If You Can Dream It

If you can dream it, you can do it……

Dear Colleagues,

As an International Medical Graduate, it is an honour for me to share with you my journey over the last three decades.

It was 1988, when I entered a prestigious medical school in western India. I was to be the first doctor in my family. I vividly remember tears of joy in both my parent’s eyes. It must not have been easy for them. A single earning parent, supporting a family of five, living in a one room apartment with communal facilities. It was a dream come true for them. A rather strict schooling in a local Catholic school run by German Jesuits must have played some part for sure. I smile as I recollect being punished for playing cricket, because the school wanted us to learn football, gymnastics, and athletics.

Medicine in India was taught the traditional way. Knowledge was power, and teachers were worshipped. I do not recollect anyone talking to me about communication skills or reflection or learning from significant events, but I could regurgitate about 10 causes of a mid-systolic murmur! 4 years of medical school followed by a year’s Internship culminated in a MBBS qualification. Like everyone else, I wanted to enter specialty training. There was no visible primary care or General practice in India. Orthopaedics was my first professional love. It was my desire to pursue further Orthopaedic training that brought me to Glasgow.

Like many oversees graduates, after the initial honeymoon period we experienced Culture Shock. We were missing our families, our friends, our culture, our food, it was a feeling of being a ‘fish outside the water’. Days of unhappiness and resentment overshadowed the several positives that were enriching our lives. Pursuing two careers one in Orthopaedics and one in Anaesthetics finally took its toll. Something had to change. That’s when I made the transition to General Practice.

In those days, GP training was flexible. It was possible to self-construct your own hospital rotation before entering the final GP registrar year. Working in Bridgeton, one of the most deprived constituencies in Glasgow made realise the true impact of deprivation and health inequalities. Interestingly GP training then embraced an apprenticeship model. MRCGP was an examination of excellence and not competence. GP training was an immensely positive experience for me, and it almost certainly fuelled my desire to become an educator.

As I began to submerge myself in the Scottish culture, I realised what a wonderful place Scotland is and how welcoming the locals are. Everyone loves to talk about the weather, but essentially you ignore it and get on with life. As I settled into my role as a GP partner in Broomhill in Glasgow, I was fortunate to experience a variety of educational roles such as being an appraiser, educational supervisor, Associate adviser, TPD, and latterly as Assistant GP Director and STB Chair. It was only a matter of time until I developed an interest in Differential attainment and IMG support. Developing the GPSTEP programme is one of my proudest achievements so far.

As I look back at my 25 years in Scotland, I pay tribute to all those fantastic role models and mentors that I had along the way. More than their inspirational qualities, it was the psychological safety that they offered, which allowed me to challenge my own boundaries. I am grateful to those peers who encouraged me at work and never treated me as an outsider, to the nurse who held my hand and supported me through my first job in Glasgow, to the supervisor who wanted to know me as a person and was interested in my career. I couldn’t have made a better choice than coming to Scotland!

It might sound cliché, but I couldn’t have progressed in my career without the support of my wife who is also my biggest critic! The kids have now flown the nest but are a constant source of joy and pride in our lives.

Walt Disney when asked about success said, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it’. The closest set of words I could find to describe the emotions I felt on being appointed as Lead Dean Director for Scotland. I thank Emma and Lindsay for entrusting me with this important responsibility. I cannot wait to play my part in the next phase of medical education and training in Scotland.

Nitin Gambhir Nitin.Gambhir@nhs.scot