Exploring the Journey: From Dental Surgeon to Healthcare Management Enthusiast

My name is Dr Aroma Ganguly and I have done my under graduation in dental surgery from Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal. Post obtaining my degree, I worked as an Associate Dentist at Procure Dental Clinic in Bangalore for a year. Currently, I am pursuing my 2^nd year of PGDM (MBA Equivalent) in Hospital and Healthcare Management from the Institute of Health Management and Research (IIHMR), Bangalore. I am extremely passionate about acting, as well as theatre, and I am associated with a Bangalore based theatre club too. I find solace in reading classics and writing.

Q1.How did you choose your course of study in school (class XI-XII)? What made you choose PGDM (MBA Equivalent) at IIHMR Bangalore?

I was always certain about picking science because of my immense love for Chemistry and Biology, right from middle school. There was something magical about the way Organic Chemistry just made sense and the way studying about life in Biology made me feel. I chose Physics, Chemistry, Math and Biology (PCMB) as my stream in the 11^th and 12^th grade so that I could appear for both engineering and medical entrance examinations. Many students have clear ambitions growing up, but I was never one of them. In order to keep my options open, I prepared for both sets of exams.

My elder sister was doing her internship post her MBBS at this time and looking at her trying to juggle night duties and emergency duties made 17-year-old me a bit aversive to trying for MBBS. My top options were engineering and dental sciences, and even though I did qualify many engineering exams, I decided to pursue dental. I wanted to do something slightly unconventional, while also holding on to the subjects that I preferred. I was fortunate enough to get into one of the best Dental Schools in the country – Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal. Post my graduation, I worked for a year in a corporate dental clinic and it was during this time that I realized that there was a lot more to healthcare than just being the immediate provider. My duties included not just dental procedures, but also inventory management and coordinating with several senior consultants. I experienced first-hand how important it was to have smooth management in order to run a clinical set up. It was at this time that it dawned on me that though providing relief to a patient sitting on the dental chair for treatment felt great, it was only one patient that I was helping at a time, but if I wanted to make an overall change or impact, I would have to do more than that and change the system itself from the administrative point of view. This was the turning point that inclined me towards health management and to pursue a post-graduation in the same.

Q2.How did you crack admission in your current college? What entrance test(s) did you give? Any coaching classes that you took for preparation? Any other colleges that you were trying out for? What challenges did you face while opting for this college?

After I realized that I wanted to move out of dentistry and into management, I did some research on courses and colleges that I could opt for. I spoke to some people in this sector, as well. A cause of major confusion was whether to opt for this course in India or overseas. After giving some thought and discussing with some advisors, I decided to stick to India. This was because I believed that instead of pursuing a course abroad, I could look for a job opportunity abroad after a few years, for the experience.

I made a list of the best colleges in this field that I could approach and their requirements. Due to Covid, many of the colleges did not have an immediate aptitude test requirement but had Group Discussions and Personal Interview Rounds. My current college, Institute of Health Management and Research (IIHMR), Bangalore, required us to give any certified aptitude test and update our score, either before joining, or 3 months within joining. I gave the test that was scheduled closest- the AIMS test for Management Admissions (ATMA). Preparation for this was done by brushing up on some basics and looking through some aptitude-based questions.

For the GDPI round, there is usually a list of topics shared as examples by the college. I read through the topics and articles related and jotted down important points. A thorough knowledge on current health related matters and changing systems can really help in any of these interviews. Health care schemes and Insurances like Ayushman Bharat, importance of going paperless in hospitals and having an EMR and EHR system, Covid 19 and its impact on healthcare were some of the major topics ongoing. The internet is a blessing with everything you need on it. I remember going through several interview tips and tricks and also other topics that I felt were important, before the interview.

I had tried out for the Administrative Staff College, India (ASCI) in Hyderabad and was selected there too. The process was the same there as well. I opted for IIHMR Bangalore because of great reviews from everyone that I had checked with from the industry and their 100 percent placement record. A family friend who had worked as an HR in Hospital Administration reassured me, saying that it would be the best choice for me and that they regularly recruited students from there too. In terms of challenges, I would say that the major one is that being dentists (applicable to any one else in the healthcare field as well), we never actually dealt with in-depth interviews, other than direct questions in vivas, of course. We have never had to introduce ourselves or voice our opinions on non-treatment topics and this sudden change can be intimidating.  Going back to aptitude, after such a long duration, can also be challenging- especially having left quantitative questions and math years ago! However, a little practice and trying your best will get you there!

Q3. How you spend your time at college? Which classes do you like to attend? Which extra-curricular activities are you a part of in college? If given a chance, what else would you want to do? How has your college experience changed you as a person? What opportunities do you see in future?

Time in college just flies because of the huge number of activities that we are all involved in! Apart from attending classes, each module also has several assignments and group projects that always keep us on our toes! Working on presentations and submissions helps us get a lot of clarity on subject matter. We’ve had several modules, but the ones I enjoyed the most among them are Project Management, Marketing Management, Demography and Community Studies. As part of our Communication module, we made videos on several topics of importance such as Sexual Harassment, Mental Health Awareness etc., that encouraged us to be at our creative best.

IIHMR Bangalore has a plethora of extra curriculars that we get to participate in. I enjoy taking part in cultural activities very much, so I have constantly been a part of events. Apart from dancing and coordinating several events, I have also been given the opportunity to anchor events such as farewell and even national level conferences such as ADMIRE and CAHO! Our college also has many interesting clubs such as the Management Club, Community Club, Entrepreneurship Cell and Literary Club which organize events regularly. There several unique events such as the Management Principles in the Mahabharat through Nritya Natak- a competition that we took part in, that encouraged us to use our knowledge and display it through art forms! We also regularly celebrate festivals where I have been able to script, act and take part in several dances. Though we have many speaking activities and competitions, if given a chance, I would also like to take part in more writing related activities because in my opinion, I feel that writing helps in getting a better command over language usage. I have also been able to take part in projects and papers, as well as present posters. We are encouraged to attend and present in conferences. The best part about IIHMR is that it is extremely student driven, so we have been given the chance to be part of the Organizing Committee of not just institutional events, but also conferences. I am also a part of the Placement Committee in college and spend much of my time actively engaged in activities related to it.

I can confidently say that IIHMR has shaped me for the better. It has not only helped me in terms of new learnings academically, but has also given me a renewed sense of confidence. I can see the difference in my communication and task management skills. I am also able to voice my opinions and think more analytically. In a way, I feel that I have been able to rediscover myself and re-analyze my strengths and weaknesses.

I hope this journey paves the path to a bright future and I am honestly looking forward to all the opportunities that come my way. I aim to bring about a change in the healthcare system and play my part in making it smoother and more accessible for all parts of society. I feel that my journey in IIHMR will be the biggest stepping stone in terms of a career in healthcare, that is only just beginning.

Q4. What do you plan in future?

I have taken Public Health Management as my specialization and have already been placed through campus recruitments into a consulting firm. I plan to learn as much as I can from this job opportunity and grow in the field. Interacting with clients will enable me to understand people better, while also analysing and understanding their healthcare needs.  In the long term, I aim to work in program implementation for Public Health projects and make an impact on the lives of people that need it the most!

 

Note: The article is authored by Dr Aroma Ganguly, PGDM (MBA Equivalent) in Hospital and Healthcare Management, IIHMR Bangalore