It was the humbling experience of having her Chinese patient call her ‘daughter’ that convinced SobanaMuthu (left), of UCSI University, that her patients are and will always be, her focus as a future doctor.

SobanaMuthu, a final year medical student at UCSI University was rushing one dayto the orthopaedic department when she heard a frantic “Ah Moi, Ah Moi!” 

“I saw this ‘aunty’ running towards me. I know her – she sells curry mee in Chinatown, and I often frequent her stall – but it was the first time I had seen her in the hospital,” saidSobana. 

The aunty explained that she had broken her leg, and was in pain. Puzzled, Sobanaexplainedthatthis was unlikelyasshe could still run. She then accompanied the ‘aunty’ to meet thedoctor. 

In halting English, the aunty introduced Sobana. “This is my daughter, you tell her.” True enough, the doctor said that the leg was not broken; it was merely a pulledtendon. Sobanathencalled overa Chinese colleague to translate for the ‘aunty’, and the old ladyhugged Sobana in relief. 

“It was a very humbling and touching experience, because she introduced me as her daughter, although she is Chinese and I am Indian. And all I did was stop and get someone to translate for her,” she said with a smile, adding that to this day, whenever she drops by the stall, the aunty introducesSobana to her customers as ‘my daughter’. 

Although she has experienced many dramatic and heart stopping incidents at the hospital, being hugged by the ‘curry mee aunty’ and being called her daughter remains Sobana’s favourite memory. 

It is no surprise that patientsareand remainSobana’s main motivation in her pursuit ofbecoming a doctor. 

Empathy and Experience 

While empathyis an integral part of being a good doctor, italone is not enough. Life as a doctor is challenging, particularly during the mandatory one year housemanship and the three years compulsory service following that. 

The hours are long,thedeadlines are short and the pressures high. Empathy needs to be coupled with intelligence, patience, and just plain determination not togive up. 

For this, Sobana is grateful that UCSI’sFaculty of Medicine & Health Sciences understands this and has tailored its Doctor of Medicine programme to focus on giving its students themaximum clinical practice at the hospital. 

The students start their day at the hospital at 8am until 12pm before going for classes from 2-6pm.Recurrently the students will also be on callfrom 7pm – 7am. On these occasions, they will still have to continue their usual hospital work the next morning. On weekends, students can practice their skills on campus in the medical lab which is equipped with a medical mannequin. 

“UCSI has done a good job in ensuring our clinical hours are enough; we get ample hospital exposure and patient interaction,” said Sobana. 

As the field of medicine has no room for error, UCSI University makes no compromise when it comes to medical standards.Thebar is set very high for Sobana and her coursemates. 

At the university, the students are guided by lecturers who arethemselvesdoctors ornurses, while at the hospital, they are guided by experienced staff members. 

“For every patient we treat, first we have to find out their entire medical history. Based on that and on our examination of the patient, we will have tocome up with a diagnosis. That’s not the end of it;wethenhave to present it to our supervisor and justify how we came up with such a diagnosis,” said Sobana. 

The students are also required to present a case write up every day to their supervisor, who will guide them and correct them if they are wrong. To ensure a more personalised and comprehensive form of teaching, each students is also assigned a mentor. 

With only two months to gobefore she completes her Doctor of Medicine degree, Sobanasays shehas spent the last five years of her life studying – two years in the UCSI Kuala Lumpur campus and three in the Kuala Terengganu campus. 

Having enjoyed her time in Terengganu, especially the friendliness of the locals, she really wants to do something for the community which has been so welcoming to her. 

“I hope to set up a hospital here one day. I know it’s a long shot, but if I can find the funds, I would love to make it a free hospital,” she said with a shy smile. 

Since her favourite patients are theold people, Sobana is also considering setting up an old folks’ home one day. 

As a tribute to her parents, who have been her pillar of strength, she intends toname the hospital and old folks’ home in their honour. 

“Maybe my parents can even sponsor their own hospital,” she said with a grin. 

Of course, be it a hospital or an old folks’ home, there is one thing that Sobana is sure of; her hospital must have a multiracial staff so that they can translate for each otherif the patient doesn’t speak English. 

“After all, who will take care of patients like my ‘curry mee aunty’if we all only spoke English?” 

Spoken like a true doctor - with her patients’ interest at heart. 

To find out more about UCSI University’s Doctor of Medicine and Health Sciences programmes, contact us at 03-91018882 or email www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/onlineenquiry. You can also drop by our Info Days on 11 and 12 May, 2013 (9am – 5pm).