‘My life After GIS’ by Alumna Nina Pattabhiraman!
We were fortunate to have caught up with Alumna Nina Kriti Pattabhiraman (Class of 2013). Having graduated from the University of Leicester in 2018, Nina is currently working as an Emergency Medicine Trainee in West Yorkshire, UK. We spoke to Nina about her journey post GIS, as well as her experience of working on the frontline during the pandemic.
How did GIS prepare you for the journey beyond school?
GIS gave me a strong foundation that really helped me when I moved continents, away from my family, to pursue one of the most difficult professional courses. The diversity across the GIS community exposed me to different cultures, making it easier for me to acclimatise and assimilate to life in the UK.
Who or what inspired you to choose your selected field of study?
To be honest, there was no one specific person or event that led me to this career. I believe my grandfather wanted my mother to become a doctor but that was not her passion. Somehow, I felt the urge to fulfill his wish. I always knew that I wanted to follow science. I also enjoy taking up challenges: studying Medicine is probably one of the toughest things I have done, but I would not change that for anything else in the world now. I found a real calling for Emergency Medicine early on in my career and no other specialty gives me that buzz. The majority of my patients meet me on the worst day of their lives and if I can make even a small difference to them and/or their families, I have done my job and I am happy.
What do you remember most from your time at GIS?
I spent five wonderful years at GIS with so many memories to count. From getting involved in after school refugee teaching and Discovery Week trips, to almost burning down the chemistry lab, as Mr. Donaldson told my parents (It was one paper towel!) All in all, it was a part of my life I will never forget.
As a doctor, please share your thoughts about the current pandemic situation.
I have been very fortunate during the pandemic to have not yet caught COVID myself. I have worked at the Bradford Royal Infirmary through all the waves, splitting my time between the Emergency Department and the Medical/COVID wards. We have been one of the worst-hit hospitals, still having the highest number of inpatients in the region. Over a year in, I can confidently say I am comfortable treating COVID, but seeing my patients and their families suffer is still heartbreaking. I definitely did not sign up for working through a pandemic. Having said that, I would also like to admit that it has been a tremendous learning experience at so many levels. Being on the front line has been both stressful and rewarding.
What are the other key challenges that you face in this field and how do you overcome these challenges?
The long hours and night shifts definitely don’t make the field very attractive. While the pandemic has opened up a new mistrust in the medical profession, most people are extremely grateful for the work we do and that keeps us going. You meet some of the most incredible and strong people in this line of work, and those relationships alone can get you through some of the hardest times. There is something special about the friendships we have with each other and they end up becoming some of the strongest you have.
What advice would you give to the current GIS students who are interested in similar career choices?
Go for it! However, make sure you have a real passion for this vocation. Medicine is not just a career choice, it is a lifestyle. No other field outside healthcare will understand the long hours, constant learning, the emotional and physical toll it takes on a person. Nonetheless, if there is love and enthusiasm for it, it will be the best decision of your life. TV and movies show us as the most put-together action heroes, but in the real world for us in healthcare, the signs of a good shift are blood, sweat, tears and other bodily fluids (ours included). I honestly feel it is the most satisfying job in the world, but I just may be biased.
If you would like to thank anyone?
I have probably thanked my family hundreds of times over the past few years but it never feels enough. They’ve put up with phone calls at odd hours, my breakdowns over exams, and all my weird and wonderful stories since starting work (Sorry Ma!). Thank God for the time difference or else I wouldn’t have made the 4am drive home after work. Most definitely, to all my teachers who believed in me and helped me achieve my goals.
What is the next step for you?
I am taking a year out of full-time training to pursue a Leadership Fellow and help develop Emergency Medical training in my Deanery.
What do you miss about GIS, KL and Malaysia? The school will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year! What is your anniversary message to GIS?
I miss the food and the people back in KL and in this current heatwave in the UK, I miss the A/C classrooms at GIS! Congratulations on a fantastic 70 years of consistently developing the best of the best!
Thank you, Nina, for sharing your inspiring journey with us. To find out more about other inspiring Alumni stories, click here.
Do you have a story to share? We always love hearing from our GIS Alumni. Do get in touch if you would like to showcase your work. You can do this via Facebook or LinkedIn, or by emailing us at alumni@gardenschool.edu.my, because every story matters.