I recently came across a newspaper article about a study done in 2016 about medical research papers publications from 579 Indian medical institutions and hospitals between 2005 and 2014. There was a comparison between different Indian states and with some of the leading academic medical institutions of the world.
It was a matter of pride that my alma mater, All Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, was the top institute from India, and was ranked third in the world after Massachusetts General Hospital and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA.
This reminded me of an exceptional medical research paper writer who did his MD in medicine from AIIMS, New Delhi, who we will call as Dr. Albert McMohan (Fictional Name).
Dr. Albert was very prolific research paper writer and during his stay in AIIMS, New Delhi, initially as a junior resident and then senior resident in the Department of Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, he wrote and published around 100 papers in indexed international and national journals.
To put this in perspective, 332 (57.3%) of the medical colleges in the above-mentioned study did not have a single publication during the 10 years period.
There was a vacancy for the faculty post of assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi. Dr. Albert applied for the post.
Everyone was thinking that with his century of published research papers, Dr. Albert will be easily selected for the post. To everyone’s surprise, Dr. Albert did not get selected for the post.
A naturally dejected Dr. Albert bade adieu to AIIMS and shifted to his home state of Andhra Pradesh. He was selected as a faculty member in a medical college there.
After some time during a medical conference some doctor from AIIMS, New Delhi met Dr. Albert at his new town. The doctor was curious to know about how Dr. Albert’s paper writing is going on now after leaving AIIMS. He asked Dr. Albert about his present paper writing status.
It appeared that Dr. Albert had not forgotten his non-selection as a faculty member in AIIMS, New Delhi, even after writing so many papers.
Dr. Albert replied, ‘I now know the true value of the papers I had written in AIIMS. I am now using them as toilet papers.’
Fortunately for the medical science, his bitterness was short lived and last time I had checked he has now more than 220 research publications in national and international journals and had become the Head of Department of Medicine at his medical college.
It is a fact of life that academic achievements may not be enough for selection to an academic post. There may be other factors in play. Learn to live with it and continue doing your good work.
(Based on allegedly true incident)
— ND© Author. All rights reserved.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost.
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm.
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