My mom won’t be home that weekend Since it was a Sunday, I told my dad that I needed to wake up early for work, so he should wake me up in the morning. My mom and dad have very different approaches to waking up their children. My mom’s appr…
Category: Oncology/Hematology
From strawberries to stethoscopes: lessons in humanity from a future oncologist
Every year, medical trainee hopefuls submit the dreaded personal statement. Most follow a familiar formula based on advice from mentors, peers, or online guides: “Don’t stick out,” “Tell a story about a patient,” and so on…
I’ve felt the pain of 3 generations of nicotine addiction
“Almost everyone I know has either quit” – my friend paused, “… or died.” She said the “or died” part with a bit more resignation than horror. We were having this conversation outside of our busy local pub a few week…
A heartfelt journey from oncology to the ER: How mentoring young doctors changed me
I have worked in clinical oncology in Pakistan. As an oncology physician, I was not supposed to interact with patients in the ER. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with recent medical graduates in an emergency medicine setting. This experience wa…
How lab values management can improve cancer testing and treatment
When it comes to medical breakthroughs, it can be a long journey between discovery and implementation. Implementing new technologies and therapies for patients is often hindered by slow adoption, inaccurate application, and delays caused by the rapid p…
I knew hospitals were not taking good care of doctors. But when I became a patient, I experienced it.
I have spent nearly half a century in the world of health care leadership, first in management and later as a consultant. Throughout my career, one of my most consistent observations has been that most health care organizations do not treat physicians …
What your clothes say about love and loss
I have an eye for finding beautiful clothes. Though I find jeans and shirts/kurtas comfortable, I’m not sure why I adore the shalwar kameez so much! Perhaps it’s because it’s my national dress, and I adore everything that connects me …
Forgiveness: Why it’s the hardest and most rewarding act of humanity
I believe in forgiveness and not hating anyone, no matter what. But, ultimately, we are all human. I believe in karma, and we should not hurt or push people to their limits so much that they become damaged beyond repair. I’ve seen cruel people en…
Why a visit to my old school brought tears of nostalgia and gratitude
I visited my school after many years. I enrolled in first grade in 1998 at age five and graduated from FSc Pre-Medical (12th grade) in 2011. After that, I started medical school in 2012, and since then, I haven’t returned to my school. It was one…
Why a visit to my old school brought tears of nostalgia and gratitude
I visited my school after many years. I enrolled in first grade in 1998 at age five and graduated from FSc Pre-Medical (12th grade) in 2011. After that, I started medical school in 2012, and since then, I haven’t returned to my school. It was one…
