My Own Happiness Project

My Own Happiness Project
because happiness begins inside and flows out...

20090205

what drives me........


It has been a while since I had a mental orgasm - as Keets would put it - the phenomenon of euphoria derived from a highly satisfactory conversation or discussion. And today, climax came while talking to one of my earlier mentors in medicine, the guru I hold in great esteem, DrC , my mentor, a Clinical Specialist of O&G.

I remember asking to see DrC once, awhile back when I was still doing Housemanship at the hospital. Naturally anybody who came in contact with DrC would be inclined to do O&G, which was why I wanted to see her to discuss the prospects in this field. O&G being only my second posting at that time, she told me to keep my passion for O&G alive while being open to other options until at least I've gone through all the major postings. Far from my expectation, I got love-struck with Social and Preventive Medicine.

Public Health (or SPM as it is called in UM) is very much an unsung field in medicine. Many times I've gotten the raised eyebrow (or worse from some untactful colleague) when I tell people that I am a doctor, just that I'm not working in a clinic, pumping a sphygnomanometer or writing someone an MC so he can spend his hang-over day in bed. Maybe that's also why the Uni didn't put so much emphasis on PH on its undergrads, since we might not be able to imagine doctors without stethoscope to adorn their necks.

Now that I've been doing this since 2004, I don't think I would be able to go back to the hospital environment. According to DrC, it takes a certain make of doctors to be able to do PH, and the most important quality is to be a People Person. That surely makes my day! A people person... like, politician material? Heh...

Anyway, talking to DrC was more than just inspiring, it was validating my interest in PH. Not that none of my seniors in PH were just as inspiring, but I can't off hand state out any other hospital colleagues that believes that much in the role of Public Health in the whole Health System. Well, except for probably DrP, a PH specialist now who's managing a hospital against his will (I think).

The new phase in life would certainly see me go back to study again. Just that right now, with many of my own peers dropping out and many resign to seek for greener pastures on private practices, it certainly makes me think about the rational of still staying in government service.

So, what am I doing here?

Oh yeah, because I love this job. Honestly, I love it. I can only hope this 'love' is sustainable, I mean, I don't plan to eat alone on my table forever...

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