I am an artist with a passion for medicine ingrained in me deep from childhood. Sanobar Shariff, a 21-year-old Indian student of the Faculty of General Medicine of Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, tells about her love towards the noblest profession – medicine.
The intricacies of the human body always fascinated her, and this admiration played a crucial role in making the professional choice in favor of medicine. “I’ve represented India on many international forums of global art in Korea, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. I have worked with the newspaper “Times of India” as a student-journalist. I’ve always had the passion to be on camera, speaking of which – I am fortunate to be a part of the “Humori Liga” show on “ShantTv”. My mentor Dr. Rahul Sethi bestowed this prestigious opportunity to appear on Armenian national television for which I am ever grateful. An outgoing person, I like to make friends with people from different backgrounds”, Sanobar says. She has also been a National level debater representing her school in India on eccentric forums. “Getting into medical school was one of my biggest dreams. Medicine is one of the toughest but single handedly the most interesting course there is, according to me. My father inspired me, and my mother supported me all through the decision making process of choosing medicine. The human body baffles me, its systematic yet discrete parameters are mind boggling. A doctor is the most selfless being who dedicates his/her life for service. It takes a lot of courage to attempt a “task” of such magnitude, and that is what we are trying to learn and imbibe in this Medical University”, Sanobar emphasizes.
Telling about why she decided to get medical education in Armenia and especially at YSMU, the Indian girl says: “While I was doing my research and shortlisting universities, Armenia stood out because of its safety for women and also its amazing landscapes. Who wouldn’t want to study in a natural paradise? YSMU has high credence and rankings and is known for its world class education. Each student in YSMU gets necessary attention from the observant faculty making it easier to clear doubts and grasp concepts. So, hence it was a natural choice”.
Referring to which sphere is she planning to work as a doctor in, Sanobar notes sincerely: “The mystery of the dark matter of the brain intrigues me, hence, Neurology would be my first choice in the set of specialties. Since everything in a human body is controlled by the brain, it makes it all the more interesting to figure out the pathways and patterns linked to the brain. In that way every disease can be resolved by fixing its center in the brain”. She has also been interested in Cardiology since heart and vascular problems are the biggest “killers” in the world. “I’ve got few more years to decide”, Sanobar adds.
Speaking about Armenia, the Indian student emphasizes that Armenians are proud of their culture and heritage, and they have all reason to be. “The very first country to have accepted Christianity, it is known to be the place where Noah’s ark landed. Their language – Hayeren – is rich with history, and it was a delight to learn it. The Armenian people are warm and welcoming, this is very important for an international student to feel home. Armenia, surely, does feel like my second home. Armenia is a beautiful country with breathtaking sights mixed with modernity; it’s an honor to study in this fantastic country”, Sanobar says happily, adding she would love to stay and work in Armenia but she also wants to explore many other countries. “My dream is to provide medical care to people who don’t have access to basic humanitarian aid. As medicine is a noble profession, I’d like to impart wellness in underprivileged countries. Before that, I’d like to serve my country, India, as there is a huge shortage of doctors according to the population”, she expresses her anxiety.
A doctor’s main mission, Sanobar continues, is to treat the person, not the disease. “Today as medicine gets more and more commercialized, humanity becomes the most important virtue in a doctor along with compassion. The mission of a doctor is to ensure the overall wellbeing of their patients. Doctors shouldn’t order unnecessary tests or procedures just for the monetary gain of the hospitals. They should try to reduce the burden of the patient instead of increasing it with lofty bills. A good doctor looks at the clues and signs in front of him and comes up with the correct diagnosis which provides relief to the patient”, she emphasizes.
For a successful career, Sanobar thinks, a doctor should be well versed and up to date with all the important information regarding his/ her practice. “A doctor should critically analyze the patient’s symptoms while also regarding their feelings. A doctor is the one people turn to when they are severely or medically distressed, and it is our job to listen, empathize and ease their sufferings. A doctor should also learn to differentiate between knowledge and wisdom. With the quality of skills we are nurturing at the University, I’m sure all of us will turn out to be phenomenal doctors”, the Indian student concludes, expressing her gratitude to their respected YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan, their beloved Dean of International students Gayane Avetisyan, Head of Career center Khachatur Margaryan and their dynamic Vice dean Mary Mkhitaryan, as well as her Armenian language teacher Nelly Yeghiaryan for all the opportunities they graciously provided.
Author: Tatevik Ghazaryan