We have heard, that having a strong role model is important for a child’s growth. A positive father-daughter relationship can have a huge impact on a girl’s life, in defining her confidence, self-esteem and so much more.
Pre-Covid, many believed medical profession can no longer be termed as a 'noble' profession. The work is more backbreaking than most, with endless competitive exams and the pot of reward not as big as in many other professions, persuading some to even leave it mid-way.
But Dr Rahul Mukherjee and daughter Deyashini Mukherjee resuscitated our confidence in the charm of this profession, making it all the more honourable.
Rahul, originally from Kolkata, India, works in the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in their department of Respiratory Medicine & Physiology. He is a Consultant Physician and an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
He came to England in September 1994. UK then used to offer doctors from all WHO recognised medical colleges in the world to sit for the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test. If you cleared it, you could actually work in Britain.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Rahul, now in his early 50s, told us about his journey from India. “In India in those days, working was not possible during studying for a postgraduate medical degree. You were paid a stipend, and if financially you were not well off, it was not possible to pursue a postgraduate degree. But unlike in India, in the UK, you could be fully employed while you were studying for your postgraduate degree. UK degrees are valued in many more countries, and much more globally recognised, hence I decided to move to the UK.”
After his Membership of Royal College of Physicians qualification, Rahul chose his higher specialist training in respiratory medicine and became a Consultant in 2007. “My first job as a Consultant was in Milton Keynes, but then I moved to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.”
Speaking about how important a doctor’s role is today, he had a very interesting perspective. “I came from India. So, I perceived of a doctor’s pressure differently and things have become easier,” he added.
“UK Government’s overall strategy for medical education, all though they have many more doctors now than before, there are very few who actually want to see very ill patients and work in the hospitals.
“Most people in search of work-life balance and due to their change in perception, they don’t want to make those sacrifices, that originally made people look up to doctors as heroes. But I believe, unless you have had that calling in you, it is impossible to reach your full potential.
“We took pride in being doctors and we were respected for being so, something that the coronavirus crisis has brought back, something that we modelled ourselves to.”
His 26-year-old daughter Deyashini, is a second-year junior doctor and an avid music and dance lover. She came to England as a toddler, but speaks fluent Bangla, and sings Rabindra sangeet, while playing her favourite piano. Her parents were sure that she would pursue music and dance as her career, but when she was 16, she did a work experience in her father’s hospital, which inspired her to take up medicine later.
“I always loved science. Human body and its function fascinated me. In fact, when I was 14, I asked my father if I could be a good doctor. But my parents never pushed me to take up medicine. They have always supported me to pursue my passion. When I chose this profession, my father’s line of specialisation thrilled me, but he has never tried to influence my decisions. Of course, I look up to him and I am lucky to have his guidance as a senior professional and as my father.”
Supporting her father’s thought about the significance of the medical profession today, she said, “A junior doctor needs to have the drive and compassion to understand what the rationale behind decision making in different specialisations are. Though many people can get away without committing as much as before and consider this as a 9am-5pm job, I am not like that. However, there are many components to decide how much you want to be involved. During my father’s time, there was a desire to serve better as doctors, earn that respect and honour and that has been my goal too.”
But she added, “While junior doctors need to think more and consider beyond just work-life balance, it is also the duty of seniors to take us under their wings and inspire us to make our profession something beyond just a job.”
