know, but surely it could be positive start for a targeted goal.  Raising a child can be complicated enough without having figure out ways to get them to become a Doctor. Surely you have to provide infrastructure & to infuse ideas into them to help mold their minds to see things your way & well understand the final goal. Following are the few actions which I believe, can make target little easier, however these are only some basic routine or attitude change.

Ø  Start even with the games & toys around the subject. Do share your goal with her / him & always keep reminding. Always fulfill their demands, attaching the win-win situation only with your target. You can even start using medical terminologies in details whenever used –ie, If your BP or sugar level is high, ask your child to visit “google search” & check what are these errors & what are the tools available to measure it. You can also put  him on job to keep monthly record of parents & kids BP etc., may be its found normal “always”. Expose kids to Doctors. Many of us may not have a well known or relative as Doctor. Never mind. Let you kid converse with a Doctor when you visit a clinic. Let the kid open with him & know what they like much in life & in their job, understand about their experiences as a Doctor etc.

Ø  Speak high & respectful on Doctors & this field and tell them as how Doctors help the community & people to feel better.  Using a phrase “I wish I was a Doctor”, will actually change the way your kid look at this thought. Teach you kid patience, love & to work for society. Keep an eye on his / her grades & tell them the importance of higher grade and IQ level needed for this highly professional field. Really, you need to promote him much into Science & Mathematics. A Doctor needs to know Biology, Math & other Sciences. Must your kid, every year, try for Science / Math Olympiads, ACER or other mental aptitude & knowledge based international exams & secure Distinction or Gold Medals. Expose your kid to limited Web search, where he can gain knowledge & aptitude. I am trying to provide some websites below which can be useful for your child to learn & grow –

http://www.howstuffworks.com

http://www.khanacademy.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Science 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Mathematics

http://sciencespot.net/

http://ixl.com

http://kids.discovery.com/

http://www.mathplayground.com/

http://merination.com                        (once you search worldwideweb, you will find lot more….)

Ø  Many a kids will want to aspire for this field, but they fear of Blood or are vegetarian. Let me tell you, these are the basic characters of a kid & has nothing to do with this vast field. Explain them on a Sunday (holiday) that fooding habits has nothing to do with the achievement of a goal. Second, some of Doctors even don’t require to operate or there is no blood involved, e.g. A general physician, a Psychiatrist, a Dentist, An Ayurvedic or Homeopath doctor etc. They have different fields & only a Surgeon has to involve in an physical operations.  Believe you me, your kid will start loving it.  Some of countries promote & allow involvement in volunteering in nursing homes, hospitals, and other health care organizations in the community. Push your kids for such program of human service etc/. if available.  

Ø    Once grown to Middle or Higher Secondary, let him understand the methodology to become a Doctor. Let him know the various medical enterance exams type worldwide on this subject, i.e.  NEET – UG in India (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test);  AIPMT (All India Pre Medical Test); MCAT  in US (Medical College Admission Test); UMAT – ACER (Undergraduate Medicine & Healther Sciences Admission Test, by Australian Council for Education Research). This is the right time that they know the types of General physician profession available & what are the full forms of the Medical terms which they use in daily life. For example, MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, MD is Doctor of Medicine, BDS is Bachelor of Dental Surgery etc. They should be “rightly” exposed to internet to understand well that the Allopath is not the only Medical science form available, but they can even make their carrier in Alternative Medicines areas like Ayurved or Homeopath etc. (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha Homeopathy are collectively called as AYUSH – Alternative medicine and there is a career opportunity)

Ø  Once the kid undergoes the Higher - Secondary School prelims, Parents should let kid join a Pre Medical Practice Study Center or  Participate in a premedical undergraduate program while in college, which prepares prospective physicians for medical school and a career in medicine. Such programs include coursework in relevant subjects, such as biology, English, inorganic chemistry, mathematics, organic chemistry and physics. In high or Senior school, seek academic assistance or counseling, if courses become problematic. (Some of institutes like Allen Center – Kota, Aakash Institute, Bansal Classes etc in India & University of Delaware or University of Rochester etc in US provide basic / Pre Medical preparations). Speak with your High / Senior school guidance counselor and/or college advisor to explore which medical specialties might be best for you and to get advice on the best medical schools for you to consider and related financial planning.

Ø  Last but not the least – arrangement of funds. Be truthful to yourself that every one may not get admission in India or China within the Government college where fees are very nominal & with in Budgets. Unlike other professional fields, Medical Studies requires heavy finance – be it Pre Medical Practice studies or the Medical Course in the college. There is a heavy cost attached, So one need to plan from the day one & keep checking with your sources as what is the approximate overall costing needed. To note that even Bank financing or Govt sponsorships are also available for bright students.  

Although the Allopath  Medicine & Surgery are the well known Medical fields, but still there are lot of connected filed which need the similar kind of dedication and are very much respected jobs too. To share, Anand - Nephew of one of my colleague, who is based at NJ – US, tried best coaching & study material for MCAT, Pre Med Exams for his MBBS. Somehow his ranking could not fetch a direct admission to the course, as in US, they only allow a limited seats for MBBS; but the counselor suggested him to go for “Bio-Medical Engineering”, as he qualifies the Test. Bio-Medical Science & Engineering deals with the innovation, Design & Engineering of Medical Devices. Later after completing the 4 year Bio Engineering, Anand can get a direct admission to MBBS if liked. Again, Bio-Medical Engineering, Brain & Cognitive Science, Radiology,  Environmental Science, Geological Science, Pharmacy, Nursing, Acupressure, Acupuncture, & Physiotherapy etc etc. are lot of related Medical fields available in US, India & Abroad where one can get his plan-B ready, if somehow plan-A for MBBS doesn’t work.

This should be known to parents & should be cascaded down to kid too, that securing  admission into medical school is very competitive and difficult, so the sooner students start preparing in secondary school or college, the better. Medical school applications generally require Pre degree transcripts, demonstration of extracurricular activities, recommendations and often an interview with representatives from the admissions department. In addition, to the Medical Entrance Test. So be prepared from today. Mentioned below are expansions of the abbreviations which you as a parents know before, we plan our kid to become that.

MBBS- Bachelors of Moedice and Bachelors of Science

MD - Doctor of Medicine  (a PG Program)

MS - Master of Surgery (a PG Program)

DNB - Diplomate of National Board (a PG Program, where a Doctor can become a Medical Lecurer)

MCh - Master of Chirurgiae  (Highest Degree in the field of Medicines)         Chirurgical  - Latin Word

DM - Doctor of Medicine - Postdoctoral degree - equivalent to PhD

Other Health Care courses in India

1. B.A.M.S, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & surgery followed by M.D.
2. B.N.Y.S., Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences followed by M.D.
3. B.U.M.S., Bachelor of Unani Medine and Surgery followed by M.D.
4. B.S.M.S., Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery followed by M.D.
5. B.H.M.S, Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery followed by M.D.

Listed some more course, as Plan- B; so that failure never felt

1. BSc, MSc Nursing
2. BSc Medical Lab Technology
3. B.Pharm, M.Pharm. Ph.d
4. B.P.T, M.P.T, PhD (Physiotherapy)
5. [B.D.S], M.D.S [(Dental Surgery)]
6. [B.O.T] [Occupational Therapy]
7. BSc [Speech Therapy]
8. BS – Bio Medical Technology,  and many more.

Parents, you are on the right thought process. Fight. Don’t give up – do the basics well  for your kids and focus on grades. Sure, your kid can be the next Medical Doctor.  Failure is permanent only if you accept it. So be Positive & Act. (although, Medical Test results are only area where “positive” sounds bad) 

All the best……………………Mp / pathaksaheb10@gmail.com