You do not necessarily have to walk down the road everyone takes. If you do so, you won't end up anywhere different. You can always try something new; who knows what fate has in store for you?
My journey started in Green road in a middle class family with my father being a police detective with strong work ethics, integrity and honesty. He had strong influence in my life through Govt. Lab school, Dhaka college, SSMC and in the USA. He taught me that any job and assignment, no matter how small it is, can be done better with compassion and perfection.
In 1983, I was an intern under Kabir sir in surgery unit. He was such an amicable person. In addition to his surgical skills, he introduced me to research and presentation on vascular diseases in Bangladesh. That brewing interest in research led to admission in Master’s program in the USA for higher education. With strong background in medicine from SSMC coupled with research and knowledge I finished my masters in Biological Sciences. Later, I decided to go to clinical medicine due to lack of opportunity in basic sciences. After a financial struggle of 7 years, I was able to get into residency program in Family Medicine in Ohio in 1992. I furthered my education with special training in Diabetes and Obesity during my career in Family Medicine in last 32 years.
Diabetes and obesity are neuroendocrine behavioral diseases. I recognize how the basic knowledge from teachers from SSMC helped me understand this complex disease. Anatomy of brain by Dr. Aleem, physiology from Dr. Kader and numerous other teachers from SSMC contributed to my evolution as an Obesity Medicine physician.
In the USA, two in every three individuals have problems with overweight/obesity. In Bangladesh, about 25% of population has obesity. Increase in obesity leads to increase in Type 2 Diabetes. Increasing use of processed food, fast food restaurants, lack of exercise and inadequate treatment of obesity lead to epidemic of diabetes and obesity.
We were taught to diagnose a disease and write prescription as treatment. This way of treatment is becoming obsolete. Instead, educating and activating patients to start nutritional, behavioral changes with appropriate medication provides better treatment for obesity, diabetes and CVD. In some cases, there were remissions of diabetes and reduction or discontinuation of some chronic medications.
Although I live abroad, Bangladesh still remains in my heart. I enjoy watching live cricket games and I am a Bangladesh cricket fan! Go tigers! I also enjoy our rich Bangla songs during my long drive to work. We Bengalis, who live abroad, miss our country to such an extent, that it can hardly be described in words.
My advice for the freshman at SSMC would be to acquire a strong basic knowledge and training in medicine. Practice medicine with compassion and “Do No Harm”. Never be afraid to go against the flow. And always listen to your heart, and what you learned from your parents and SSMC! Hope for improvement lies into believing in “glass is half full, not half empty”!
