Whenever I think of ShSMC, I can see the flaming gulmohar in front of the iconic architecture of Louis Kahn, the mysteriously beautiful campus and one of the most memorable places of my life. It gave me the identity of a physician, allowed me to think out of box and inspired me to follow my crazy dreams to be a public health researcher since 2nd year of medical life. I am privileged to get the best teachers of that time, best classmates, best juniors and undoubtedly the best acknowledgement of being the first batch student of a newly formed government medical college. I fell several times academically, struggled to cope up and every time I got someone from this ground as a friend or a faculty to hold my hands to support & encourage me to stand up again.
What a beautiful time I passed! Organizing first ever “Bengali New year” celebration, floor-stage decoration, travelling to attend a debate competition accompanied by the head of the department of Anatomy, wining competitions such as (individually) National Award from the Ministry of Forestry and (collectively) “Best Medical College Award” from the National Debate Federation of Bangladesh and many more, establishing the ShSMC Debate Club (ShSMCDC) as the founder president, participating in TV debates, representing ShSMC as a regular radio jockey in Radio Today FM 89.6, presenting in different national & international platforms and receiving accolades. I feel excited to think during the first cultural week of ShSMC, I received the cultural champion (male) award.
Professionally I joined icddr,b just after the day of completion of internship and since then exploring the thrilling world of public health. Now I am studying Global Mental Health at the Kings College London & London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine by receiving the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship. After completing MBBS, I did a master’s in Public Health-Epidemiology from American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) with highest academic recognition from the President of Government Republic of Bangladesh and setting up a record of receiving all the major academic awards including Chancellors Gold medal, Vice-Chancellors Gold Medal (best thesis of the year) and Summa Cum Laude. I also did a diploma in disaster management from Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka with highest CGPA in 2016. Last year I have started a new journey as a post-grad faculty and got the opportunity to teach some ShSMC graduates as my students of master’s in public health at AIUB. I always feel humbled to think of the moments when I got chances to represent ShSMC & Bangladesh and talked as a youth ambassador in global platforms in different countries in front of Nobel Laureates, renowned scientists and high-level policy makers. I feel immense pleasure to remember my early days as a student-researcher and my learning phases during 4th to 5th year of my medical life in Thailand, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and India.
I want to express my gratitude to Prof Fatema Ashraf, Prof Ridwanur Rahman, Prof Mujibur Rahman, Prof Mahmuda Chowdhury, Prof Farhana Dewan, Prof Tamanna Begum, Prof Qamrul Akter Sanju, Prof Sufia khatoon, Prof Ismail khan, Prof Shahidul Islam and Prof Mahmudul Hasan Khokon Sir to support, inspire and help me to explore funding to attend conferences and preparing posters/ oral presentations. I can clearly remember the day when Prof Mahmuda Chowdhury mam herself edited and revised my first abstract. My first scientific poster was prepared on the template of Prof Tamanna mam and my first oral presentation was given in front of medicine department of ShSMC.
During this whole learning phase I have tried to help and structurally mentored fellow juniors from our beloved medical college by different methods including social media-based approach, face to face training, supporting to establish IFMSA-Bangladesh, arranging the first ever multi-continental conference “I Love my heart” at ShSMC & career guidance. ShSMC initiated a strong movement nationally to promote undergraduate research and I am proud to be a small part of this ambitious dream. When I see my beloved juniors of ShSMC are working in collaboration with other medical colleges, presenting in global health forums, establishing partnership with CME, WHO-Bangladesh I feel content and secure. I believe the most beautiful part of my ShSMC life lies in these relationships within & beyond my own batch and I believe some ties will be carried out till to the end of my life.
I found my life partner from this ground and we are parent of one kid now. She, in a true sense shaped my focusing and gave the driving force of what I am doing now. I am dreaming for effective engagement of ShSMC youth in strategic solution with appropriate collaboration both nationally and internationally emphasizing on achieving clinical & research excellence, contribute in health policy, modernizing medical curriculum and sustainable development issues focusing on solving complex health problems in Bangladesh and beyond.
