Musings Of A New Doc

Medical careers are getting increasingly internationalized for young graduates around the world. The list of countries with opportunities for international graduates on offer is expanding fast. Every week comes with news about Board Exams and Certifications in different countries and how it is improving and evolving. It appears less of a problem for countries to assimilate international workforce into their healthcare. But how big is the issue of assimilation into a new country for the international graduates themselves?

When we graduate and are in our late twenties, we all would have developed strong cultural component to our personalities and identities. This component would not only define who we are, but will also form a clearly set of values that we would remain attached to for rest of our lives. Assimilating in a new country should NEVER entail a person to give up on his/her cultural baggage. In fact, progressive societies cherish the cultural diversity that new immigrants bring to their mix. But friction is bound to develop, as many of the attitudes that any one gets used to in one’s home country can and will get challenged or even shattered in this new dais.

That’s why ‘culture shocks’, racial stereotypes and perceived alienation are all familiar features in most immigrant populations’ transitions. The journey from one’s home country to one’s adopted country involves patience, perseverance and some getting used to, but this transition zone can be a smoother ride for some and bumpier for others, sometimes out of sheer luck and sometimes as a result of unique social skills.

For a newcomer in any country, the biggest stumbling blocks are the ones the most obvious. If you are a medical graduate and you clear the necessary licensing and board exams, simply put –you are bright enough. However, this aptitude that you boast about can only shine once you have broken the ice. And breaking the ice elegantly and gracefully requires all the cultural deftness, charisma, charm and social aptitude you can pull off from under your sleeve. It’s like breaking into a college fraternity for someone who joined the class late.

Saying It Right –the Accent

Every one of us has a uniquely funny way of saying our words. And it is not a problem, at least to an extent. The problem arises if somebody is unable to communicate rapidly to peers, patients or superiors due to differences of accents. As a newcomer, the onus lies on the immigrant to get well-versed in the ways people talk to each other in the new country that he/she has landed. The job begins well before your anticipated graduation date if you believe that the prevailing accent in your country differs significantly.

English Language testing for foreign student, like TOEFL and IELTS are meant to make such goals tangible for students and reliably test their abilities to talk and listen. But interacting in a new country goes beyond your testing scores. To be an equal member, you need to be equally well at communicating –since effective communication is essential to any medical practice.

Your first step at setting your accent right begins with actively listening to people from the country you wish to move to. Youtube and other Internet portals makes your task easier for USA and other English speaking countries, since there is a growing collection of free class and hospital videos for different subjects, that you can use for your coursework and simultaneously improve your listening power. Remember, bigger the variety of situations you choose from –classrooms, bedside, seminars, conferences, research presentations –better would you get at picking up the hues and clues in their speech and audios.

Given that you are getting a regular dose of reading, and listening to free audios, the next step forward is speaking up. The most effective way of doing that… is to speak up! If pronunciation bothers you, like any other medical student from any country of the world, here is a list of pronunciation guides and mobile apps that you can use to roll out medical terms on your tongue in crisp, professional, perfect syllables:

http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/resources/pronunciations/index/a.html
http://itunes.apple.com/app/saymedicine-medical-pronunciation/id398318159?mt=8
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.sphinx.saymedicine&feature=search_result
http://medicalpronunciations.com/

There is no shortage of opportunities in a medical school to hone your presentation and speaking skills. From class interactions to having after-class discussions with the teacher, to case-presentations at the wards and occasional chances of speaking on the stage, you have ample opportunities to churn out professional-sounding, understandable and coherent speech.

One good opportunity that I have availed personally is ‘Webinars’ that are conducted live over the Internet. These web-seminars simulate classroom settings so that at the end of the lecture, you can raise your hand and interact with the professor.

http://www.gopathdx.com/m.php?name=lectures

And even if you are on the move, podcasts from medical societies and renowned Med schools can keep you informed and your ears tuned to the right accent:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/harvard-medical-labcast/id274080280
http://scrubbingup.libsyn.com/

Acting It Right –The Social Behavior, Fashion and Lifestyle

You not just have to tune your tongue and ears; but even your boot-style, or your tie, your wardrobe, your volume, or your laughter. Nobody would be pulling the floor under your feet in this new faraway land, but to set it right, you will have to be receptive to cultural nuances and act it right.

Just like it is to practicing accent, the social norms settle in after you get familiarized and are more open to new cultures. This comes with taking interest in art forms, books, movies, magazines, fashion and most importantly –the people.

Great way to interact with your peers across borders while still in your Med School is to use student forums, which act like melting pots for future globalized medical workforce. That way, you can build a strong sense of camaraderie even while belonging to totally different countries and cultures. Reading magazines, blogs and delving into new books and movies can all give you a certain idea about what you are heading for in a new country, and eventually it is this mix of knowledge that can open up new frontiers for you to explore.

Gesturing It Right –the Inside Jargon
I have grown up used to flattering teachers and superiors. But it turned out that isn’t how it works for professors in the US. When I greased the conversation with some compliments over a webinar I first attended, my professor was quite dismissive. Making the right gestures is probably the most complex psychological function wired into our brains, and no amount of prior practice would make it right. But if each time you interact with people across borders and cultures via any medium –written, forums, audio, videos or books –you can, and should, make some assessment about the kind of personality this stuff represents. It’s all a part of a broader cultural awareness and receptiveness. May be this notion alone, is what it is to be wise.