Did You Miss our Webinar on Residency in Nigeria?
So guys,(ladies) on the 9th of May 2019, the EIM Women Physicians had a webinar with one of our amazing mentors, Dr. Tomi.
It was titled: “The Nigerian Residency Route: Possibilities, Strategies and Opportunities to Succeed”
I know what you’re thinking; you aren’t interested in residency training in Nigeria, so you don’t need this. You’re wrong, because Dr. Tomi simply finished work!
Here are a couple of testimonials from lady doctors who attended the session:
“Oh my God, Today was awesome! I have been confused for a while now but today’s session was an eye opener. Thank you Dr Jummy for creating this opportunity. Thank you Dr Tomi for showing us this light!”- Dr. T.L
“To those who missed today’s webinar because you probably aren’t interested in the Nigerian route, I regret to say that you missed a lot…The webinar was more than residency in Nigeria. Dr Tomi’s words were like words on marble for every lady doctor who aspires to be excellent. I’d implore you to contact Dr Jummy like a prodigal son who has repented from his ways for a sneak peek”- Dr. A
Because we love you, we’ve curated a couple of important ‘snapshots’ for you from Dr. Tomi’s session. Ready to dive in?
Snapshot 1: What’s Driving Your Choice of a Specialty?
You must be able to answer this question before starting your residency, but its okay to be unsure about what you want ab-initio. You are allowed to evolve as you journey. No specialty is inferior, or superior to another- so own your choice!
It’s not enough to make your career decisions based on admiration; you must study and weigh the dynamics of the admired path against your strengths and passions.
e.g. Dr. Tomi used to admire Radiology, and then Paediatrics but eventually chose Community Medicine because she was more suited to this specialty.
Once you’re decided on your specialty, know what is required of you per time. Would you want to be certified by the National/West African College (or both)? Which update courses do you need to attend? Have a clear timeline in mind and have a clear picture in mind on the kind of resident you want to be.
Snapshot 2: What’s Driving Your Desire to Do Residency in Nigeria?
You must have a ‘Why’.
Like Dr. Tomi said: “Why on earth would you want to do your residency in Nigeria?” If after careful consideration and for strong reasons you decide that the Nigerian path is your option, it is possible to stand out. Note that if you aren’t good in Nigeria, you won’t become automatically good in ‘saner climes’. The personal discipline, tenacity, and appropriate structures should be put in place, as this would help you compete globally. Regardless of what’s going on in your life behind the scenes, you’ll have to deliver at work- so have a proper structure in place. You might be a naturally ‘spontaneous’ individual, but you need to realize early enough that to become a smarter, higher version of yourself a structure has to be put in place. Spontaneity rarely leads to reproducible results.
Understand what your unique selling point is, and properly position yourself to be a thought leader in your field.
Snapshot 3: Mediocrity is Not An Option
You don’t need residency training to succeed, but if you’re going to do it, you’d better do it well!
As an African-trained physician, you must do everything possible to ensure that you stand out and can compete globally. Residency is self-directed learning so you should develop a plan for each posting. Having a Personal Development Plan per year of residency could keep you focused on your trajectory.
Use existing resources: question bank pools, Google Calendar to schedule your study time, and other activities. Set out time weekly or bi-weekly to search for global opportunities relevant to your field. In summary, build systems around your goals so as to be globally relevant. To become the woman you want to be, you can’t afford to be lazy.
Snapshot 4: Emotional Intelligence is Vital
Emotional intelligence and the proper ability to relate with people in your circle matters a lot. While deep friendships are possible during residency, that is not the major purpose of residency. However, you need to be able to read people properly and exude empathy at required times. Emotional intelligence also helps you to understand specific seasons and key into opportunities per time. You need to be ‘seen’ to be excellent- so serve visibly in your place of assignment.
In a Nutshell:
You can tell from these snapshots that we had an impactful, empowering session with Dr. Tomi!
What’s Next?
Rumor has it that the EIM Women Physicians’ Network would be hosting a relaxed mentoring session on the 16th of May with an in-house consultant psychiatrist titled “The Pursuit of Excellence in Medicine, Dealing with the Anxiety and Pressure; Coping Strategies.” You don’t want to be caught slipping and forget this session? Register here to join this session for ambitious female doctors. Schedule it on your Google Calendar here.
See you next time on EIM Snapshots!
