Dr Rabia MustasimInternational Training Fellow, Emergency Medicine
I was born in Lahore and my parents moved to Islamabad when I was just two months old. Since then I have lived and been raised in Islamabad, a city of mountains with an eye-catching views, known for its captivating beauty.
I have grown up with the urge to make a difference, to try and contribute something for the betterment of society. I guess the incident that helped me truly decide what I wanted to be was in October 2005 when an earthquake shook Pakistan. At that time I was in primary school. In the midst of so much suffering all I wanted was to help my people heal. The way our entire community stepped forward to help had a great impact on me. As a teenager, I took part in volunteer camps to help the wounded where we were taught how to give first aid, collect donations and organise help. There and then, I decided that I wanted to be a healer, a doctor, to be someone to bring ease in stressful times. That desire became my passion and I am lucky to be able to call my passion my profession.
Emergency medicine in Pakistan is a comparatively new field but without a doubt we have come a long way from where we started. I have just joined UHB’s International Training Fellowship Programme and for me, the biggest excitement is to experience how the NHS works. It is one of the largest and best healthcare systems in the world, especially in terms of treating patients with compassion and empathy. I’m looking forward to getting a chance to work at UHB under internationally-trained emergency medicine supervisors, with colleagues from all around the world, working together in a well-structured system. I believe it will definitely be a great learning curve and will take me closer to becoming the successful compassionate emergency physician I aspire to be.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have got this opportunity. It will allow me to broaden my vision and gather all these new experiences which will help me to develop my personality. It will help enhance my social and clinical skills. To be a part of UHB has been my dream.
Outside work, I have just started to settle in the UK; I am a proud and happy Pakistani who has lived all my life there. It might be too early for me to understand everything as I have a lot more to explore. But I can say I have found people here very kind and helpful. Also the UK has an inclusive diverse population coexisting in peace which I find very beautiful. Overall it's very peaceful which is very attractive to me as I love to read and write. Moreover I feel safe moving around on my own; the public transport is super comfy which makes life here a lot easier! I do miss Pakistani food because it's delicious but I am looking forward to trying and finding more places where I can eat.