Name: Dr. Sumbul
Birthplace: Lucknow
Academic Qualification: MBBS, Rajshree Medical Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India (2014-2020)
MD Anatomy, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, India (2020-2023)
Languages you speak/write: English, Hindi, Urdu
What do you do?
I am working as a Senior Resident in the Department of Anatomy, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow.
How was your initiation into Anatomy? Did it intimidate you? Or did you smash it hard?
I was totally intimidated by it. I still remember my first anatomy class—I was spellbound. I felt so happy to be there and proud that I had fulfilled my dream of getting into medical school.
Name the bone that got you hooked? And why?
The femur was the bone that got me hooked. I found it comparatively simple to understand, and the interesting mnemonics for learning its muscular attachments made studying it both easy and fun.
Name the bone that gave you chills!
The clavicle was the very first bone we were taught, and honestly, I didn’t understand a thing. I remember feeling so lost and stressed—it was a tough start.
Muscle(s): How has been your experience with muscles? Tell us your love story or hate story.
I never really enjoyed learning the actions of muscles. I always found them confusing and hard to remember.
Which system (eg CNS, Supex, Thorax) gave you most agonizing times and why?
I might get judged for this, but to be honest, I never really liked the superior extremity. Even during my postgraduation, I pretty much ignored it. Most people find it the easiest to learn, but I’ve always had a thing against it.
Which system (eg CNS, Supex, Thorax) was easy on you?
In undergrad, I genuinely enjoyed studying the lower extremity. Interestingly, during my PG, I ended up mastering the head and neck.
Cranial Nerves: Which cranial nerve was most easy to handle?
That would be the hypoglossal nerve for me.
Cranial Nerves: Which cranial nerve was most difficult to handle?
Trigeminal nerve
Embryology: How is/was your partnership with this seemingly 'out of world' subject?
During my undergrad, I had absolutely no clue about embryology. However, during my postgrad years, I developed a strong grasp of the concepts.
Which books you read for Anatomy? Any likes and dislikes on them? Tell us your experiences
I read BDC and Vishram Singh Textbook of Human Anatomy.
The Vishram Singh textbook of human Anatomy is written in a simple and easy-to-understand way. It’s a very good book for MBBS examination point of view.
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!
I was never really scared of dissections. To me, it was just a part of being a good MBBS student and eventually a great clinician. I was always eager to learn and know everything. In undergrad, we had a limited number of cadavers. But when I started my postgrad, I spent almost 2.5 years doing hands-on cadaveric dissections. Now, I can open up any area in no time and identify every structure with ease.
Some good and bad experiences with Anatomy with your classmates/peers/ teachers or department? Unleash yourself here.
I was terrible at giving vivas. During my first professional anatomy viva, I remember making my examiner really angry because I couldn’t answer some of the questions properly.
Who/what do you idolize in Anatomy? It could be a human or an instrument or a phenomenon. And why?
As I mentioned earlier, I was really intimidated when I first stepped into medical college and attended my first anatomy class. I couldn’t help but admire the faculty. I never imagined I’d end up choosing anatomy for my postgrad. When I joined the department at my dream college, KGMU, I was truly inspired by the faculty here as well. It made me want to be as knowledgeable and impactful as they are.
What thing in Anatomy makes you wonder why/how come it is so?
It’s amazing how even the tiniest details, like the shape of a bone or the route a nerve takes, have such a huge impact on how our body functions.
Best/memorable moment?
The most memorable day for me was when I scored the highest marks in my first anatomy exam. Another memorable day was when I scored the highest marks in my MD final exam.
If given a choice, what alternate career or subject or field would you have opted for?
I often wonder which other subject I would have chosen if not anatomy, but honestly, I can never seem to find an answer to that. I’ve always approached every subject with the same enthusiasm and interest. However, I did find some subjects, like pharmacology and pediatrics, really difficult. If given a choice, I probably would have gone for a non-surgical clinical branch.
Finally, a Quote you relate to.
Anatomy is not just a science, it is the foundation of all medicine. – Henry Gray.
What else would you like to tell about yourself?
I approach every challenge with a drive to learn and grow, always aiming to improve and do my best.
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