Panel Beaten to a Practitioner: A Mechanic’s Perspective on Medical Education

In 2013, I desired to be a mechanic’s apprentice. A few days in, I learned that mechanics work with other car specialists—the AC guys, the electrical guys, the interior guys, the diagnostic guys, and the bodywork guys, whom we all called panel beaters. Theirs was the most fascinating to me because I had crashed my parents’ cars in the past. My favourite panel beaters were those at Mr. Monday’s Workshop.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does strive to do the deeds…..

Theodore Roosevelt

So, I always watched closely when we visited them on an outside job. These panel beaters, like all, kept at one particular side of the car until they saw perfection, which most times were hours after the rest of us thought the job was done.

Retrospectively, now that I have my MBBS degree; I can refer to medical school as a panel beater. We come in requiring different levels of jobs, from the little bumper work to a full post-head-on collision job. For some jobs, it is the process of releasing the squeezed-in metal that allows you to appreciate the beauty of the car. Medical school empowers the release of squeezed-in potentials—to become not only medical students but also teachers, artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, politicians, philanthropists, singers, playwrights, fashion designers, and so on.

Reflecting on my journey, I take pride in having served in more than 16 leadership roles, spearheading initiatives such as the ABUAD Medical Students Association’s inaugural Mentorship Program, Mental Health Program, Book Club (“Thoth’s Haven”), History Book (“Her History, Our Extant Experience”), and Entrepreneurship Registry. I’ve fostered numerous collaborations, including partnerships with the Africa Public Health Student Network Program and Lecturio….

But the beating doesn’t stop until medical school is done; it doesn’t stop over the weekend. It stops when perfection is achieved, just like at Mr. Monday’s.

So for those coming in, Welcome to Beating Class 101. This isn’t to dissuade you. Like Roosevelt said, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls whom neither knows victory nor defeat.”

During my “beatings”, I’ve learned lessons that can be applied in and out of lecture rooms, in and out of hospitals. I’ve lost my religion, cursed out God, begged for some arbitrary forgiveness, found love and lost love, and enjoyed the love of friends, and the attention of foes. I fell in love with one of the true loves of my life—helping people. You can read up on my work with medical students in my various student leadership roles.

Reflecting on my journey, I take pride in having served in more than 16 leadership roles, spearheading initiatives such as the ABUAD Medical Students Association’s inaugural Mentorship Program, Mental Health Program, Book Club (“Thoth’s Haven”), History Book (“Her History, Our Extant Experience”), and Entrepreneurship Registry. I’ve fostered numerous collaborations, including partnerships with the Africa Public Health Student Network Program and Lecturio. I also engaged in community outreach and volunteered with the Nigerian Health Insurance Authority. I successfully balanced a variety of extracurricular activities, honed my medical skills through hospital internships, and performed excellently in my final professional examinations.

I had my share of successes and wrongly labelled failures (success is the ability to move on from a failure), and like Cardi B, I did get up 10. In the end, I have earned what some may refer to as, an impressive résumé and quite a handful of skills.

Woven with passion, perseverance, and progress, my journey to becoming a medical doctor crafted a mosaic of experiences. Every encounter, challenge, and triumph has contributed to shaping the person I am today.

During my “beatings”, I’ve learned lessons that can be applied in and out of lecture rooms, in and out of hospitals. I’ve lost my religion, cursed out God, begged for some arbitrary forgiveness, found love and lost love, and enjoyed the love of friends, and the attention of foes.

It was with gratitude in my heart, that I stood proudly before God, Hippocrates, cherished family, supportive friends, past loves, esteemed colleagues, and even those who doubted and took my oath. In that collective presence, I have embarked on a new chapter, ready to make a meaningful impact in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Health Systems Strengthening, and Governance.

If you’re reading this seeking a clear sign about whether medical school is the right path for you, you won’t find it here. However, I assure you that, if you feel called to pursue this journey and are willing to embrace its beatings, you’ll undergo a transformative experience. You’ll come to realize that those who choose this path are rarely ever just medical students. The beatings unlock the latent potential within them. Each step of the way, you’ll discover new facets of your abilities and passions, shaping you into a person better than one, you thought you were becoming. And if you’re here already, Theodore Roosevelt isn’t here to say it, but I am saying to you every day and twice on Mondays: “The credit belongs to you who is actually in the arena, your place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Dr. Adeemabua W. C. Ikpade II