An afternoon with Prof N

I can't believe how much i learned. and it's nothing about what i expected.

Prof N is a young prof, undertaking and overseeing multiple research projects, with many global projects and publications under his belt. He is referred to by most other cardiologists on the wards for atypical/more complicated cases. All the cardiologists are really really knowledgable, but he is particularly good when it comes to rather complicated cases. and he really likes those.

So, an afternoon in his clinic, i expected to learn something academically interesting. Some rare thing. Some unexplainable thing that would need his referral. Like a 'House' moment.

How wrong was i.

i still learned a lot, but not all those. it's more on the human touch of stuff.

it's the little things he does that makes him such a 'nice' doctor to patients.

things like shifting the table to the side so that it doesn't come in between him and the patients.

standing up and welcoming them in with a great warm smile and chuckle and a real firm handshake. Being relaxed while talking to them yet not brush off their little anxieties. Really putting himself into their shoes and think on behalf instead of just 'shoo, shoo, i'm a busy man'.How he bothered to listen to an elderly man go on a rant about his family and actually empathised with him deeply (even after the patient left the room), or explain really well that somebody's pain was really not a heart attack. And even to students, he was really really nice. Not the 'put you on the spot' kinda consultant, or those who just can't be bothered. He made sure we knew what was going on, and was extremely extremely friendly.

after all, like it or not,medicine has its limits. and probably, in his ongoing pursuit of medical knowledge, prof realised that deeply. leaving him to really give as much emphasis to the things that are limitless - love and human touch. Because sometimes, in fact a lot of times, there's really nothing to offer as a high and mighty consultant, but much more to offer as a fellow human being, just being there to listen and care.

It was strange to hear him say 'I'm sorry, there's really nothing we can do about your breathlessness' or 'I'm sorry, your symptoms will not improve, we can try and control it, but it will get worse'. It just felt so weird. The man you turn to for questions when it comes to medicine, even as a student, being helpless. Hearing him saying all that was really really strange. But it brings you back to reality. the limited medicine.