Fijian doctor's dream to make a difference
Growing up in rural Western Fiji, Dr Kalpana Nath had just one plan: to become a medical doctor. “Becoming a doctor was the only dream I had,” she said.
““Becoming a doctor was the only dream I had.””
The 2022 Mika Ah Kuoi Fiji Master of Emergency Medicine (MEM) Award recipient was the first medical doctor to graduate from Sigatoka. She said, “I am the first doctor from that school – it was a challenging journey.”
Her passion for emergency medicine developed after working with high-acuity and trauma patients in one of Fiji’s largest health centres, just outside the centre of Suva.
“I really like the initial part of patient management and stabilisation that comes with emergency care,” she said. “You are doing things that make a difference. There is an adrenaline rush that drives you, and a satisfaction that comes from stabilising a patient, providing the right treatment, and being able to transfer them for ongoing management.”
Her interest in emergency medicine was galvanised after working alongside early graduates of the MEM program. “I got inspired by them,” she said. “I was like, oh my God, they’re doing amazing work and that’s what I want to do.”
“I thought if I really wanted to learn the right way to provide emergency care, I needed to go into the [MEM] program and learn from the experts. At the time, only two people could get into the program each year, so I had to really fight for it.”
But the fight wasn’t over yet. Once she was in the program, COVID-19 hit, and the Fiji borders closed. Arrangements between the university and the local hospital were restricted and the MEM program moved to a hybrid model. “You cannot learn emergency medicine just online,” said Kalpana. “Emergency medicine is very hands on, so it was hard not having the face-to-face.”
““Receiving this award is a reminder that nothing is impossible, with hard work and a bit of sacrifice.””
Next, Kalpana’s research project, which focused on the efficacy and usage of the South African Triage tool in Suva’s Colonial War Memorial Hospital, was also affected by COVID-19 restrictions. An initial focus on retrieval needed to be abandoned. She said, “At one point I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish my research because the data collection was becoming impossible.”
Luckily, she was able to finish it, receiving the award that her close friend, Dr Anuraag Sharma, won in 2020. “Being recognised among those people who have already received it – they are great doctors and honestly, I feel very honoured that my name can also be a part of that list,” she said. “Receiving this award is a reminder that nothing is impossible, with hard work and a bit of sacrifice.”
Kalpana is now in her first year of two years of required supervision and has applied to work at a hospital in Adelaide.
She recommends the MEM to anyone excited about emergency medicine. “Emergency medicine is a passion,” she said. “If you love it, you should do the high level of study.”
““I still feel as though there is so much to learn, and this is part of the journey.””
“You can learn a lot on the floor, but I grew so much from the course – not just as a clinician, but as a person. You evolve your thinking, develop managerial skills, and are better able to deal with difficult situations. Learning from experienced specialists shows you a different side to emergency medicine. I still feel as though there is so much to learn, and this is part of the journey.”
The Mika Ah Kuoi Fiji Masters of Emergency Medicine Award is named in honour of Dr Mika Ah Kuoi, in acknowledgement of his courage, humour, talent, leadership, drive, and compassion – all essential qualities of an emergency physician. Dr Ah Kuoi tragically died while enrolled in the Masters of Emergency Medicine program at Fiji National University and would have graduated with the first cohort of students in 2016.
The Fiji Masters of Emergency Medicine Award consists of a medal and educational materials up to the value of AUD $500. Kalpana was presented with her medal at an awards ceremony in August 2023.
