Debraj Das
Routine dictates our lives - ask any resident.
We jump through so many hoops that our schedules must be planned out months in advance. But the problem with routine is that our sense of individual wellness and adventure falls by the wayside.
I wanted to break this cycle of routine, so this year I chose to push my boundaries, discover the world and grow not only as a clinician, but also as an individual. With the support of my program director, Dr. Darryl Rolfson, and mentorship and guidance from Drs. Ezekowitz and Cujec, I was off to Kathmandu, Nepal.
I spent two intensive weeks at Tribhuvan University and the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Institute learning the ins and outs of Nepali health care. Patient volume was astonishing, with people lined up shoulder-to-shoulder everywhere in the hospital. Outpatient clinics and echocardiography would routinely see an excess of 60 patients (adult and pediatric) by one cardiology trainee. Patients would move through CCU, cardiac catheterization lab and the cardiac surgery suite like clockwork,with swarms of students taking histories and completing examinations in the hallways. North American pathologies, including ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure, were just as common in Nepal. However, what I found most interesting was just how common rheumatic heart disease was in patients of all ages. The experience was a spectacular clinical learning opportunity and truly a chance appreciate the challenges faced by health systems in lower socioeconomic countries.
In the evenings I spent time international residents and students discovering the beautiful and bustling city of Kathmandu. It is home to numerous UNESCO world heritage sites, including centuries-old Buddhist and Hindu temples. Most notably, the Boudhanath Stupa and the Pashupathinath Mandir have visitors from across the globe who come to pay their respects. The vibrant Monkey temple in the northwest of the city provides an incredible vantage point to appreciate all of Kathmandu, which is surrounded by lush green rolling hills. Nightlife was energetic within the Thamel district and was filled with rows of unique restaurants and lively music bars. Shopping was a daily adventure in the hundreds of shops scattered across the street, selling everything from food to fine jewelry. Locals were incredibly friendly and always eager to teach local customs and cultural norms. Looking back, I was consistently forced out of my comfort zone, which reignited my sense of adventure and allowed me to grow as a global citizen.
The two weeks went by in a flash but now back home, I have a renewed love for medicine and a motivated attitude to push myself and try new things in my personal life. I urge my fellow residents to break the routine. Travel not to a beach, but to a city that will excite your senses and broaden your perspective on our world.
I guarantee you will come back inspired and with a lifetime of stories to share.