Sheen and the glitter of a career in medicine!

Choosing a career profile that would be most flourishing and worthwhile is the most vital and intricate question in a student's life! Everyone aims at pursuing a career that would ensure a secured and bright future. With numerous alternatives available, there is often dilemma as regards to which is best. Although many professional courses have cropped up in India, yet the majority of students prefer sticking to the conventional courses. Career in medicine still dominates the priority list of undergraduates. The basic rationale behind the fascination in this profession is that in a country like India, a doctor is venerated by humanity as a "life giver". He is considered next to God. 

It is one of the most rewarding careers for the ones who are interested in dealing with ailing people and aiding them to live life again in its full colours.

Medicine is a very demanding profession. To be in this profession is more a responsibility than a privilege. It is more of what you can give the community than what you can get from it.

Eligibility:

• The key credential required for a medical profession is MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine And Bachelor Of Surgery) which is of 5 1/2 years duration (including 1 year internship). Selection for MBBS is through an All India Entrance Examination. The qualification required for entrance is 10+2 or equivalent with Science subjects.
• In the case of private medical colleges entrance examinations are conducted by the institutes individually.
• In addition to MBBS, candidate should complete House Surgency or internship for one year.

After MBBS, candidates can further go for post graduate level studies (MD or MS) through another entrance. At this level, students can either opt for Medicine or surgery. MD or MS programmes are customarily of 2 years duration. The specializations comprise of:

• General Medicine
• General Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics
• Gynaecology
• Orthopedics
• ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)
• Psychiatry
• Anesthesiology

The must have personal traits.....

The person eyeing a career in medicine must exhibit certain traits such as:

• Emotionally balanced
• Patient
• Tactful
• Calm
• Accuracy
• Make quick decisions
• Carry responsibility
• Work under a great deal of pressure
• Physically fit, since they often work long and irregular hours.

What's the scope??

Healthcare has materialized as one of the most significant service sectors in India and presently it provides employment openings to millions of people. The demand for medical practitioners is remarkably increasing with the unfortunate upsurge of diseases and ailments day by day. The complex lifestyles are giving birth to various ailments. At the same time super specialty hospitals are mushrooming both within the country and abroad offering employment opportunities.
Other than Allopathy, medicine also covers different systems like

• Homeopathy
• Ayurveda
• Siddha
• Unani

There are numerous avenues available. A person can take up any of the following lines i.e. he can become:

• Cardiovascular technician
• Pharmacist
• Pharmacy Technician
• Physical Therapist
• Physician and surgeon
• Physician Assistant
• Surgical Technologist
• Dentist
• Dietician
• Audiologist
• Laboratory Technician
• Medical Assistant
• Radiologic Technician
• Respiratory Therapist
• Optometrist

Scope beyond hospital??
The mushrooming scope of employment opportunities can be accredited appreciably to the fact that today healthcare is not just restricted to diagnosis and medication of diseases. But in fact it refers to an umbrella of services that influence

• Physical
• Psychological
• Emotional well-being

Even beyond hospital there is immense scope. Numerous arenas are available such as:

• Fitness industry
• Health promotion
• Holistic healing
• Alternative medicine
• Health insurance
• Group specialties
• Medical tourism
• Medical transcription
• Hospices
• Healthcare of senior citizens
• Health townships

A career as a doctor can be exhausting, stressful, and yet amazingly rewarding. Be it the recession era or a boom period, medicine is one vocation that is unmoved in these scenarios.

So if you have a firm desire to learn medical science, as well as to help, as well as academic and social skills, a career in medicine might be for you!!

Source: Latika Leekha (Shiksha Team)