Why did you choose pediatrics?
After completion of my Internship, I got myself enrolled in Postgraduate training in Radiology and Imaging, influenced largely by my father, keeping aside my favoritism of Pediatrics which I adored from my final year MBBS days. Soon, I learned my lesson and got back to my clinical discipline which I prefer. Choosing Pediatrics was intuitive for me. I like to spend time with kids and I would like to envisage myself at least as a good healer of sick children and making them happy. My initial journey was also a good reminder of the fact that it is better to lose by owns vision rather win for others aspiration.
What was the most interesting case you have seen?
My most interesting case was a male toddler of 18 months who for 1 month lost walking skills and was admitted actually for loose motion and vomiting for 2 days. Clinical examination, dietary history was more in favor of Rickets. Later cascades of clinical meetings and case reviews revealed the child to be suffering from Medulloblastoma.
What was the rarest case you have seen so far?
The rarest case I have seen so far was a 3-month-old infant admitted with complaints of intractable brief seizures, developmental delay and poor cry. After exclusion of other causes, pertinent investigations concerning metabolic disease were done and it turned out to be a case of Biotinidase Deficiency. After the administration of oral biotin, the child has improved satisfactorily.
What are the pros and cons of becoming a pediatrician?
Every discipline is like a double-edged sword. Pediatrics is also no different. There is immense joy in treating patients and there is also profuse sorrow in breaking out bad news to the parents. In this part of the world, a Pediatrician also has to deal with misbehaving parents who ruthlessly verbally abuse health staff if things don’t, unfortunately, turn in their favor.
What are the opportunities for a pediatrician?
- There are very good opportunities in Pediatrics worldwide. The abundance of patients makes it a highly demanding discipline automatically. In countries like the USA Pediatricians earn around 110000 USD per year. So fiscally it is not a bad decision to take. The path to becoming a specialist is tough and competitive as all subjects. One has to persevere and really toil hard to complete post-graduation in Pediatrics and it’s not like a video game, no one will get to the end of it and also no one can claim to be a master of it, unfortunately.
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