2021; Hoping for less procrastination

It was the end of another decade and the beginning of a new one. A decade is a long time to recall. However, from A/L in 2010 till MD Part 1 in 2020, it was more a decade devoted for medical education. A decade where procrastination was gradually practiced towards the latter part of the decade. This is a note on the year passed by for my reference in future.

2020 stared as a usual year. No much celebrations or expectations. As it evolved, it turned out to be quite a strange and challenging year. But interestingly, it really had been a career defining year too. At the start of the year, we got visitors coming from Australia; who turned out to be a Doctor at the end of the year. It was indeed a great pleasure to catch up with the greatest opponent, project partner and importantly the best friend at the start of a year after a lapse of many years [ though the advanced technology made it like meeting a friend for a daily chat]

Time passed by and at the start of the year, the place that nurtured me to be a medical practitioner turned 150 years which really was a series of grand celebrations to witness, which I already made a blog entry about.

In relation to Kingswood matters; Kingswood Medicos came in to existence – in a challenging slow phase at it was expected. Got the opportunity to work with amazing seniors and the juniors which in deed was a pleasure. We evolved slowly but steadily and I am sure, the process will accelerate as the world starts to accelerate in the days to come.

In the midst of everything, much less cared [by myself] family also evolved and the annoying nephew turned 5 years and is on the verge of being a gentleman of Kingswood or a bloody Trinitian.

2020 being a leap year also brought luck to Dahaya batch from MFC. We met for a get-together, first time after graduation. Some Mr, Miss , Mrs and some as mothers. We have evolved as people and as professionals in a matter of few years and the transition is amazing to see. With the initiation, Dahaya also came in to existence as an official batch; which I am sure will continue to meet in the time to come.

Then came March, the evil month. And it appears as if since March to December it has been just a single topic, COVID 19 – but I only realized when compiling this blog that many things have really evolved over the months; although it was not evident. Covid in March also provided a grand opportunity to have more free time and hence a lot of Netflix and entertainment. The art work of the year that felt closest to heart and was a reflection of our lives itself had been the master piece by Roshan Ravindra. I wouldn’t say the entire script was relevant, but the school life definitely was.

And then I really don’t recall much happening for a few months. Worked under a great mentor at Cardiology ICU, who made us feel relevant in the world of medicine.

The time was also consumed by the lot that helped me prepare for exams that at one point in my life I thought was one of the few things I will never do in life [ this doesn’t mean that I have an understanding why I did the exam anyway]

Times evolved and came the month of most awaited Parliamentary election. I was fortunate enough to sit for and get through examinations I never expected to sit in the first place. Examinations always treat me very well than I deserve, and hopefully it will continue at least for another 3 years minimum.

We also witnessed the brilliance of great senior role models at the exams, with flying colours – but not a surprise at all. It was more an expected result. We celebrated our own achievements in our own ways.

In 2020, met the next generation of the most beloved Dehigama family [as a scout] from school. Collaborations attempted and failed, but hopefully we shall be able to utilize the IT talents of the young computer master mind from college in the time to come.

Cousins also come on and off and cross our lives here and there. Some decide to marry while some suffer the agony of break-ups. It is a sweet memory to grow up with most of your cousins throughout your lives. After many years, we really could get together and take a day off and plan on a quick trip – which really made a little difference.

With new results and new posts also come new places and new people. Sometimes the life feels as if it is falling on our heads – but with time we realize the reality is not bad as expected. This phrase can also be turned upside down if not for meeting seniors and colleague who would support you, particularly when we are in trouble. The greatest treasure I had in my short medical career so far had been the amazing colleagues to work with. And working with this man at a new unit with new set of responsibilities surely made life much easier and smoother.

Although 2020 was described a dull year – it was also the year where I decided to shift from health service to the world of academics. Pros and cons: too early to conclude and too late to reverse. Life is dull if not for those episodic adventurous decisions. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be serving the place I would love most after my college. 2020 was a big welcome to the prestigious Pharmacology department, and to its amazing and understanding seniors. Big burden on the shoulders – fingers crossed.

Life is like a roller coaster. We are at the top of our game at one point and immediately after at the bottom of it. World falls apart and sometimes hopes bloom. Magical days happen and so are the dark days. On and off you need something to remind you of what you are worth and to help you appreciate what you have achieved. Being a registrar to a house officer that expects the same academic achievements in few years is a good way of reminding what you have in life and to appreciate what is there and to discard what is lacking in life. This is that person who reminds of such achievements and helps in preparing for the A game in future.

It was quite a year to revise. Although it appears dull, it was full of events. Career defining exams, career changes, new work places, new responsibilities etc .

A year that started with meeting the best friend in January should not be wasted without a good friends’ gathering at the end of it. 31^st night; though is a usual night like all others, was [strangely] well spent with one life time friend and one friend since medical school who continues to be a colleague at the same department. There isn’t a better time than being with good friends – whatever the time of the year.

2020 ended just like that and suddenly came 2021. This time while walking to the quarters. Just a single resolution for the new year or the decade – less / no procrastination. Hence the note at 2.30 am before postponing till next day though I am sleepy like hell.

So 2021 – bring it on !!!

[PC -  to all the photographers of the original photoes]

Me and National hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), Colombo

It's 31st August 2020 ; officially leaving NHSL, Colombo. I guess I stepped in to NHSL in 2011, first to meet my personal tutor in surgery department. Then since 2012, started Clinical training, if I am not mistaken. And whatever I learnt in Medicine (ie MBBS) was learnt based there; in associated hospitals as well. God knows the number of exams I had to write in NHSL, from modules, to finals to MD selection exam.

I recall the first patient I clerked in Lalantha sir's ward very well. A fascinating story of the value of NHSL. And so many such fascinating stories, many sad and traumatizing once too. I am just blogging these to read on a time I have Alzeimers or so and may not remember these good times. Although I told it as good times, it wasn't so pleasant all the time. Conflicts and challenges were in abundance. Clinical group conflicts, prof groups conflicts etc. Reflecting back it was all very interesting. And at the end of all the training, the final MBBS; the so called great barrier. I can never forget the tolerance and the motherly love and respect shown by the patient given for my long case exam in medicine. I am sure it was her wishes that helped me perform well in the case.

And then as a demonstrator in 2017, NHSL was anyway an integral part, particularly for researches.

I was also fortunate to land on the same wards I studied as a student in my internship training as well. I have already blogged on the internship times and hence will not be repeating as I got reference material for later typed already. The 2 long years of extended internship, which had it's ups and downs. Worked under lots of bosses, over 15 consultants in 2 years career , not very bad 😌. this lot will always be remembered as the people I worked most at a stretch and those who motivated to be where I am today, every step of the way.

The particular period had so many experiences , unforgettable ones and even involved in treating bomb blast victims; which I never thought I will witness as a Sri Lankan ever, after 2009.

After the long, daunting internship, had to select so called proper RHO appointments here, with a lot of ambiguity , and hopefulness selected to work in Cardiology, preferably, an ICU. And there I met one of the best consultants I worked under, Dr. Nuwan Ranawaka, interestingly as the first MOs to the new consultant. It was a privilege to work under a consultant who recalls himself having an internship, RHO period , Registrar period and so on , prior to be a consultant. The logical teaching and the pleasant personality of sir, made Nuwan sir a great mentor. I wish I could learn more form him, but the circumstances weren't so.

Cardiology was another place to work under 10 consultants (mainly 6 lets say) in 11 months. There I met so many very helpful cardiology SRs and MOs. Particularly, seeing the cardiology SRs being able to manage so much work and retain their peace in mind was a motivation. They are virtually walking communications, and I even hated the few hours I had to attend to their phones sometimes, and these people kept doing it for minimum 3 years and I wonder how? Cheers to all cardiology SRs .

The MOs at Cardiology too helped us as much as they could, and never let the juniors exploit. Particularly with the exam times and all, the support given by all were amazing. Everyone provided us with all privileges and mutual respect.

The COVID times made the cardiology days very different and unique. I wish we never get such a time in Sri Lanka although I accept, as a healthcare professional the work load became easier though the risk of COVID infection was high.

After nearly 8 years, I will be officially going away from NHSL, Colombo to Colombo North Teaching hospital and what will happen next is in the future to see. 

Lot of things happened at NHSL, many sweet memories, some challenges and few unpleasant memories too. After all, this is what was with me as the "last supper" (for the time being) at NHSL, and ironically NHSL had a fair share of it. Will be missing it? or will I have more of it ? 😉

Magic for me

 People around me always ask me to believe in myself, particularly at times we discuss the day to matters; stressors in professional and personal lives. And often I hear, “some magic will happen, you never know”. And the same is portrayed in motivational films as well. You see very unexpected things can happen, and they change the circumstances and often leads to good, life changing moments.

 However, in my experience the magic in life has often been very confusing. It often happens to make sure the expected end result is never achieved. You plan out something for so long, and suddenly some magic happens and all the plans are jeopardized. This happens in day to day activities. You are about to leave house to meet a good friend and suddenly, a totally unexpected guest arrives and you can’t escape it. Some magic also leads to unexpected meet ups even. You think of meeting someone, but doesn't take an additional effort to do so, but you end up meeting that person in strange and memorable ways.

Magic that happens in life also comes in very threatened ways. You plan to go out for an important function; say a short case exam kind of, and then suddenly the watch is broken when getting ready and you are in a hot plate contemplating what will happen when the examiners see you taking a wrist watch from the pocket. And the magic doesn’t end there as well. It ends you getting a neurology case and ultimately the wrist watch never became important. Whether breaking the watch was magic or was the neurology short case to a candidate without a watch is magic? Or are they both magic? Or are they just incidence and I perceive them to be magic?.

Magic for me also comes in forms of unexpected photos, songs, films and they suddenly change life in very unexpected ways. There are songs that you have listened to thousand times and then, on one particular day, on one particular time, the song was the background music for a wonderful experience ; (not necessarily related to the lyrics/singer/melody of the song), and the song it-self becomes a magic that ignites you/ motivates you. Same with certain films as well. For some reason you find motivation/magical power to wake you up in them and you keep watching them several times.

I am thinking, “am I overthinking these minor incidences to be magic in life – or is the small magic that happen in life make life more interesting/ challenging and motivates us to hold on to it and move forwards?"

Of all conflicting thoughts, on a conflicting night itself, I am searching for a magic to hold on to, and the best magic I can relate are looking at this photo ,

and listening to this song…

Will this magic work as I want the magic to work?

Will this pleasant feeling in these take me forwards, as far as I want?

What will be the end result of this magic? A happiness or an agony?

I wish I knew, but....

If I ever knew, it isn’t a magic any more….

So, let’s sing :  Que sara sara .. 😀

150th Anniversary of Colombo medical school; personal note

Since 2010 when I sat for A/L from Kandy and chose Colombo as the faculty of my choice, the most frequently asked question was “Why Colombo? You should have enjoyed Pera”. There often are times that I, myself wondered if I made a mistake. But life from 2011 to 2017 at Colombo and it’s memory has now convinced that I made the correct and the best choice. After passing out from 2016 and leaving the faculty in 2017 as a demonstrator, it always felt wonderful and refreshing passing by the faculty and occasionally walking in to the faculty. Walking the few corridors available in the faculty always reminded of so many memories; both good and bad of the half decade of our lives spent there. The notice boards, the benches, the quadrangle all reminded of the many hours we spent in few best years of our youth.

2020, the faculty was getting read for it’s 150^th celebration. Since we weren’t included in the faculty network much, the heat of the celebration was not much evident. Thankful to the CoMSAA membership, the email reminders kept few updates on the 150^th celebration. As a person, who is deeply attached to the places I studied, may it be college or university; I myself could not afford to miss out on this once a life time opportunity of 150^th Celebration of this beloved place.

The first event I attended in 150^th celebration was the inaugural ceremony of the Colombo medical congress, where I realized the greatness of the institute that had taught us medicine. Never in my time at medical school or later, I realized the privilege to have learnt from such a prestigious institute. More importantly, how much of its legacy has to be continued forward by the generations of medical students including ourselves who have just started our careers. The inauguration ceremony was studded with medical-stars and living medical legends were walking around. If not for the ever-welcoming Physiology teachers, I would have felt ineligible to be at the inauguration.

Then was the Colombo medical congress, which made me recall APACPH days, back in 2^nd year, post IBSS, where we volunteered in organizing a conference at BMICH.

It was one of those rare times where the academic staff and the students worked hand in hand together to achieve a common goal for the faculty or university. Mostly in medical school life is a constant battle between the students and staff, starting from punctuality in lectures, constants rejections to requests for schedule changes, limitation of faculty hours etc. How wonderful it was to witness a major conference happening in the same lecture halls where we learnt all those basic medical concepts. To see the students and the staff working in the same team was the greatest sight of all. Thanks to the never ending SLES, I was fortunate at least to present a poster at this 150^th celebration, as my only active contribution, which will be a memorable event if I make it till 175^th celebration alive.

The 150^th fiesta was not merely an academic one. The quadrangle; the car park during our times at the faculty, is now modified in to a mini open theatre by the 150^th celebration, after 4 years of execution lead by Pujitha sir. I recall the conversations at the meeting after the agony of “Pacha tree” in 2016. We expected the theatre to be functioning a bit earlier, never mind, it was made open in the ideal time in the ideal design. Recalling about the quadrangle, I remember how a small stick of Pacha tree fell on the expensive vehicle of a congress co-chair, and how he frowned at me and the fellow first year batchmates as if we threw the stick at his vehicle. 

Newly developed mini theatre added a great look to the faculty. The value of this theatre was evident at the “Paduru Party” on the 14^th. This was for me the most entertaining evening at faculty I have seen. We have witnessed and performed in few Ninnada, freshers, paduru etc but 14^th February 2020 night was epic. For this night, there were no senior professors, professors, senior lecturers, lecturers etc; it was just a bunch of past and present medical students, who are elated by the birthday celebration of their medical college. It’s was a pure joy while everyone recalled their past, lived in their own worlds for one night, under the stars at quadrangle, which I am sure, everyone would have their own share of memories; when they studied at the faculty. I have never witnessed such a staff-student collaboration during my stay at faculty and I hope, many such friendly collaborations would happen at the mini open theatre in the time to come.

While being proud of the great people produced by this faulty, it would be unfair by the present medical students, it their efforts and skills are not appreciated. Since we have passed out, it appears a set of professionals have taken up medicine at MFC. Professional level athletes, singers, musicians, dancers, organizes, announcers and what not. That Faculty is star studded even at present and it appears we were the last set of average students who studied there. While displaying the aesthetic and organizational skills, Colombo medicos never forgot to dominate their academic brilliance by clinching the global medical challenge as well.

150 year celebration is not yet over. There is the medical exhibition coming up. Another experience I personally wanted desperately during my stay; to convince a batch to get a Medex exhibition done. It still lies as a failure. However, I am anxiously waiting to see how the present medicos conduct this wonderful medical exhibition which I am sure is going to be another spectacular event.

Medical faculty, Colombo - MFC; with the 150^th celebration, I realized how privileged we are to study in you. Your legacy is unimaginable. We aren't certain if our own medical careers will succeed or fail. But we are certain, despite all failures, you would still produce those wonderful people and achievements that pioneer medicine, medical education and healthcare in this country.

“What wealth has the school given to our land? They were it’s mortal products like us all. And what treasurers have we ourselves chosen and pursued? Are these the treasures that moths and rust corrupt, or will they endure time to a realm beyond? Have we chosen wisely? This answer will necessarily be the schools own answer to our land”

Prof. Carlo Fonseka : The Colombo Medical school at 150 – Celebrating our heritage

Photoe credits to all friends who have clicked the photoes. Unable to recall the friends by each photo.