Name: Dr. Sruthi Sujathan (MedBound handle: @doc_sru)

Birth Place: Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia

Educational Qualification: MBBS from China Medical University, China (2013-2019)

1. What are you doing currently?

   I am currently waiting for NEET PG counseling to begin. It's hopefully going to commence this month.

2. How was your initial experience with clinical initiation, clinical rotations, or bedside learning?

   I am a Foreign medical graduate from China. I had to do an internship there, and as in Kerala, you won't get registration without doing another 1-year internship. So I have double-degree internship experience! Jokes apart, clinical rotations in India had been quite an experience. My medicine, OB, and gynecology were interesting as well as hectic. Later, COVID came. I am a COVID warrior too. Juggling around shifts and departments made me learn that patience is the key to knowledge!

3. 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.

   Something that's still fresh in my mind is about an old lady around 70 years old. It was during my surgical clinical posting. She had a case of Diabetic foot, which got infected, and her foot was tied with some cloth. She came in complaining that her foot smelled. Her husband was an old man who wasn't able to give a proper history. When we opened the cloth, my eyes bulged out. Her foot was screaming with maggots. I have never seen that many maggots on someone's body! When I asked regarding it, what she replied really touched my heart."I gave my whole life living for my children, none are there to look after me now. I am useless for them. Let these worm babies have me. At least I will be useful for them in this old age." I was speechless at how selfless a mother can be. Still, she is sacrificing herself. The harsh reality of today's young generation running behind money and success and ignoring their pillars of strength (parents) has to be an important thing that should be a point of importance. Our children should know that family and values are more important than success.

   Here is a health related bound by Dr. Sruthi Sujathan at MedBound:

   https://www.medbound.com/public/public-post/f64bd9be-fdb0-4269-9218-c581e9adf3f5

1. 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?

   My work life in OPD has always been hectic. In a government medical college, you will have to be the attendee, doctor, and nurse altogether. I feel that due to a shortage of doctors, hospitals are juggling with existing doctors, making it exhausting for them. The case is different in the private sector. Therefore, it's expensive. The problems in a highly populated country like ours can't be sorted out overnight. Until then, it's going to be a challenging task.

2. 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?

   Doing things meticulously in a friendly work environment with colleagues and staff is something I look forward to. But that's the most challenging part of work life.

3. Could you describe your routine and activities when you are rounding on patients during your medical duties?

   I usually do the rounds, chart the vitals, and carry out my senior doctor's orders. That's routine work. But, while being the CMO (Casualty Medical Officer), we will have to deal with all sorts of emergencies and medical-legal cases where I would say, "I literally run in the air!"

4. What are some of your favorite procedures or activities that you enjoy while working in hospitals or outpatient clinics (OPDs)?

   Well, nothing much, in particular, to be favorite. But I enjoyed taking deliveries and sucking out that massive ascites or pleural effusion during house surgency.

5. What are some procedures or activities that you dislike or prefer to avoid while working in hospitals or outpatient clinics (OPDs)?
   Being a Pediatric JR, doing cannulation in babies is already a hard task, and draining the blood like a vampire is something I don't like to do much.

6. What are some of the least favorite aspects or activities for you while on duty in a hospital?
   Dealing with annoying bystanders.

7. 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?
   There should be a change of mindset in society that all doctors earn lakhs and are rich. There are a few, but not everyone. Due to the abuse doctors face, defensive medicine is practiced by most of us. It's a dangerous trend, sadly. I hope someday society will value the work we do and that we can help others honestly with our knowledge.

8. How do you handle or perceive night calls/shifts? What is your take on In-house calls? 
   That's a nightmare for any doctor.We would pray for the whole world at night to avoid any mishap! 😅But Accidents, disputes, emergencies mostly come back to back at night hours.🥴 After a few rotations, you will be automatically tuned into Autoset Mode to be "Alert" whenever a night call comes up.

9. How do you manage the food situation while you are on duty in the hospital or during your work shifts?
   I most often cook food for myself and pack it for the hospital during my internship days. Later, during work, I had a canteen in the hostel where I stayed. I don't prefer outside food much.

10. How do you like to spend your leisure time when you're not working or on duty?
    I love to cook and experiment with food. Or I do journaling, gardening, read novels.

11. What is something that you strongly dislike or find challenging?
    Currently, there's nothing coming to my mind! Dealing with emergency cases is quite challenging, though.

12. 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? 1

    I would choose to be a writer or chef. Being in your own personal space, reading books all day, or experimenting with food submerged with nature and creating a masterpiece from nothing. An Art or a new Recipe.

13. 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?
    Choices change with time and situation. Obviously, for any medico being in a prestigious institution like AIIMS or JIPMER would be a dream choice due to its curriculum, infrastructure, and great teachers. But not everybody is lucky enough to be in that position. So any government medical college with enough patient load, infrastructure, and amenities would be desirable. After all, gaining experience comes from learning new cases and meeting new patients. It doesn't matter where you come from, the things you do matter.

14. Could you describe your ideal workplace and the factors that make it desirable for you?

    It should be a safe, friendly, and cooperative work environment. As everybody knows, harassing and beating up doctors is turning out to be the new normal. Dealing with a person's life is already a significant source of stress, and adding a disturbed mind due to a toxic environment would be so unfair to the mental health of a doctor.

(ClinicalTrack/DrSruthiSujathan/MSM)