To be brave enough to venture; replacing Dr Aaron.. :)

Quite a number of people asked me, why did i leave UiTM? I have always been known to be a strong staunch supporter of the instituition. Therefore, my move this time had surprised many though it was not something unexpected. To them i looked like i was prepared to end my career with UiTM. I even had a phone call by a colleague of mine in USM Dr Rhendra just before he left for Hajj asking me, am i seriously moving? haha

Honestly, i myself thought i would end my career in UiTM. I was under the pension scheme and that was an early evidence of what i wanted in life. Our plans may change and Allah's will change too. I had a change of heart in the sense of i had to make the step. It was now or never because this is just about the time for me to make my decision.

Some might argue my future in UiTM was bright as i was seen to be one of those who was assumed to be interested in taking over the faculty leadership in the future. I can say this maybe true but we do have our priorities in life. What we would want to achieve can be different and the satisfaction factor differs from one to another. I could have persevered to be a professor or even the dean, but i know somehow that was never my goal. I do love to teach as it is in my blood. However, going private does not mean  i have to stop teaching as there are numerous available pathways of part time teaching.

Private practice is hard work as the wagers earned depends on how many patients we see everyday, in my case how many case I do. I did cover for locums now and then during my tenure in UiTM and it was an introduction of what private practice is about. It was not easy as most of the time we are alone in making our decisions. We have to be really sure what we do is the best of practice because suing a doctor or another is not uncommon. Sure it can be lucrative as charges per day can reach up to RM10K if we do the right type of cases. (on a good day provided no complicated cases during the day).The stress is different, public and private practice.

In private practice, independence is the word.Especially in Anaesthesia. You do things all by yourself and your skills will do the rest.Honestly it is all MOs daily work in the government setting. The cases that you see and do. Nothing to shout about in terms of complexity mostly.  I guess that's the reason why certain institution would want at least 5 years experience as a specialist before being allowed to join private hospitals. 

Insha Allah, from time to time perhaps i can reflect on private vs public practice in my coming entries. It would certainly be interesting to note the differences of attitude and work ethics being on the "dark" side. Being a doctor is noble to many and some may doubt of private practice doctors role in the medical world. I am sure we have our part in ensuring the best of care to patients but in a different viewpoint.