Life after the big final medical exams

Dr. Fahd Adeeb Mohamed Ashraf

MB. BCh. BAO, MRCPI, MRCPS(G), MMedSc (Sports & Exercise Medicine) Specialist Registrar in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine

Relapsing Polychondritis
Cauliflower ears & Saddle nose
MAGIC Syndrome Ddx: 1. Wegener s Granulomatosis 2. TB, Leprosy 3. Syphilis 4. Malignancy

Eyes cannot see what the mind doesnt know

Preparation: From now!!
Pattern recognition in CXR, ECG, clinical cases etc More time in the wards, not in library, bedroom, meeting room etc(for clinical year students)

Which to choose?

Choices After Internship/Housemanship

Medicine and its specialties
Surgery and its specialties Anesthetics Emergency Medicine/ Accident & Emergency Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Radiology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic

Others: Family Medicine, Public Health, Psychiatry

Concept of chronic MO
Avoid getting used to the comfort zone
Get up the ladder early, the later you try, the harder it gets

You dont want to be running around, staying up overnight, being told what to do-when you are 40, right?

To become a Specialist: the options:

Masters
Membership exam: MRCP/MRCPaeds/MRCOG FRCS Other horizon: USMLE residential program

Masters program
Need recognition by MMC
Accepted as specialist 6 months after completing the course

http://latihan.moh.gov.my/v3/index.php?option=com_cont ent&view=article&id=86&Itemid=495&lang=ms

Membership Exam
MRCPI, MRCPUK
3 parts: Part I: MCQs, Part 2 (Written/MCQs), Part 2 (clinical)

Accepted to be specialist 18 months after passing all 3 parts.

Membership exam
Pros: 1. Quicker (usually) than Masters

2. Everyone can take (as many times they want as long as they have the cash), no entrance exam/interview etc. Cons:
1. Expensive-3 parts: Part I: (~RM2000++/exam), Part II (written): (~RM2000++/exam), Part II (clinical): (RM3000++) 2. About 30% passing rate for the part 1 exam (i.e. 30

MRCP Exam
Could be taken in either Malaysia (MRCPUK or MRCPI), UK (MRCPUK) or Ireland (MRCPI)
Not necessarily need to work in UK or Ireland.

Check out their website

To work in Ireland: PRES exam-3 parts

To work in the UK: PLAB exam

Work outside of Malaysia?

UK: More difficult now: Stricter UK Immigration rules

But GMC would accept if:

Sponsored for fellowship training

In a recognized Specialist Training (Specialist Registrar)

Holds MRCPUK (NOT MRCPI)

United Kingdom
PLAB test

 Ireland: Almost similar (PRES exam but 3 parts where part 1 is just paperwork)
NZ/ Aussie

US: USMLE exam

Things to prepare
A strong C.V
Interviewing skills: This include attire, body language, enthusiasm, preparation

A strong C.V.
Prepare early (from now!) and add-on once you remember something important or done something new
Make sure address and contact number is clear Make sure has some management or leadership skills, section for previous experiences, rotations, courses attended, presentations and publications.

How to have a strong C.V.

Good undergraduate results
Management experience Research and audits Publications Combination of all above is obviously the best

Things that might be overlooked

Interview: The chance to impress

Prepare (from now!) a 5-10 minutes presentation about yourself
Practice with somebody you are NOT comfortable with

Always smile, look enthusiastic, watch body language

The usual opening question:

Tell me/us about yourself.

Success is about capturing the opportunity

Some pointers:
Opportunity knocks but ONCE! (but if you are very lucky, maybe twice)

Concept of DUIT: Doa-Usaha-Ikhtiar-Tawakkal. Have to take the concept as a whole, not choosing only 1 or 2 e.g. Cuma doa & tawakkal, doa & usaha etc ALWAYS follow-up
Avoid waiting til the last minute e.g. when applying for a post, writing a c.v., interview preparation etc

Positive feedback system: like a soccer game

What is research?
Definition
Summer research The difference between research and audit

Publication(s)

Case reports

Original Article/Audits

Thank you