Barbados Today : Young doc is top intern

Dr Èlan Howell is the 2020-2021 Intern of the Year at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

During a ceremony held in the boardroom of the QEH on Friday, she expressed gratitude to her seniors and her colleagues who accompanied her on the journey which she recalled included many long hours at work and sleepless nights.

“But it was worth it. Being a physician requires one to be selfless and it is so fulfilling. Standing here I am reminiscent of the long journey, yet rewarding it has been. Throughout my internship, I sadly experienced grief with today actually being the anniversary of my dad’s death.

“It was hard, but a strong support system, mental fortitude, and a stable foundation have proven to be the core of my success, despite the challenges I have faced. This award inspires me to work even harder. My advice to all upcoming doctors would honestly be to have a good work ethic, be efficient, be dedicated and committed to not only your patients but also your team members,” Dr Howell said.

She was joined by Dr Dario Nurse and Dr Melissa Brathwaite who were also rewarded for their outstanding performance in the internship programme.

QEH’s Director of Medical Services Dr Clyde Cave said while the three young doctors all demonstrated excellence and were easily the front runners for the title, selecting Intern of the Year was a challenging task this year for various reasons.
From left, Dr Dario Nurse, Dr Elan Howell and Dr Melissa Brathwaite

Dr Cave reminded the audience that Intern of the Year is awarded to the intern who embodies the best characteristics of a young doctor throughout the year-long stint. He said while academics play a major role in medicine, it is significant that persons beginning their career be team players. This quality plays a major role in the choosing of Intern of the Year.

Chief Operations Officer Louise Bobb told the doctors that while their internships have officially ended and they have achieved the goal of being medical professionals, their focus should now be on aspiring to be human beings who understand how to use their God-given talents and knowledge acquired during their mentorship sessions, to make a difference for their patients.

“It matters that you remember them as human beings. It matters that you are compassionate. It matters that you are polite to them. It matters that you give them the information that they ask for and the information that they have not asked for because you didn’t come here to buy shoes. You come here because either you are about to get sick, you are sick, or you don’t know what’s happening with you.

“You bring your family and friends with you and sometimes they are in a frenzy, sometimes a panic, and it is very unnerving and we cannot afford to add to that. You are now the ones carrying the baton, you have the support of your family, you are going to have the support of your supervisors and mentors here, of administration, and the other doctors and nurses are behind you. We are counting on you to keep the bar raised and continue to lift the name of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” Bobb said.

Source : Barbados Today