Tête-à-Tête with Shaheen Ahmad

Dr Shaheen Ahmed is presently a resident in the Department of Medicine of AIIMS, New Delhi. He cracked the AIIMS PG entrance examination with 10th rank.
The conversation started the Aligarian way, with a cup of tea at a snack-shop. Then we moved to his room discussing his protocol to PGMEE. Syed Faisal Hasan had a detailed conversation with Dr. Shaheen Ahmed on various aspects of medical life and PG entrance preparation. Excerpts from the conversation are being presented here.

 

FSL-Shaheen Bhai, JNMC is informally expanded as Jahan Na Miley Chaen. How was your journey through it?
SHN- In the first Prof. I Secured 64% and met a Suppli in Biochemistry. I was short of a couple of marks, that too, in practical.
In second Prof. I maintained 64%.
The miser mid-Prof. was passed through fetching 60%.
In final Prof, 62% and then came Internship. The Single year of internship is a very crucial period. You learn a lot about hospital administration during postings and prepare for PG-Entrance when you return from the postings.
Both play a pivotal role in shaping your future.
FSL- Your performance in various PG-Entrances.
SHN-     AMU PGE (2008) # 0 2
    PGI (Dec 2007) # 37
    AIPGMEE (2008) # 653
    AIIMS (May 2008) # 10
    PGI (June 2008) # 79
FSL- Some undergrads have an extreme view that “The ultimate undergrad aim is to crack the Pre-PG i.e. MCQs only, so gaining practical knowledge in the wards is a waste; as clinical skills can be learnt in PG also.” Do you think the “Ward Knowledge” helps in getting through the PGMEE?
SHN- You tell me Faisal, When did you learn monitoring B.P.?
FSL- Well sir, in the First year.
SHN- And you know it very well that it will never be taught to you in the future. Thats just an example
Knowledge in the Clinical books (S. Das, Hutchison’s etc.) and that learned in wards and evening teachings backs your knowledge up. You don’t realize, but they do aid.
Text books should be cleared in their respective profs and clinical books during ward postings.
FSL- So when do you think one should go for the “New-age MCQ books”?
SHN- Only during internship.
Undergraduates should lay more stress on text books and building and strengthening their concepts. Once you gain command on the text and having built fundamentals, its just the pattern of the PGMEE you should get the taste of, and so you go for MCQ books.
Four months during internship are enough to tick all the recommended MCQ books.


FSL- What should be the study material?
SHN- Standard Text books: like Ananthnaryan and not Jawetz, KDT and not Katzung, Robbins and not Harshmohan.
Notes of lectures: though they are concise and lucid, excellent for revision, it is a notion that questions in AMU-PGMEE are from lectures; as lectures are also prepared from books.
MCQ’s: as I said, during internship.

FSL- About Positive and Negative aspects of your personality.
SHN- Positive aspects
·    Thorough Study
·    Strict following of routine
Negative aspects
·    I studied thoroughly during Internship also
·    I could not revise amply due the same trait of mine


FSL- Thousands of aspirants sit for PGMEE.
Nearly everyone is well prepared.
Even those with knowledge to – the – hilt, fail to grab a fair rank.
What do you believe is the Mantra for a good rank.
SHN- The only thing required is to believe in yourself. Never betray yourself.
Take this thing out of your mind that “ I can not qualify”. Everybody  can qualify!
No one knows what destiny has for him. Even I used to think I wont qualify – Here I am!


FSL- Teachers you admire.
SHN- Lectures by: Dr. Manoj Shukla, Dr. Amitava.
Ward teachings by Haroon S. Khan of Medicine, Dr. Anjum Chughtai and Dr. Imran of Plastic Surgery (now in KSA).
There are a few other names I can recall at the moment.
FSL- How important do you find the role of group study?
SHN- Group discussion is important in revising and analyzing facts. What we gained out of our self study, my friend circle used to discuss during tea breaks!!