Name: Dr. Spenta Katrak (MedBound handle: @DrSpenta)
Birth Place: Mumbai, India
Educational Qualification: MBBS from Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College, Maharashtra, India (2014-2018)
What are you doing currently?
I am currently working as the Head of the Clinical Research department at a CRO.
How was your initial experience with clinical initiation, clinical rotations, or bedside learning?
It was painfully hectic. My first complete experience with clinical rotations was during my internship. It was extremely rigorous, lasting 12 - 14 hours a day, for the entire 365 days of the year. There were no Sundays, no birthdays, no festivals, and no holidays. The duties were a mix of day shifts and night shifts.
Could you share some humorous, peculiar, or unforgettable experiences you've had while working in a clinical ward? Feel free to recount any interesting incidents.
While I can't really recall any humorous experiences, there were definitely interesting incidents, mostly related to the Psychiatric ward. The way patients would behave showed me very extreme sides of the human mind. It made me understand that our psychology constitutes a significant portion of who we are, what we do, and just how fragile the mind can be. It was interesting and shocking at the same time. Please check the grammar and maintain the original content.
What are your thoughts on outpatient clinics (OPD) as an integral part of the medical profession? Do you find it enjoyable /challenging or dull and boring?
OPDs have always been the most favorite part of my profession. It's that one place where you get to be up close with the patients' medical history in complete detail. They are enjoyable and challenging, as all patients will usually have their first meeting with me here, and I then have to run differential diagnoses from all the information they provide.
What are your thoughts on indoor/ward/floor duties in a hospital? Could you share what aspects you appreciate and what aspects you find challenging or dislike?
Wards are where you see your treatment action unfolding live in front of you. Here, you get to understand the response to your drugs and medical procedures and modulate your treatment plan optimally every 12 to 24 hours.
Could you describe your routine and activities when you are rounding on patients during your medical duties?
We first talk to the patient, understand how they feel, then check out the results of any investigations that were ordered, review the current line of treatment, and then formulate/revise the line of action for the patient accordingly.
What are some of your favourite procedures or activities that you enjoy while working in hospitals or outpatient clinics (OPDs)?
Taking detailed histories is an art, and I've always loved to work on it. The more I understand the medical history, the better I am able to understand my patient.
What are some procedures or activities that you dislike or prefer to avoid while working in hospitals or outpatient clinics (OPDs)?
I am a pharmacologically and medically inclined person. This means I love modulating the line of drugs my patients are on. However, I believe surgical procedures are best left to people who specialize in them.
Can you describe your experience during your clinical rotations? What departments did you rotate through and which one was your favourite(s)?
Skin and Medicine were my favorite departments. They had a lot of differential diagnoses and offered an ocean of knowledge to acquire.
What are some of the least favorite aspects or activities for you while on duty in a hospital?
I was not a fan of surgery and surgical procedures. I think they are best left to hands that specialize in that art.
If you could change one aspect of how doctors and medical students work or operate in hospitals or outpatient clinics (OPDs), what would it be?
The duties need to be sliced down by at least 25%. I believe 12 hours of duties affects a lot of things! Furthermore, I don't understand why hospitals have rotating shifts. Shifting duty timings from day to night and vice versa affects the circadian rhythm.
How do you handle or perceive night calls/shifts? What is your take on In-house calls?
Most of the night calls are from patients who just need to "Talk it out." They just need a doctor for 5 minutes around them to ease their psychology.
How do you manage the food situation while you are on duty in the hospital or during your work shifts?
I've been carrying my tiffin.
How do you like to spend your leisure time when you're not working or on duty?
I have a hobby of completing various courses on Coursera and Edx.
What is something that you strongly dislike or find challenging?
I strongly dislike working on Sundays or working night shifts.
If you had the opportunity to choose an alternative specialty, career, or role at this point, what would you switch to? What factors or reasons would influence your decision?
I already have a full-fledged alternate career. It's Clinical Research, and I'm pretty happy with it. My love for pharmacology influenced my decision.
If you could choose any medical institution, place, or destination to work at, what would be your dream choice? What factors make it an appealing option for you?
I would really want to experience what it would feel like to conduct clinical trials at hospitals of repute like AIIMS or KEM.
Could you describe your ideal workplace and the factors that make it desirable for you?
An ideal workplace would make me work 6 hours, Monday to Friday, have no emergencies, and no night shifts.
Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?
I have a huge collection of certifications. 102 Certificates and counting further! I'm the youngest Head of Clinical Research that Mumbai has ever seen. I have also been awarded the status of IELTS Ambassador by IDP IELTS.
(ClinicalTRACK -/Dr. Spenta Katrak/PB)