ORIENTATION FOR OUR MUSLIM MBBS/BDS NEW CLINICAL STUDENTS

ORIENTATION FOR OUR MUSLIM MBBS/BDS
NEW CLINICAL STUDENTS

BY

DR. AHMADU MUHAMMAD SANI. B.Sc., M.B.B.S., F.M.C.R.

DEPT OF RADIOLOGY, U.M.T.H. MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

AN ORIENTATION LECTURE FOR NEW MBBS/BDS CLINICAL STUDENTS ORGANIZED BY ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM HEALTH STUDENTS (AMHS), UNIV. OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL

ON

SUN., 25/08/1433 AH; 15/07/2012 CE

OUTLINE OF THE ORIENTATION

1. What we aim is what we get
2. Clinical Site… Is it really the G₀ phase?
3. Our academic milestones
4. The Clinical site for MBBS/BDS Students
5. Time Utilization in the College
6. The Muslim MBBS/BDS Student
7. General Advice
8. Finally

1. WHAT WE AIM IS WHAT WE GET
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and miss it; but we aim too low and reach it.” – Anonymous.

“Luck, most of the time, favours only the prepared minds.” – Anonymous.

THE MISTAKES OF STUDENTS

• Reading just to pass a test or an exam
• To be able to earn handsome (pretty) salary
• Forgetting that acquisition of a “new” knowledge requires your prior knowledge of the“old” subject/course you wish to study. There4, you mustn’t forget your preclinical knowledge.

2. CLINICAL SITE… IS IT REALLY THE G₀ PHASE?

• The FALLACY of Clinical site being G₀ phase
• THE CLINICAL SITE – THE REAL PICTURE.
• THE CLINICAL “SITE” (HOSPITAL) IS A “DIRECT EXTENSION OF THE PRE-CLINICAL “SITE”
• YOUR STAY OVER HERE WILL SOON PROVE THAT YOU HAVE TO PRAY AND WORK HARDER TO SUCCEED.
• 3C’s (Composure; Common sense; Confidence)
• 3P’s (Patience; Perseverance; PRAYERS)

3. OUR ACADEMIC MILESTONES

• Nursery
• Primary
• Secondary
• University (Undergrad)
– Preclinical
– Clinical
• Postgraduate
– HO
– Registrar
– Senior Registrar
– Consultant
• Then?

PRE-REQUISITE OF KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION

1. Student
2. Teacher
3. Finance (Pocket Money, School Fees, etc)
4. Curiosity on the part of the student
5. Retentive memory on the part of the student
6. Time (6 yrs. with 3Ps, 3Cs, etc)

4. THE CLINICAL SITE FOR MBBS/BDS STUDENTS

• Clinics
• Wards
• Laboratories
• Other places

UMTH CLINICS & WARDS

• Out-patients are seen in the clinics:
– GOPD
– MOPD
– SOPD
– POPD
– ANC/Gyn OPD
– Other specialist clinics
• In-patients are seen on the wards in:
– Medical – MMW I & II, FMW I & II
– Surgical – MSW, FSW I & II, MOW, PSW, MFW
– Paediatric – PMW, EPU, SCBU
– O & G – Labour, Obstetric, Gynae wards
– VIP & Amenity
– ICU

UMTH LABS AND OTHER PLACES

• A & E
• Radiology
• Haematology
• Histopathology
• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Chemical pathology
• Physiotherapy
• Pharmacy
• Cardiology/Endoscopy (ECG/Echocardiography)
• Theatre complex
• Nuclear Medicine/Radiotherapy centres

THE KNOWLEDGE PORTALS (“MBBS + BDS till MCS do us part”)

• Classroom Lectures
• Wardrounds (wards/clinics)
• Laboratory sessions (practicals)
• Community medicine
• Etc

MBBS

1. MICROBIOLOGY
2. PHARMACOLOGY
3. PATHOLOGY
4. OBS & GYN
5. PAEDIATRICS
6. MEDICINE
7. COMMUNITY MEDICINE
8. SURGERY

“CLINICAL” MEDICINE

• MEDICINE
• SURGERY
• PAEDIATRICS
• OBSTETRICS& GYNAECOLOGY
-Wardrounds
-Clinics
-Bedsides/Tutorials
-Clinico-(Pathological/Radiological) Meetings

LABORATORY MEDICINE

•MICROBIOLOGY
- Bacteriology
- Virology
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Mycology (Fungology)
•PHARMACOLOGY ( Has multiple subsets)
•PATHOLOGY
- Histopathology
- Haematology
- Chemical Pathology

COMMUNITY MEDICINE

•Public Health
•Field Works/STD Clinics
•Community Service/Posting
•Rural Posting
•Seminars
•Etc

THE LONG RUN TO MBBS/BDS

•Junior/Introductory Postings in Medicine & Surgery.
•Junior/Intermediate Postings in Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G).
Specialty Postings in:
–Radiology
–Psychiatry
–Ophthalmology
–ENT (Otolaryngology)
–Orthopaedics
–Anaesthesia
–Dermatology
•Community Medicine Block Postings in:
- Epidemiology Unit
- Yerwa/Gwange ANC
- Abattoir
- Monday Market
- Water Treatment Plant
- Nigerian Bottling Company
- etc
•Intermediate Postings in Medicine & Surgery.
•EXAMINATIONS IN MICROBIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
•Senior Postings in Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology
•EXAMINATIONS IN PAEDIATRICS, O & G, AND PATHOLOGY
•Community Medicine Rural Posting (Final Year Project Writing)
•Senior Postings in Medicine & Surgery
•FINAL EXAMINATIONS IN MEDICINE, COMMUNITY MEDICINE, & SURGERY

BDS

•BDS IV (400 LEVEL)
–Science of Dental Materials
–Prosthetics Dentistry
–Operative Techniques in Dentistry
•Promotional Exams in the above 3 courses
–With the MBBS students
•Microbiology
•Pharmacology
•Pathology
• BDS V (500 LEVEL)
–Medicine
–Surgery
–Paediatrics
–Pathology
•Exams in Microbiology & Pharmacology
–Specialty Postings in:
•Radiology
•ENT
•Ophthalmology
•Anaesthesia
•Exams in Paediatrics, Pathology & then Medicine & Surgery
• BDS VI (600 LEVEL)– “INDEPENDENT”
–Periodontology
–Community/Preventive Dentistry
–Orthodontics
–Paediatrics Dentistry (Paedodontics)
–Restorative/Conservative Dentistry
–Prosthodontics
–Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
–Oral Pathology
–Oral Medicine
–Oral Radiology
–Ethics in Dentistry
»Final BDS exams

WARNING!!! THERE IS NO MAGIC FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN THE CMS, APART FROM STUDYING VERY HARD AND PRAYING.

“SOME” INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS IN THE COLLEGE

Prayers, Patience& Perseverance (3Ps)
Confidence, Composure& Common-sense (3Cs)
Punctuality (>80% Attendance) & Hard work at:
- Classroom/Lectures
- Ward/Clinics/Bedsides/Tutorials
- Laboratory/Field work
- Self-directed learning (Main source of acquiring Knowledge especially in the University)
- Group discussions/Past Question papers
- etc

TOO MANY COURSES...DON’T BE SCARED

•The courses may be too many with “jaw-breaking” pronunciations esp. the ones for the BDS.
•Just don’t be scared.
•Others have been there before you and have made it.
•The pioneer set 1983 (29yrs)

YOU ARE ALREADY A DOCTOR…UNLESS IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE.

5. TIME “UTILIZATION” IN THE COLLEGE
•The Importance of TIME. ALLAH (SWA) swore by TIME in S. 103 (Al-Asr).
•TIME is LIFE.
•It is a medium that determines our fate as either dwellers of PARADISE or HELL-FIRE.
•The Six years of Medical/Dental Schools is part of TIME.
•TIME and SPACE are among the Best Gifts of ALLAH (SWA) that can be used either well or poorly.
•The mis-use of TIME is a MISFORTUNE.

TIME UTILIZATION

•Time is more than money; it is life.
•You can never buy yesterday even if you spend the rest of your life. But you can regain money lost.
•Plan your Time daily (To-Do List)

SCHEDULING TIME

•To-Do List (Usually a night before)
•Wake-Up Early (Muslims are well known for this)
•Religious/Spiritual Activities are your TOP Priorities
•Don’t be a LATE-COMER to any of Life’s Events
•Live A TRIANGLE LIFE
- Hostel (Masjid, Exercise, Feeding)
- Classroom
- Hospital (Ward, Clinics, Lab)

A TEMPLATE FOR READING PATTERN

•Form the Habit of READING before and after a teaching session with your Teachers/Lecturers.
•Form your OWN NOTES.
•Ward/Clinic JOTTERS are essential “arsenals” esp prior to your clinical exams.
•Listen attentively to what is been taught at places of learning.
•Read the BASIC STUFFS esp “tropical” cases when you are reading from a “temperate” textbook.
•Ask questions if you don’t know…

REST WHEN NECESSARY

•Siesta
•Sleep as early as“necessary”.
•Sleep only when you have exhausted >90% of your To-Do List and have made that for the following day.

6. THE MUSLIM MBBS/BDS STUDENT

•Lives his/her daily life according to the teachings and tenets of ISLAM (The Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of The Holy Prophet).
- Lives a purposeful life
- Knows WHY he/she is in the University
- Remembers that he/she is a KHALIFAH of ALLAH (SWA) on Earth.
- Has ISLAM and Muslims in mind
- Remembers death constantly
- Helps humanity in general
- He/she is not arrogant
- Respects everybody

AMHS

•Participate in all its activities.
•Be a true Muslim student in:
–Character
–Learning
•Pray in the Masjid.
•Pay your dues generously and constantly
•Encourage good & forbid evil (e.g. if a female asks you the way to the males’ hostel).

MORALITY

•Dressing
–The Hijab vs Body Tights
•(The sweet story)
–The Turban vs Jerseys
•Room Entertainers
•(use them beneficially)
•Negative Relationships with:
–Students
–Teachers

MORE IMPORTANTLY 1433 YEARS AGO...
•The Foundation of Islamic State - Hijrah
•There was an ultimate role model who transformed humanity for good.
•The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent by ALLAH (SWT) as the last messenger to mankind.
•He (SAW) has prescribed to Muslims and indeed humanity noble ways on how to achieve excellence here and Hereafter.

OUR ROLE MODEL(s)
•PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW)
OTHERS
•Piuos Predecessors (The Sahabas & Tabi’un)
•Contemporary Pious Muslims
•Your Senior Colleagues (MBBS V - ?)

YESTERDAY...TODAY...TOMORROW...

•Al-Razi or Rhazes of Rayy, Persian, d. ca. 925
–Kitab ul-Hawi (Lat. Continens); vast clinical experience on Smallpox and Measles
•Ibn Sina or Avicenna of Tashkent, d. 1037
–Al-Qanun (Canon), a popular medical text taught in Europe up to the seventeenth century, also put into a poem
•Ibn al-Nafis, born near Damascus, fl. In Cairo, d. 1288. Commentary on Ibn Sina’s Anatomy; description of lesser circulation
•As-Suyuti, Ibn Al-Qayyum Al-Jawziya, Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Ibn Maymun (Maimonides)
•Etc (NIGERIA)

PURITY OF INTENTION (From Hadeeth 1 of An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadeeth)

On the authority of Ameerul -Mumineen (the Commander of the Faithful), Abu Hafs Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “Actions are judged by intentions and every man shall have only that which he intended. Thus he whose migration (Hijrah from Makkah to Madina) was for Allah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allah and His Messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take some woman in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated.”

AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A MUSLIM WHEREVER YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF.…A MUSLIM MEDICAL/DENTAL STUDENT ON THE WAY TO BECOMING A MUSLIM MEDICAL/DENTAL DOCTOR.

READ! IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD WHO CREATED…(Q.96.v.1)

SOME PRAYERS

There are many authentic prayers from The Holy Qur’an as well as from The Holy Prophet (SAW) regarding freedom from difficulties of Life. Choose the one(s) that is/are easy for you.

Be constant in your Supplications to The Almighty ALLAH (SWT) for success here and Hereafter.
HE (SWT) said in Q2.186
“Wa ‘izaa sa-a’laka ‘ibadadii ‘annii fa-’inii Qariib: ujiibu da’-watad-daa-’i ‘zaa ‘da-’aan: fal-yastajiibuu lii wal yu’-minuu bii la-’allahum yar-shiduun.”

“When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way”. Q2:186.

Supererogatory Fasting esp. on Mondays & Thursdays.

Give Alms freely to the needy.

Increase your good deeds henceforth.
Purify your intention for being in the Medical School.

Q20:25-28
“…Rabbishrah lii sadrii. Wa yassir liii‘amrii; Wahlul ‘uqdatam-mil-lisaanii, Yafqahuu qawlii.”

“…O my Lord! Expand my breast. Ease my task for me; And remove the impediment in my speech, So that they may understand what I say.”

Q20:114

“…Rabbi zidnii ‘ilmaa”

“…O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”

Remember that after every hardship, there is multitudes of ease. Q94:1-8 (Sura Inshiraah)

From The Holy Prophet (SAW):
“Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahlan wa Anta taj ‘alul hazna idha shi’ta sahlan.”

“O ALLAH there is no ease other than what You make easy. If You please You make (even) despondency easy.” (Ibn Hibban) See also An-Nawawi, Kitabul-Adhkar p.106

“Hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa Huwa alaihi tawakkaltu wa Huwa Rabbul- ‘arshil- ‘azeem.”

“ALLAH Is sufficient for me. There is no God but HE. I have placed my trust in HIM, HE Is the Lord of the Majestic Throne.”(Abu Dawud: 4/324; Ahmad: 5/42)

“Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an, wa rizqan taiyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan.”

“O ALLAH, I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision, and deeds that will be accepted.”

Recite blessings upon The Holy Prophet and his household on daily basis.

You should ask ALLAH (SWT) using HIS Holy and Beautiful Names for Success in this Life and the Hereafter.

SO, DISTINGUISH YOURSELF…
Good, Better, Best (Good-Gooder-Goodest)
I’ll never rest
Until my good is better
And my better best

•Commit everything to ALLAH (SWA).
•Assure yourself that you chose to be a doctor in order to assist the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)& that by ALLAH’S grace you will make it.
•Convince yourself that others have made it before; therefore, you can also make it. May be even better.
•Stick up a notice in your wardrobe or wallet that “I’M GOING TO BE A DOCTOR VERY SOON.”
•Focus your mind& energy to your goal of attaining ALLAH (SWA) Pleasure.
•If you are in difficulty regarding your studies in the Medical School; ask for help early.

7. GENERAL ADVICE

•Lectures
•Clinical Postings
•Self – Directed Learning
•Group Discussion
•Relationship with College/Hospital Community
•Producing An MBBS/BDS Student Too
•Post MBBS/BDS

GENERAL ADVICE ON LECTURES

•Have the lecture schedule from the College/Dept & stick to it. Paste it on your notice board.
•Read the topic b4 coming for the lecture
•Be punctual for all lectures.
•Let not the attendance dictate your being present for a lecture.
•Listen more and copy less.
•Read/Revise the day’s lecture b4 sleeping.
•3P’s/3C’s.

GENERAL ADVICE ON CLINICAL POSTINGS

•Have the postings schedule from the College & stick to it. Paste it on your notice board.
•Have 2-3 things you would want to learn/day during any posting.
•Be punctual.
•Let not the “Signology”dictate your being present on the ward/clinic.
•Try as much as possible to present a patient and assist/perform a procedure on the ward/clinic.
•Respect/Learn from all those you will meet on the ward.
•3P’s/3C’s.

GENERAL ADVICE ON SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING
•Don’t just read b’cos you want to pass tests/exams.
•Read atleast 50 pages/day.
•Read“For-your-level” books and don’t be a “spanophiliac” or a “high-faluter”.
•Make sure to read/revise all that you’ve been taught for the day…and don’t just crash your readings.
•MNEMONICS are indispensable in your studies esp. if you know how they were formed.
•3P’s/3C’s.

GENERAL ADVICE ON GROUP DISCUSSION

•Be sure to belong to one.
•It shouldn’t be a CROWD.
•Members should be drawn from different posting groups so as to share do’s/don’ts of the teachers.
•Have a fixed time& venue for discussions.
•Discuss past Q&A (<10yrs), common clinical cases.
•Read the topics/Q&A/cases to be discussed
•3P’s/3C’s.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE/HOSPITAL COMMUNITY

•Patients (Hospital Kings/Queens/Princes/Princesses)
•Consultants
•Resident doctors/MOs
•House Officers
•Nurses
•Other students
•Health Records Officers
•Porters
•Other staff (security, etc)

PRODUCE A STUDENT TOO THRU MARRIAGE

•Avoid negative relationships “ilmi ba sai da shaidanci ba”.
•Group of Young Men who are able to support a family
•The monthly …OMSA stipend may be enough for the contented ones.
•Rampant nudity esp. amongst females may not guarantee moral safety.
•Classmate vs. Classmate.
•Choose the last of beauty, lineage, wealth, piety.

POST MBBS/BDS
•Have your mind set for specialization... Subspecialization right from pre-graduation
(I made up mine 14 yrs ago when I was in final yr Human Anatomy). –Radiology – Neuro-Radiology
•We need more specialists than medical officers... Though both are indispensable.
•Be a true representation of Islam... & let the non-Muslims see Islam in your character & not just by your name.

8. FINALLY
•Take action and do your best
•Rely upon ALLAH (SWT) for the results
•Thank ALLAH (SWT) for the outcome of your actions and for everything that you have in life

And always remember…
•Death
•Barzaq/Grave
•Day of Judgement (Q. 2. v.281)

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