CHARMIE DUNGCA ARRIBE, MD
LEADERSHIP
REFLECTION PAPER 1
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July 10, 2015
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My Defining Moment.
Everyday can be a "defining moment" to an individual, depending on how he views his day or better yet learns from it. As I ponder in silence to recall a defining moment in my life, Iexperience my defining moments in crisis, tragedies and opportunities.
On my becoming a doctor:
I recall when I was just a PT intern I witnessed my Grandfather (whom we fondly called Tatang) collapse. As I check his breathing and pulses, I couldn't feel a breath nor a pulse! Panic was the first feeling that came in me but as my grandmother and mother are watching me react, I have to be strong for them (but deep down inside my heart is breaking for I know that Tatang is suffering a heart attack and possibly a stroke). I witnessed Tatang urinate on his pants and give a deep breath as if it was his last. I performed a one-man CPR and thankfully Tatang was revived and eventually rushed to the hospital. He suffered hemiplegia and aphasia (half body paralysis and not able to do expressive communication or talking but he can comprehend). This one event help me lead my family through a difficult trial. It is also one of the reasons why I studied to become a physician.
On my becoming a Pediatrician:
When I passed my Physicians' Licensure Exam, I knew I had to become a specialist but what kind, I was not sure. I took the interest to becoming a Neurologist because I had encountered neuro cases in my PT internship so I applied to becoming one. I was inspired by Dean Romeo Enriquez and he said that he can endorse me to take training at UST where he took his own, so I filed an application to neurology at UST. Just then St. Luke's had opened a neuro-straight program where I only had to finish 2 years of Internal Medicine (where it normally took 3-4years) then straight to Neurology Fellowship and when I applied I was accepted. Then came the grueling challenges of internal medicine, the no-sleeping, long-hours of duties, and the taxing demands of consultants, not to mention I was a newby of Quezon City (I grew up in Angeles City all my life.) I was assigned to Kidney Transplant and I knew nothing of what they are asking of me then, I took it I needed to know this to move to my Neurology Fellowship but my heart was not happy at all, I asked if they place me in Neurology rotation I might be I "inspired" to pursue and so they did. It was in my watch when I can vividly recall that FPJ was admitted to the neuro-ICU and I witnessed all his challenges until he passed away, and there I decided Neurology might not be for me. I shifted to Pediatrics after almost 2 months in internal medicine, in my interview for pediatrics residency they asked why I shifted from one difficult department to another difficult one (because "shifters" go from a difficult to a not-so-difficult department), I recalled I said that I was up for the challenge (I hope) and that I said "I can take it if a child vomits on me, it's because he is sick. When an adult vomits on me because he was drunk/drugged, can I take it?" When children are sick, they did not chose to become sick it happens to them, but adults get sick because they smoke, drink alcohol, eat not-so-healthy foods they don't exercise and other array of choices. And so I trained to become a pediatrician.
On choosing where I will serve:
I was trained to be a pediatrician at St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City (SLMCQC) and right after we graduate, we are privileged to hold clinics at their Medical Arts Building without initially investing. I grabbed that perk to clinic without investment in a heartbeat. So 2008, I became a medical staff at SLMCQC which also was the time that I got married and was pregnant. My career and family life was growing and I was blessed and content. This set up was good until the challenges of motherhood set in and priorities needed to be defined. This was a crossroad for me, which one should I mother first? My firstborn child or my budding career? For every Filipino women, this was a no-brainer, I chose to exclusively breastfeed my child so my career in SLMC had to take a back seat. I went back to Pampanga and then God blessed me with another work opportunity at TMC-Angeles.
SLMC and TMC are known to be good competitors in healthcare service (so you can imagine how torn I was in the beginning). When I applied to The Medical City that was one of the questions they threw at me: "how do you feel that you are applying to the other side?" I told them I was scared as I don't know how similar or different the disciplines would be. But I am applying because I wanted an institution with structure and right now TMC is logistically possible."
I was questioned by some of my mentors in SLMC-QC as to where my loyalty was? This question was pitched to me at the elevator so I was praying so hard that I utter the right answer,the Holy Spirit placed the words on my mouth and I said "My loyalty will and always be to…… my patients!" and my mentors left the elevator seemingly satisfied with my response. One VERY defining moment to me.
On my becoming a Department Chair:
Being a leader of a group is no longer new to me, since I was in elementary I was elected to positions like class Public Relations Officer (PRO), club secretary, Junior Assembly PRO (it was my grade school student body representatives). In high school I was also often a PRO of our class (was it because I was blessed with a gift of communication and diplomacy? Or I was friendly and talkative?) I ran for the student council and won as secretary when I was in senior high. In my collegiate and medschool years more often than not I will still be a group leader. It was these years that I was elected to presidency and vice presidency positions already (probably because I had the chance to showcase my talents in my chosen field). Being a leader is humbling and sometimes frustrating especially if most of the subordinates or groupmates you get are not that cooperative that you have to do most task. I resented being a leader when groupmates are "dependent". I was most of the time stressed to do all the work to be done and not relying nor empowering my groupmates so as to avoid conflicts, though I know that it was a possible formula for disaster. Through the years of being a leader, these experiences honed my patience, judgment, anddiscernment. As I applied to be a member of the department of pediatrics at then The Medical City Angeles, I was offered the position of Department representative. I had to write an application why I wanted the position and had to undergo series of interviews from the medical director/CEO and a panel of credentialing team at The Medical City Ortigas. As a final interview we were then requested to meet with the gamechanger of TMC Ortigas Dr. Bengzon, he asked me why I deserve the position (I actually wanted to say that "I was asked to become head so I just did") so I answered him that I may not be a very experienced pediatrician-leader yet (that time my practice was just 3-4 years old!) but my willingness to learn and my being a dynamic person might just be the right formula for a start- up hospital. His next question was "what is your deep dark secret that you want to share to the group?" I answered: " a secret is called a secret that is why I cannot reveal it," and I smiled(praying that I don't really have to think of one secret I cannot even recall or share at that). Then I was officially assigned the representative of TMC angeles' Department of Pediatrics. I am afraid though that when I took the position that veteran doctors might judge the "inexperienced" me but I took the challenge head on. Until this present time I am still equipping myself with the knowledge and expertise in being in the administrative side of healthcare, hence I decided to take up further studies.
Leadership is an art and it is the individual's experiences that shape him how he will and may lead. It still teaches mehow to understand, to persevere, to be benevolent and to behumility to this day.
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." –Timothy 4:12
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