COMMENTARY
It is a unique
opportunity to inform and educate colleague- to-be in the medical and dental schools.1
Approximately two decades ago I was an undergraduate in the medical college of
university of Benin, Nigeria and today I am a medical doctor.2 For
as many undergraduates or specialists in different fields of endeavor I wish
your fulfillment of your dreams.3 MBBS is an acronym for Bachelor of
Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery awarded by some universities in Nigeria on
completion of undergraduate medical training; some other universities use the
acronym MBCHB which means same thing; the equivalent for dental colleague who
graduated as dentist is BDS which is Bachelor of Dental Surgery.2-4
Gone are the days
when undergraduate medical students and medical doctors are revered in Nigeria
because the value system in Nigeria is all about money irrespective of how it
is gotten. 3 This article serves as a wake-up call for undergraduates
in the medical schools across the globe but Nigeria in particular, that there
is still pride in becoming a medical doctor or a dental surgeon. 4
Whatever thy hands find to do, do it with all thy heart.5 The
present chaos in the health sector in Nigeria has made the Nigerian doctors an
endangered species.6 However, we must encourage our undergraduate
medical students to be focused with respect to becoming excellent doctors. 7
There are a variety of ways medical doctors can fit into the society and
still be fulfilled.2-8.9-12,14-16
Before we answer the
question which is the subject of discussion- after MBBs; what next? As an
undergraduate medical or dental student, you should answer this question- why
did you choose to study medicine or dentistry? Whatever your reasons are, you
are encouraged to finish your course and finish well.1-3
After medical or
dental school in the context of the Nigerian system, it is mandatory to serve
the nation in the compulsory – National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme
after the compulsory one year internship.4-9 During this period, one
should be prepared to chart a course in his or her medical/dental career. 10
Options available are – residency training, pursuing masters in medical related
fields (e.g basic medical sciences, public health), handing your certificate to
your sponsors or guardian; go into business, politics or combining one or two
of the above listed options.11
Residency training opportunity
is one of the options available for medical or dental surgeons after internship
and NYSC.11 Undergraduates are advised to have mentors so that they
can be guarded in their chosen specialties.1-2 In essence going in
for residency entails a proper homework in the specialty of his or her interest.
12 At present, even though
residency spaces are limited both at home and abroad,14
undergraduate medical students are encourage to go in for residencytraining.14
I quote from Abraham Lincoln “I will study and get ready and someday my chance
will come”.13 After a successful residency training the doctor
becomes a consultant in his/her chosen area of specialty.14 The
common pathway after becoming a consultant is either to be in the private or
public sector or a combination of both.16 Furthermore, a consultant
in the public health sector may be a full time hospital consultant or may also
serve as a university lecturer and a honorary consultant to the teaching
hospital.16 The latter may now climb the academic ladder in the
university to become a professor in his or her chosen specialty.16
Enrolling in masters
program, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and proceeding as a lecturer is another
option medical students can take as a career after their undergraduate training.15
These group of doctors or dental professionals are non-clinicians and are
pivotal especially in the basic medical sciences in the university. 15
These non-clinicians together with the clinicians in the teaching hospital
setting synergize especially in the area of research.14,15 For
medical and dental professionals who do not intend to be clinicians but
strictly academicians, they should consider going for master degree and PhD.15
Another area in which
medical and dental student s cam have fulfillment after graduation is to go
into politics.11-14 In our every day contemporary life, it is
important for medical doctors and dental surgeons to be in politics because
these are the ones who make laws that govern the nation at all levels.14-16
When those in medical profession are members of legislature they will defend
their constituency. In addition they will also encourage the passage bills
against harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, unsafe
abortion, just to mention a few.8-12
There are other
categories of doctors/dental surgeons who are classified as the miscellaneous group.
These are those that are in the category of studying medicine or dentistry
because they wanted to please their parents, loved ones, guardians, friends,1-4
– these ones may go into business, music, fashion, banking, settle for other
career after graduation as medical
doctors or dental surgeons.10-12
The last group are the
combination group - medical doctors or dental surgeons as clergy, politicians,
lawyers, businessmen or women.2-4,14-16
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion we must be circumspect as medical
or dental students as we consider the various options to explore after
graduation. I conclude by quoting the words of Martin Luther King Jr. “if you
cannot run then walk, if you cannot walk the crawl, if you cannot crawl; but whatever you do you have to keep moving…”.17
Whatsoever the pathway you decide to choose after MBBS or BDS strive for
excellence.
REFERENCES
1.
10 things I wish I’d known before becoming a
medical student. Https://www.sgu.edulog>what-to-know (accessed
21/4/2021).
2.
L O’ Bryne. Medical student and Covid-19: the
need for pandemic preparedness. Springer International Publishing 2019: 31-34.
3.
11 books every aspiring or current medical
student should read: Https://www.lncy.camiac.uk>blog>books (accessed
21/4/2021).
4.
History of the great university of Benin (history
of UNIBEN). Https://www.uniben.edu>pages>abortion (accessed
21/4/2021)
5.
Whatever your hand find to do… Eccl. 9:10 KJV
of the Bible.
6.
Obi-Ani et al. Covid-19 pandemic and the
Nigerian primary health care system: the leadership question. Https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.20201859073 (accessed
21/4/2021).
7.
Pursuing excellence: IU School Medicine
Student publishers. Https://www.medicine.iu.edu>student-life. (accessed
24/4/2021).
8.
UCI Health 2021 Physicians of Excellence. Https://www.ucihealth.org>2021/01 (accessed
24/4/2021).
9.
Robert M et al. The pursuit of Excellence.
JAMA Netw Open 2019; 2(12): e1918040.
10.
Top 7 Reasons to Study a Medicine Degree on
2021. Https://www.masterportal.com>top (accessed
24/4/2021).
11.
What Next After Medical School in Nigeria? Https://medicdomain.com>what-next (accessed
24/4/2021).
12.
Umar S et al. Assessing satisfaction of
Resident Doctor with training in Northwestern Nigeria. J Med. B. Sci Res 2021;
1(1): 93-102.
13.
“I will study and get ready and someday my
chance will come. Https://www.forbes.com> (accessed 24/4/2021).
14.
Being a doctor in Nigeria: Challenges and
opportunities for change – Nigeria.
Https://www.nigeriahealthwatch.com>
(assessed 24/4/2021).
15.
NUC Develops Academic postgraduate programmes
in Medicine. Https://www.nuc.edu.ng>nuc>deelops (accessed
24/4/2021).
16.
Medical Dominance and Resistance in Nigeria
Health Care. Soc Sci Med 1986;22(4): 467-477.
17.
MLK Day 2021: Martin Luther King
inspirational quotes. Https://www.goodreads.com>quotes (accessed
24/4/2021).
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Cite this Article: Eli S; Kalio DGB; Omodu OJ; Iwo-Amah R (2021). After MBBS/BDS;
What Next? Greener Journal of Medical
Sciences, 11(1): 88-89.
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