“Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.” (John Kotter) My medical school batch graduated in August 2005 and settled into respective residency interest in Civil Hospital Karachi that was the time I was waiting for my immigration to United States, It was expected in November 2005 so I decided not to waste my time and join Internal Medicine/ Psychiatry rotation. It was an exciting timing in our lives; we were enjoying the work we love most, treating patients and helping the suffered ones.
I had an interview call in early November at American Embassy in another city, as I came back to my city I received a terrifying phone call from a close friend that one of our mutual friend Dr. Yusra is in ICU. I was shocked to hear the news; on reaching the hospital I came to know that the doctors failed to diagnose her condition. On asking her relatives I come to know Yusra had been complaining of fever and vomiting since a week, but the doctors failed to relieve her symptoms and she finally ended in an ICU on a respirator. I decided to investigate the things, and the reality I revealed really shacked my attitudes towards fair medical practice. Moreover, I was really shocked about administration’s unwillingness to help the doctor who worked in their hospital.
As a result of doctor’s malpractice and administration neglect my friend died of dengue fever which she got from a patient of our hospital. The problem was that administration did nothing to help her in any context. I mean that administration didn’t help her either financially or morally. And she died neglected and ignored. I felt I was really furious with such situation and, being a natural leader, I realized that it was my duty to gather the doctors of the hospital and to go on the strike. Our striking team was divided into two directions: the first group went on strike before administration, and the second group decided to go to national TV and to describe the situation to make the public aware of such malpractice and unfairness. I managed to organize and to lead the team to make the hospital administration to pay, but it would not bring to life a wonderful doctor and person.
However, the case of Yusra helped me to reveal my leadership qualities and to strengthen my character. Now I am sure that I have to practice improve my skills to become effective leader. In modern world it is necessary to become effective leader to succeed in professional life and to ensure better future. Only strong-willed, hard-working and shrewd people may become really effective leaders. Leadership doesn’t mean to tell what to do; leadership is the ability to inspire the team, to see what they are capable of and to help the team to work coherently and harmoniously. That is the conclusion I have come across in the case.
