My white coat

Recently, I shared a post on Facebook and Instagram that read, 

"I no longer wear scrubs every day. Instead, I get to put on my white coat.

This white coat represents my commitment to medicine, to my patients, and to my community. It symbolises all my hard work and sacrifices over the years. Donning this white coat is a privilege. one I don't take lightly. It reminds me how extraordinary a journey I am on, a demanding, humbling, and rewarding one. My white coat is proof that my dreams are finally coming true.

There's something surreal about this whole experience. I feel that I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I know there is a still a long road to go. 

I am grateful to every patient that has allowed me take their history and perform a physical examination because with each one, I am beginning to feel more comfortable and confident doing so. There is a LOT that I still don't know, and in the ever-changing field of medicine, there will always be something new for me to learn. Eager to see what takeaways next week has in store..."

The post was shared with this picture of me wearing my white coat at consultations.

I wanted to share this message again because it could not be truer. Every time I put on my white coat, it is truly an honour. 

Today, as I presented a patient with discharge papers to go home, the words of this post resonated with me. I took a moment to compare the patient that now sat in front of me with the patient I first examined when admitting him to the ward. I reflected on how he improved with each day of his hospitalisation. Having seen him through his recovery, I felt a sense of accomplishment, and I thought this is why I wanted to be a doctor - to help patients get better.  

I hope I never lose that feeling as a physician. I know that there will be good days and bad days. There will be straightforward cases, and there will be cases that you just can't quite figure out. But no matter how challenging this job gets, I never want to lose sight of the one reason why I have always wanted to be a doctor: to make a difference.