Great Equalization: Is MBBS From India Equal To M.D. In U.S.A?

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AAPI Journal • March 2009 SPECIAL ARTICLE Suffocation by Riddhi Shah, M.D. Riddhi Shah, M.D. Dominica, West Indies ...It has been a lifelong pattern with me to come back to strength from a position of extreme weakness: I had been almost suffocated and then found that I was breathing more deeply than ever. Saul Bellow Doctors need to be both affable and competent. Both of these traits are equally important in patient care. In college, I minored in communications, where a premium was placed on interacting with and relating to an extremely diverse student body. My volunteer activities at the time – as a science tutor in an inner-city high school and working in the Emergency Room of a sprawling public hospital focused on honing these skills outside the classroom. However, while all of these experiences added to my appreciation for medicine, it took a near tragedy in the second half of my sophomore year of college for me to fully realize the responsibilities entrusted to a physician, and ideals I should strive towards both as a medical student and as a practicing physician. A little more than four years ago (even though it still feels like last week), after my friends and I had returned from a carefree Spring Break, my routine physical was anything but routine. My doctor’s hands lingered a little too long, and she seemed to grimace a little. First, I mentally scolded myself for being paranoid, but I knew as soon as she asked if I performed monthly breast exams that something was wrong. Only after helping me up did she tell me that there was a suspicious mass in my breast. She gave me a moment for this to sink in, and then quietly asked if I wanted to tell my mother, or if she should break the news. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Weakly, I nodded, still thinking that I could wake up from this bad dream at any moment. When my mother entered the exam room, my doctor explained the situation as delicately as she could. She detailed tests I would have to undergo to determine whether this was a tumor or a cyst, the likely outcome of each and a tentative plan of action. Upon hearing “tumor” my mother’s eyes glazed over, since for her (and most other Indian parents), tumor almost reflexively means cancer. Patiently, my doctor went through the explanation again, even more delicately this time, and then added that there was no chance I had cancer. I returned home utterly shocked and confused. My head, full of answerless questions, was spinning. Why me? Was this because of something I had done? And of course, what now? Not knowing what to do, I sought truth in statistics since after all, numbers don’t lie. On the Internet, I found statistics that teenagers develop breast cancer about 5% of the time. The first thing I did was call my doctor. She had lied; there was a chance, albeit a very small one. She tried her best to console me and then reminded me that since I wasn’t just a number, it made no sense to look for comfort in them. The rest of that semester was spent scurrying from one doctor to another. For the first time in my life, schoolwork had taken a back seat. Everywhere I went both the doctors and the nurses did their best to convince me that they understood how I felt. Even though I knew they couldn’t possibly, their concern was both palpable and genuine. I still remember how the doctor performing my biopsy sent for someone to hold my hand and talk to me during the procedure so that I wouldn’t see the needle she used. A few days after my biopsy, my doctor informed me that I had a benign tumor and that due to its size, it would be best to remove it. I could also just leave it alone, and undergo surveillance in which case it could potentially do more harm. I opted for the surgery since although scary; it was less scary than the alternative. The surgery was scheduled for August. August came and went and eventually, everything settled down. In the end, I was left with memories and a scar, neither of which will ever fade completely. My work experiences in college had helped me develop some of the skills required to me a doctor, but I wasn’t able to completely internalize what being a physician required until I had almost “suffocated”. The opportunity to give others the same warm care I received is the impetus that will always keep me going. 30 www.aapiusa.org
SPECIAL ARTICLE AAPI Journal • March 2009 Distinguished AAPI Members AMA Awards Dear Friends, The AAPI Leadership would like to congratulate our distinguished AAPI members who have been recognized by the American Medical Association for their commitment and dedication to excellence in their fields. Sincerely, Sanku S. Rao, MD President AAPI Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine The AMA Foundation’s Dr. Nathan Davis International Awards in Medicine and Public Health annually honor physicians or health sector organizations that further health information and medical practice worldwide. Named for the founder of the AMA, the awards expand the thirteen-year tradition of the Dr. Nathan Davis Awards Program-currently presented for outstanding service in the international arena. With the presentation of these awards, the AMA Foundation strives to encourage and stimulate international recognition of the highest standards of service that advance the well being of all. AppaRao Mukkamala, MD Grand Blanc, Michigan Established NRI Medical College and General Hospital in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The medical school has dramatically impacted health care in India by providing a stream of physicians into the country as well as cutting-edge medical research and free care to the community. Leadership Award Recipients The Leadership Awards honor 56 outstanding medical students, residents/fellows, early career physicians and established physicians from across the country. These leaders display strong nonclinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service, public health or education. RESIDENTS/FELLOWS (Total 13) Jaspal Ahluwalia MD Derwood, MD Sabesan Karuppiah MD Paterson, NJ EARLY CAREER PHYSICIANS (Total 14) Noel Deep MD, FACP Antigo, WI Apurv Gupta MD, MPH Barrington, RI Shilpen Patel MD Seattle, WA MEDICAL STUDENTS ( Total 15) Manisha Bahl Chico, CA AAPI Special Recognition Roshni Kulkarni, MD National Hemophilia Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award www.aapiusa.org 31
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Great Equalization: Is MBBS From India Equal To M.D. In U.S.A?

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