Where do I go from here?

 

“My world has changed, and so have I

I've learned to choose and even learned to say good-bye

The path ahead, so hard to see

It winds and bends, but where it ends depends on only me

In my heart I don't feel part of so much I've known

Now it seems it's time to start a new life on my own

But where do I go from here?

So many voices ringing in my ear

Which is the voice I was meant to hear?

How will I know, where do I go from here?” 

(Lyrics from Where Do I Go From Here? Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World)

Last year, it was decided that the two medical schools would increase the intake of medical students to 160 each every year despite the concern raised by the HKMA that there had not been and would not be enough structured training for the graduates.

In December last year, a Year-Three medical student committed suicide by jumping off a building.  She was offered university place through the Early Admissions Scheme after achieving 7As in the HKCEE.  She entered the medical school at the age of 17.  She left a death note, revealing her difficulties towards academic and financial issues.   

Also in last year, a medical student convicted of sexual offences made an application for registering as a medical practitioner with the Medical Council of Hong Kong after completing his studies and internship.  A hearing under camera was conducted to consider his application.  There were concerns about his fitness to practice and his mental status.  How to strike a balance between patient protection and giving chances to students who had made mistakes?  The decision is still pending.

Where do medical students go from medical schools?  There is a famous quote by Tom Bodett,

“The difference between school and life:   

In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.   

In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

We have invited Professor LEE Sum Ping, Dean of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, as our special guest of Council Dinner.  Prof. LEE was concerned about the discontinuation of medical services provided to citizens because of the plead by the Hospital Authority that there would be a lack of doctors.   However, as an adorable scholar, Prof. Lee admitted that medical schools should also be responsible for ensuring graduates to have opportunities of medical training.  Our President pointed out the situation several years ago when there were problems of not enough placement in the Hospital Authority for doctors after housemanship.   Ernie and Kingsley shared their experience of temporary contracts and service posts of junior doctors around the year 2000.  In view of these, I proposed to do a survey on the career of graduates of recent years.  The idea was supported by Prof. LEE and the Council as evidence would be invaluable in guiding the direction of undergraduate and postgraduate training.

I have also arranged an interview with Professor FOK Tai Fai, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  Our President, Vice Presidents, Immediate Past President and I will meet Prof. FOK at the newly opened Salon de Ning.  While enjoying the environment of old Shanghai and the legend of Madame Ning, we shall again discuss with Prof. FOK about the intake of medical students, undergraduate and postgraduate training, and the survey of the careers of graduates.   This will all appear in the next issue of the HKMA News.

The interview in this issue is with three current medical students.  Apart from enjoying the eye-catching pictures taken by Amy and me, please read the article written by the three girls.  They share with us their worries as medical students.  But at the same time, you can surely feel the confidence and energy of our next generation.

(Source: HKMA News January 2009)