What motivated you to be a doctor?

How was the experience of your first surgery?

These were some of the questions that students from many schools in the city, aspiring to become doctors, asked a group of practising doctors at an interaction on Friday.

One of the doctors told them that the first solo surgery comes many years after a surgeon has assisted seniors in the profession and has been trained well enough to take decisions in the operation theatre (OT).

The interaction was organised by Manipal Hospitals as part of their Doctors Day celebrations. National Doctors Day is celebrated every year on July 1 to honour legendary physician B.C. Roy.

Sweta Tiwari, a Class XII student of National High School for Girls at Deshapriya Park, asked the doctors on the panel what was their greatest motivation during the course.

Sweta said she aspired to be a doctor and would sit for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) next year.

“I did not have any hero while I was studying or when I sat for the entrance exam. However, as I became a doctor and started practising, the work itself started to motivate me. I think my daily work motivates me,” said Debraj Jash, head, pulmonology, Manipal Hospitals.

Debojyoti Biswas, a Class XI student of Birla High School for Boys, wanted to know the doctors’ first surgery experience.

Shubhayu Banerjee, consultant, general surgery, Manipal Hospitals, told Debojyoti that unlike what many think, a doctor would not do a solo surgery immediately after the passing the exam.

“The first solo surgery would come, may be 10 years after a doctor starts practising. By then, the doctor would have assisted or remained under supervision of senior surgeons. During this course of 10 years, the surgeon would have learnt what to do when,” he said.

Among the doctors present were P.K. Hazra, director, cardiology, Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria; Sanchila Talukdar, consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology; Banerjee and Jash.

An official of Manipal Hospitals said students from La Martiniere for Girls, BSS (Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan), South City International School, Don Bosco Park Circus, Shree Shikshayatan, Patha Bhawan, Birla High School, Sushila Birla High School, DPS Ruby Park, BDM International, National English School, Salt Lake Point School, IEM Public School, Saini International, Narayana School, and Young Horizon School participated in the event.

Arindam Banerjee, director of Manipal Hospitals, Salt Lake, spoke to students about the challenges and rewards of being a hospital administrator.