If you ask the students newly joining medical college what they want to ultimately do in life, chances are that you will get the answers that; they will like to cure cancer, became a cardiologist or neurologist, or a cardiac or neuro-surgeon. As time goes, many lose their passion or set their sights on something more mundane or achievable, but some keep the flame of their passion burning throughout their career.
One such person was Dr. Shahid Hasan (Fictional Name). A highly brilliant student, Dr. Shahid wanted to become a cardiac surgeon since the day he joined as an MBBS student in AIIMS, New Delhi.
After clearing his first year, where they were taught only the non-clinical basic sciences, the second year started which had a mix of basic sciences like Pathology and also clinical postings. While most students in the second year restrict themselves to going to the wards during their clinical postings, Dr. Shahid started visiting the General Surgery minor operation theatre. By the 3rd year, he started visiting the main operation theatre and by 4th year he had started assisting in the major operations in the main operation theatre, a task reserved for the interns after clearing their 4 ½ year MBBS course. This was all the while having a brilliant academic record in all MBBS subjects.
During his one year internship, he started visiting the Cardiac surgery center to get an early start in learning cardiac surgery. There is no direct admission to the Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Mch course (at least in India). One has to join and get a degree in General Surgery (MS) to be qualified for admission in the three years CTVS Mch course, which was also thru an All India level entrance exam.
After completion of his internship with the extra CTVS experience as a bonus, Dr. Shahid joined as MS General Surgery junior resident (JR) in the Department of Surgery in AIIMS, New Delhi. Even when working as JR in the surgery department, Dr. Shahid took time out of his busy schedule and kept on visiting and learning in the CTVS department.
Finally, the much-awaited moment arrived. In the final months before his MS general surgery exam, Dr. Shahid filled the form for the entrance exam for admission to the Mch CTVS course. As the course starts almost as soon as the MS general surgery course ends, the entrance exam was held sometime before the final MS exam. In the All India level exam with only limited seats, with both written and practical exam, Dr. Shahid, as expected was selected with flying colors.
Once the result was out, Dr. Shahid’s joy had no bound. After all his lifelong goal was about to be realized. He was on the way to become a great cardiac surgeon like Prof. P. Venugopal, who did the first heart transplant in India. Shortly after the Mch entrance exam, there was the formality of the final MS Surgery exam which had to be cleared before he can qualify to join the Mch CTVS course. A joyous and confident Dr. Shahid appeared for the MS exam.
A few days after the MS exam, the result was declared. Dr. Shahid had failed in the MS Surgery exam. He could not join the CTVS Mch course as he did not have the qualification of MS Surgery. Dr. Shahid had to appear and clear both the MS Surgery exam and the Mch CTVS entrance exam again after six months.
Now the exam hall, including the practical exam ward, is a closed confidential area, so what exactly happened for this highly unexpected result is anyone’s guess. But there were rumors that Dr. Shahid got too confident about clearing the Mch entrance exam and took it for granted that he will pass the MS Surgery exam. His taken for granted approach, that as he had cleared the national level CTVS Mch entrance exam, he will easily pass in his final MS Surgery exam, hurt the sentiments of the General Surgery faculty members. A faculty member is believed to have allegedly made the remark while commenting on Dr. Shahid's result, ‘First learn general surgery before learning cardiac surgery’.
No exam is too small that you cannot fail in it. A student, whoever brilliant, is never bigger than the examiner taking the exam.
कोई भी एग्जाम इतना छोटा नहीं होता की आप उसमे फेल नहीं हो सकते, और कोई भी स्टूडेंट, चाहें कितना भी होशियार हो, अपने एग्जामिनर से बड़ा नहीं हो सकता।
Be very careful in the twilight period between leaving your old position and joining a new one. Even though in the inside your heart may be jumping with joy on the prospect of joining the new course or position lying ahead of you, it is better to portray that you are saddened with the prospect of leaving your old position or institution till you get away with your full clearance or degree.
This is especially important if your present teacher or employer can affect the joining of your new post. Have a balanced act and never in any way, directly or indirectly, belittle your present position, department, teachers, or employers in comparison to your future prospects.
But don’t lose hope. Dr. Shahid after successful completion of his Mch CTVS course from AIIMS, New Delhi, migrated to the USA where he is a very successful cardiac surgeon. Don’t let temporary hurdles discourage you as life is like a cricket test match and not a 20-20 match.
(Based on an allegedly true incident)
— ND
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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your 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 purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your 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 norms. 
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