KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 – “If you are thinking of pursuing a career in medicine, first find out what you will be getting yourself into before signing up for the course”.
So said Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai, president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) at the MMA Career Guidance Conference held on May 13 and 14 at the Gardens Hotel and Residences in Kuala Lumpur.
“If you are passionate about medicine and wish to become a doctor then go for it, but find out what the job involves before deciding to take it up,” added Dr Muruga.
He said there were many housemen who only found out later that a career in medicine was not for them.
“So, to prevent more dropouts due to these reasons, it will be important to know early, if medicine or any profession for that matter, will be the right career choice for you.
“It is important to be happy doing your job for you to excel in your career,” he concluded.
Close to 300 participants, mostly final-year secondary school students and their parents, attended the conference.
Dr Patricia Ann Devadass, a medical officer who presented a talk entitled “The Joys And Challenges Of Being A Contract Doctor” concurred with Dr Muruga, saying that both parent and child needs to be aware of what the job of a doctor involves as well as the commitment, sacrifices and long hours that come with it.
“Though your working hours may be eight hours each working day, there will be times when you will need to stay on longer, for example, when there are emergency cases.
“As a doctor, your highest priority are your patients. They come first.”
“In this profession, you can expect to be dealing with life-and-death situations on an almost daily basis. There are a lot of challenges that you may encounter in your work, but you get a lot of personal satisfaction in helping someone or saving a life.”
“Many patients and their families are also very appreciative of the work we do,” she added.
The MMA Career Guidance Conference was a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at educating students on the various professions to enable informed decision-making when choosing a career.
Featured in its programme were 23 speakers from 17 organisations, including national professional bodies such as the Bar Council, Institute of Engineers, Malaysian Institute of Accountants, Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology, National Union of Teaching Profession, and Malaysian Institute of Architects.
Each speaker shared their experiences and insights into real-life challenges in their respective industries.
