Anatomy Aunty: 'organ-ized' insights
Name : Munish Kumar Raizada
Birth Place: Narnaul , India
Academic Qualification: MBBS from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Maharashtra, India (1985 - 1990)
MD Neonatology from John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, United States (2003-2006)
MD Pediatrics Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York (2006-2008)
Languages you speak/write: English and Hindi
What do you do?
I am an attending neonatologist practicing in the Illinois, USA.
How was your initiation into Anatomy? Did it intimidate you? Or did you smash it hard?
When I got into medical school at MGIMS, Sewagram, Wardha, India, Anatomy was one of the three subjects we were taught in the first 18 months of the curriculum (called First MBBS at that time). The others were Physiology and Biochemistry. The horror story was in the air during those 15 days of the orientation camp that was held for all students in Gandhi Ashram. This 15-day orientation camp is meant to sensitize you to Gandhian philosophy and, as such, has nothing to do with your medical curriculum. After the camp, you are allotted a hostel room, and you start going to medical school, which is about 2-3 KM from the Ashram. Naturally, seniors also visit the Ashram during the camp, and medical teachers are also involved in conducting the camp.
In the first 18 months, out of these 3 subjects, Anatomy holds a distinct position. It is portrayed as a dreaded subject that you are somehow made to love. It is like a stepmother whom you are supposed to feel attached to. And if you are tardy in Anatomy, then you are considered a somewhat worthless soul.
Name the bone that got you hooked? And why?
Clavicle for its anatmocal simplicity.
Name the bone that gave you chills.
Humerus and many others
Muscle(s): How has been your experience with muscles? Tell us your love story or hate story.
The origin, insertion, and functions of various muscles were always perplexing. However, I liked the histology aspect of various organs and tissues.
Which system (e.g., CNS, Supex, Thorax) gave you most agonizing times and why?
Supex, Neck
Which system (eg CNS, Supex, Thorax) was easy on you?
Abdomen (mercifully)
Cranial Nerves: Which cranial nerve was most easy to handle?
Oculomotor nerve
Cranial Nerves: Which cranial nerve was most difficult to handle?
None in particular
Embryology: How is/was your partnership with this seemingly 'out of world' subject?
Somehow, embryology was easy for me, more so because of the book by Dr Indrajit Singh
Which books you read for Anatomy? Any likes and dislikes on them? Tell us your experiences.
Cunningham Anatomy - never got a handle on that. Grey's Anatomy was above my head!
BD Chaurasia's Anatomy made lives easier for mortals like us.
Dissection: Have you done it? How much? Were you a bystander or a jingoist when it came to handle dissection. Tell us all your feelings and thoughts on this. Let the world know!
The most challenging aspect of First MBBS was going to the dissection hall and spending time learning on the tables of cadavers. Formalin-stenched cadavers, our gloves, and aprons, and the toughness of Anatomy - God knows how med students survive!!
And from the dissection hall, we went directly to the mess for lunch (with that formalin smell still emanating from our aprons and body). This is how young adults are made into tough guys.
Some good and bad experiences with Anatomy aunty with your classmates/peers/ teachers or department? Unleash yourself here.
I remember one tall classmate of mine (who grew up to become a CTVS surgeon) roaming around with a femur from the hostel to classrooms. Do we call that Anato-philia or bono-philia? Well, he was a topper also. So, no comparion with lesser souls like us who were more into cricket and discussions!!
Who/what do you idolize in Anatomy? It could be a human or an instrument or a phenomenon. And why?
I think Anatomy, as such, looks boring, but when we started grasping the clinical aspects of anatomy, it made more sense, and my respect for Anatomy grew a bit!
We had Dr. J Anabalgan who used to teach us Anatomy. He was very popular among the students and taught us well. I came to know thorugh Dr. SP Kalantri's post that he left later on for GIPMER, Pondicherry.
What thing in Anatomy makes you wonder why/how come it is so?
Hiatal hernia.
Why spleen on left side
Best/memorable moment?
I will leave for some other time
If given a choice, what alternate career or subject or field would you have opted for?
Out of 3 subjects in 1st MBBS, I loved studying physiology and Biochemistry.
Finally, a Quote you relate to.
"Freedom is Never Free, and Liberty Is Never
Guaranteed".