The first from the panel of esteemed guests included a mentor and an inspiration for many students; Dr. Saulat Fatimi. Dr. Fatimi has been a celebrated cardiothoracic surgeon at AKUH with over 100 publications. His philosophy of working hard, putting in the hours and his remarkable work ethic were something to strive for. His passion for surgery radiated through the screen as he sat in his scrubs at 8 PM on a Saturday night, joyous that he gets to do what he loves every single day.
Next, we were honored with sharing the screen with first ever internationally trained urologist in Pakistan and a receiver of the Tamgha-E-Imtiaz for her public services; Dr. Nuzhat Farooqui. Despite the skepticism she faced due to the stigma of females in surgery and that too in urology, Dr. Farooqui had recognized her calling for surgery. With a career of over 2 decades, Dr. Farooqui is one of the well-sought brilliant minds of her field. She is an example of what females can achieve in a competitive surgical field if they are dedicated to it.
Our third panelist was yet another diligent woman with the vision of succeeding in her career and turning that vision into reality. Dr. Aliya Begum; Assistant Professor and Obstetrics in Gynecology at AKUH, is an epitome of perfection in her field. She admitted to spending innumerous hours in the hospital during residency learning all there was to perfect her skills which now shine in her formidable career.
Last panelist, but not the least, was a pediatric surgeon who had known he wanted to become a surgeon since the day he stepped into medicine rotation, still expecting to go into the Operation Room and scrub in. An assistant professor and consultant at AKUH, Dr. Sohail Asghar Dogar, brought his honest reflection of his experience so far in surgery with invaluable learning for the aspiring surgeons.
All four of these panel members had recognized their love for surgery in their medical school and had worked day and night to create their glorious careers. A few of them admitted to residency being the toughest time of their training in terms of managing a life outside the hospital and still struggling to find the perfect work-life balance. However, Dr. Fatimi’s advice to prioritize one's duties and then carry them out accordingly was invaluable. Every career has its challenges, as long as one works hard, shows up to work and is eager to learn, everything sorts itself out. A key lesson for the students was to make sure that they were passionate for the field that they were pursuing. Their thirst for knowledge and pursuit for perfection was enough to enter into the field. Their dedication to put in the hours was what mattered to mark them as brilliant surgeons like the ones that sat on the other end of the screen.
Participants from all walks of life were a part of this session. Hence, each panelist introduced their field, the common procedures performed in them and the scope of their specialty in Pakistan. This helped students understand these specializations and the sub-specializations within it which will inevitably help them build their careers. Persistence being the name of the game, the takeaway message for the participants was to recognize their interest for the surgical field they wish to pursue and then focus on achieving their target. This one and a half hour event was filled with essential tips and golden lessons that are irreplaceable. Setting the standards high, Specialized Surgery is an exclusive opportunity for medical students nationwide to learn about surgical fields and making an informed decision about their life ahead.
