ABOUT

Tell us who you are!

I'm Kafi Osman, I'm a 25 year old Doctor working in the NHS based in the West Midlands.

So what do you actually do?

So I have completed my first two years of post graduate Medical training and I am currently working as a Junior Doctor in the Acute Medical Department.

What has your career path been?

It has been tough I will be very honest. Getting into medschool in itself the first time of applying is something I am confused about to this day. I was the first in my family to go to Medical School, I had very limited work experience and I didn't have the greatest school or college background. I am grateful to the Access Scheme which allowed me to Study at the University of Birmingham.

I have done 5 years of Medical School and 2 years of post graduate training thus far. I have taken a year out currently to recharge my batteries and to try to figure out which specialty I want to do in the long-term. I am still working towards this so hopefully the next few years provides some clarity and more happiness!!

The five years of medical school are usually split into two sections. The first 2 years consist of the pre-clinical sciences where you study all the major body systems and the pathophysiology of disease a well as the pharmacology of drugs etc.

The latter years of Medical school are your clinical years. In these years you are mainly in placement in various Hospitals, GPs and other settings around the region. I enjoyed the clinical years a lot more as this were the years where you got  real feel of what being a Doctor is about and really got to apply what you had learnt in lectures in practice.

Having good friends around you really helped in the tough moments, especially exam season which were extremely difficult and stressful. I can’t express the importance of healthy coping mechanisms. There were times I really doubted myself... Am I good enough to be here? Am I an imposter?

Looking back now, I do deserve to be here, I do a good job and I am proud of how far I come. It’s funny how we always downplay our own achievements, I feel a big part of it was I never really had many people to look up to whilst studying, so seeing more young people in Medical School now who have had a  similar background to myself is really inspiring!

What is the best part of your job?

I genuinely believe it's the ability to truly leave a positive mark on patients and their families.

Even in death, the opportunity to treat our fellow humans with the care, compassion and respect they deserve in their final moments is truly a unique blessing.

I am so privileged and fortunate to be where I am currently, it is something I often forget but certain situations bring the true meaning of life back into perspective.

Why do you do your job?

Hahaaa, I honestly ask myself this each morning as the alarm wake me up at 6am! I think the answer is a lot more nuanced than when I was a 17 year old kid applying for medical school.

Yes I want to save lives and improve the lives of those around me. However, I also enjoy the problem solving aspect of being a Doctor, that every day presents with new challenges to overcome.

Furthermore, I also appreciate having a stable income, especially in the post-Covid economic climate. That is definitely something that cannot be overlooked.

One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?

Honestly, try to treat each day as an adventure!

I am guilty of this but it is so easy to get bogged down with what you read in the media and the negative connotations around Medicine and the working life. Yes it is tough, mentally and physically, but if you approach each day with a positive mindset, then work becomes more than just a "job".

Any parting words?

Being a Doctor is one of the biggest blessings I have in my life. No where else would a career allow you to care for patients and support them in their most vulnerable moments and truly be able to make a difference. It is hard work, there are really tough days. Having a great support network of friends, family and loved ones is key.

And, most importantly, remember, you career ISN'T YOUR LIFE!!! So make sure to live your BEST LIFE ALSO!!!!

Check out Kafi’s socials below!

DAY IN THE LIFE

So, in the current role I am in, the days can vary depending if I am "oncall" (which is covering the wards out of hours or seeing the new admissions in A&E). On a regular normal day, this is usually from 8:30-4:30. This involves doing a ward round of all the patients on the ward with the consultant (most senior Doctor on the team). The rest of the day consists of carrying out the tasks from the ward round, assessing any unwell patients, requesting scans/ referrals to other specialties, discussions with relatives and... the bane of my life which is discharge summaries for patients heading home.

During the ward round itself, it is usually the Junior Doctor’s responsibility to summarise the events for each patients and to inform the Consultant of any key events overnight. I find the ward rounds are important learning opportunities and I always try to ask questions regarding the reasoning behind a decision or management plan.

After the ward rounds, It is up to the Junior Doctors primarily to organise and prioritise jobs in order of importance. I.e. a review of an unwell patient will take precedence over a routine referral. I find discussions with family sometimes quite challenging, especially when a relative is unwell. I always remember how it would feel if it was my loved one in hospital and always try to remain patient and answer their questions to the best of my ability. It’s never easy having difficult discussions with patients and/or their families around topics such as dying or a new diagnosis. However, honesty and probity are the pillars of medical care and if I can’t be honest with my patients then how can they trust me?

Thankfully, most days I finish on time, relatively speaking. When I started as a Doctor in August 2019, there were often days I would finish late. With the experience I’ve gained over the last few years, thankfully this doesn’t happen as frequently. However, on certain occasions, especially when there is a very unwell patient, this cannot be avoided.

Most days are extremely fast paced but I am fortunate to have had such a supportive team around me who help me develop my skills and learn!