My Idols in Medicine

American Idol and all that junk is just bullshit. Not one person in any of the shows I can make an idol of. Mebe Simon for bein loose with his tongue.

List of Drs I've encountered or heard of that I wish to emulate. No names will be mentioned tho you may be able to guess a few:

• Handsome, macho, cool, kind, keeps his team together, encourage open discussions, does what he does because he likes doing it (Peds Surgeon)
• Straight forward. Disciplined. "Wrong." (Colorectal Surgeon)
  
• Encourages doctors to be courteous at all times (Vascular Surgeon)
• Encourages to think and put yourself in a patient's shoes. "What if the patient is your mother? your sister? [man?]" (Upper GI Surgeon/Hepatobiliary Surgeon)
• Invites students to sit and discuss cases (Peds Surgeon)
• Stays kiddy and silly while being professional at the same time (Pediatrician)
• Good handwriting and documentation (O&G)
• Passion to teach, finds students to teach even tho it should be the other way round (O&G, fertility)
  
• Professional and courteous, never forcing a patient against his will (IM, chest team)
• Strive to be the best and attach to students with passion to teach while finding time to watch Anime and TV series (Ortho, Hand Surgeon)
• Encourage students to perform research (Ortho, Arthroplastic Surgeon)
• Encourage Islamic conducts, ethics, and revival of Islamic scholarship and publication (Anesthesiologist)
• Cool, calm, macho (ENT)
• Encourage self confidence, and strive to be the best, as well as perform research (2 opthalmologist)
• Goes back to the community and sacrifice time to help them (Family Medicine)
• Skillful, patient first attitude, couldn't give a damn about hospital policy (Cardiosurgeon, Team Medical Dragon, Peds Surgeon, Saijou No Meii [The Best Skilled Surgeon])
• Other countless Islamic physicians of old and other non-Muslims who dedicated their life for the pursuit of knowledge not only in medicine but in other areas of ilm without knowing the meaning of 'holiday'
  

Some quotes that stuck with me:

• Attitude, attitude, attitude, knowledge
• "Regardless of where you are (be posted) it is you who will make the difference for yourself."
• "Practice - Waking up early."
• "Cover your ass"
• "I have research, commitment to the community, a family, teaching you all. What do you have? And still you sleep."
• "Wrong."
• "Hey! Who do you think you are making me look like a stupid fool! You have to have ethics!"
• "When you see yourself look good, you look good."

I'm sure there's more but these are some I could think of now.

Other stuff:

I just read a bit about Imam Syafie. Despite memorizing the Al-Muwatta kitab, he still traveled and lived with Imam Malik, the writer of the book. By living with his teacher, not only did he learn direct from his but also indirectly by observing his habits and emulating them.

Lessons:

- Don't be arrogant even if you have all the knowledge in the world. because there are still things you don't know and need someone to teach.
- Have an idol and emulate the good things you see in him. Don't be too content with who you are right now.
- When you want something, especially knowledge, you need to sacrifice some of the things in life. Imam Syafie travelled from Mecca to Madinah to find and live with Imam Malik (mind you dulu takde kereta or bus) and he was from Ghazza, Palestine.

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Travel

I've only finished the second chapter of Muhammad Asad's Road to Mecca when I felt this inspiration to see the world. The late Mr Asad, raised ina Jewish family (granddad wasa Jewish tho I dont remember what they called it) converted to Islam and traveled to the sandy desert East where Islam originated, in the heart of the land where nothing is the only thing that should be available.

Lemme tell you I dont usually read autobiographies. I always had this preconception that autobios were boring except fictions that are made up into autobios (tho I think a lot of the celebrity autobios are mostly made up them fakers [then again ima faker too]).

But reading Asad's journey from his lavish upbringing in Poland to hardship in Germany in attempting to become a top journalist and then ending up as a Muslim and braving desert storm while almost dying as a result made me feel like Im in his shoes. Like Im there. Traveling. And Mr Asad never forgets to comment on his thoughts during his adventure, and of his prevailing society and culture at the time.

He is a lucky man to have not only seen alot but to be inspired by it, to have thought as he traveled.

It's only when u get out of ur comfort zone then you realize how much more there is beyond. Mr Asad made me regret that during my travels in the last (how old am I?) I did not observe, learn, ponder as much as I should as I go (went).

"If water stands motionless in a pool it grows stale and muddy, but when it moves and flows it becomes clearer..."

This was one of the quotes I obtain from his book. It does ring a certain wisdom init. Tho in my case im still stale and muddy even as I move. I did not see what should be clear, that eveything is everywhere! If only I opened my eyes...

I, like Asad, am relatively lucky as well to be able to travel.

Some of the places ive been to (not in any particular order):

• Malaysia: All states except Perlis
  
• Singapore
• Indonesia: Jakarta, Yogjakarta
• Australia: Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast
  
• USA: New York, Florida, Washington DC, St Louis
• Saudi Arabia: Jeddah, Madinah, Mecca
• Japan (ni x kira mase kicik)

Not many places but still relatively lucky compared to others who's never even been out of the state (ok that MIGHT be an exaggeration).

Despite having been to alot of places, I regret that I did not assimilate enough from each of these places (tho perhaps I did), did not learn languages culture history people (perhaps I did tho very little), did not ponder (perhaps I did, after years Ive came back).

Pfft, I dont need to go that far to learn I suppose. There's still alot in KL that I have yet to venture, still more in Bukit Damansara that I have not yet seen, and alot more in my own garden...

Have I not noticed how beautiful the flowers growing in the garden are? Red, determined. The papaya and pine trees that used to be in front is not there anymore? The shrub that I used to jump over when I just learned to jump is not there anymore? Garden replaced by unused pipes and taps for...???

And then there are books like those of Asad's where you can travel by not traveling. Like virtual reality in your own mind, imagining words read come to life or at least as close to it as possible. If all that's considered traveling, then Ive been to Libya, Turkey, USA so many times, Afghanistan, Germany, UK, Coruscant, Correlia, the Outer Rim, Tatooine, Dominaria, Middle Earth and mane2 ta.. And there's the Internet.

Many places Ive been (INI PON KO KATE BANYAK?).

Yet infinitely soooooooooo many more to see.

I gotta get out more. I gotta SEE more.

Really SEE.

FEEL.

GROW.

Anybody wanna grow feel see with me? Help Wanted.

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