“Dear Applicant,
We are delighted to inform you that you have earned a seat in the College of Medicine’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree program. Congratulations!”
Relief, a wave of joy, and sincere gratitude filled me as I read that line repeatedly with tears in my eyes. It was finally happening, a dream come true after years of hard work, long nights of studying, and preparing for countless national and international exams. The moment I had long awaited had arrived. Excitement kicked in as I realized, I am a medical student now! Amid the loud cheers of joy, the tears of happiness, the hugs, proud voices, and the congratulations, there came something quieter, deeper… responsibility, echoing softly but powerfully in the background.
That email marked the beginning of a dream I had nurtured for as long as I could remember, a dream that occupied both my mind and heart. It was not mine alone; it belonged to my parents as well. Through me, they saw their own hopes and unspoken prayers take shape. They have walked this journey with me, those sleepless nights were not mine alone, they brought out the best in me and provided me with opportunities to strive and dream bigger. They have given me endless love, support, and encouragement, which became the steady light guiding me through every step and challenge. Their belief in me was a constant reminder that I was never alone on this path.
At that moment, I realized that this achievement was bigger than just a personal accomplishment. It was a shared triumph, a fruit of their belief in me and the future we dreamed of together. This dream carried with it a responsibility, not just to myself, but to everyone who had invested their hopes and trust in me. It was a call to uphold the values and principles that define the noble profession I was about to enter. I was aware that the journey ahead would be filled with challenges, sacrifices, and moments of doubt, but it would also be rich with opportunities to learn, grow, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Therefore, with gratitude and passion in my heart, and determination in my soul, I took the first step into a future far greater than I ever imagined and the start of an oath that would shape not only the doctor I aspired to become, but the person I would grow into.
From the very first minute in medical school, you begin to feel the weight of expectations, you are not just a student, but you are a doctor-in-training, being prepared to become someone people can trust. Someone responsible and compassionate, and can be allowed into the most fragile, intimate moments of another person’s life. Of course, medicine introduced itself quietly at first, as usual through long lectures, heavy textbooks, and unfamiliar terminology, but personally, from my experience, also with a moment of awe and realization that becoming a doctor meant more than mastering science. For me, that moment was during my first time in the anatomy lab. The room was cold and silent, and for the first time, I stood face-to-face with those who had given their bodies to our education and the betterment of medicine. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I respected their sacrifice deeply and understood the genuine impact they intended to leave behind.
In that silence, I understood that this journey would not only teach me about organs, systems, and diseases, it would also teach me about respect, humanity, and the deep trust placed in us, even in death. Medicine is far more than just science and the study of diagnosis and treatment of disease. Most importantly, it is about treating the person who has the disease, emotionally and physically. Being a doctor is far greater than the title, the white coat, or the stethoscope we wear with pride. My favorite quote by Sir William Osler states, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.” These words have stayed with me since the very beginning. Simple, yet deeply meaningful, they have shaped the way I view medicine and continue to serve as a constant reminder of the kind of doctor I aspire to be.
Therefore, without warning, you are expected to be more. More responsible, more than a student but a lifelong learner, more aware, more human, and no one hands you a manual on how to do so. This is exactly why I started this series. I want to share with you my experience as someone who has walked this path before you, to open your eyes to the things I discovered with time, through trial, reflection, and observation. The things I wish someone had told me before and during the journey of medical school. I hope to make a positive impact on your journey and hopefully, help you navigate it with more clarity, confidence, compassion, and most importantly ethically.
Ethics in medicine is often discussed, yet rarely taught with the same structure or emphasis as subjects like pharmacology, anatomy, or physiology. Some students overlook it and others consider it secondary, a set of rules to memorize, tucked away in lectures or textbooks, distant from the reality of clinical practice. On the contrary, ethics is the foundation on which the entire profession rests, the heart of the medical practice. It guides not only how we treat patients, but also how we treat one another, how we communicate, and how we make decisions. Ethics is what transforms medical knowledge into proper, safe practice and compassionate care. Without ethics, medical knowledge remains incomplete. I aim to highlight that flourishing as a doctor means more than clinical excellence, it means maintaining integrity, empathy, and responsibility alongside knowledge and skill. It is important to understand that an ethical doctor was once an ethical student.
This journey toward becoming an ethical doctor begins on day one as a medical student. The secret is in the small, everyday choices, whether it is choosing honesty when it appears easier to hide a mistake, or helping a colleague when it is more convenient to focus only on ourselves. These small choices carry powerful consequences, and ultimately shape your moral compass and define the kind of doctor you will become. In this series, A Doctor’s Oath, I hope to explore these moments with you. Each article will reflect on real experiences, challenges, and ethical crossroads you will encounter as a medical student. Aiming to discuss what it truly means to uphold the highest standards and live by the principles of the medical profession; starting with understanding that the oath we take is not just words, but a commitment to live by.
Welcome to the beginning of your journey in medicine. Welcome to A Doctor’s Oath.
