Interview #3

Amita Raj

Abney

6^th Period

December 1, 2010

Interview #3: Dr. Keertini Kumar (Physician)

Type of interview: email

Name of person being interviewed: Keertini Kumar, MD

Occupation: Physician

Job title: Internal Medicine Physician

Place of business: Ocala, FL

Mailing address: 8618 SW 103rd Street Rd Ocala, FL 34481-7705

Phone number: (352) 304-8980

Email address: Tina3030@aol.com

1.      What college/university did you attend and what were you involved in?

What was your major?

Mysore University, India. MBBS Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. In India, the four years of undergraduate school prior to medical school is not required. It's a complicated system.

2.      What was your first job out of college?

Residency at UMDNJ-New Jersey Med School, Internal Medicine. I did not do any other jobs outside the work I did for my residency.

3.      What is your present job and how long have you been with it?  How long have you been in the field?

Internal Medicine Physician. Twenty years. I initially started with a group of physicians and then built up my own practice. I now have my own private clinic.

4.      What motivated you towards the field?

My father is a physician and watching him heal people motivated me towards this field.

5.      When did you know you wanted to move into your chosen career field?

At a very young age, when I was about 12 years old. I grew up around a family of physicians and I was very keen on emulating them.

6.      Did someone older (a parent, mentor, or friend) help guide you?

In my earlier days as a medical student, I got guidance from my father. Later on my husband, who is also a physician, guided me. We have both been able to learn from each other and have established a good practice together.

7.      What characteristics must you possess to be successful in your field?

Dedication, empathy, compassion to name a few. You must have a good knowledge of the subject. Also, if you are not passionate about what you learn the next 10 years will be extremely difficult for you.

8.      How did you hear about and acquire your current job?

I started to work in a group practice initially when I moved to Florida and now I have a solo practice.

9.      When you wake up in the morning, what do you look forward to most about your job?  What is your least favorite part?

I look forward to meeting my patients and helping them with their health issues. The least favorite part is the long hours I need to work, as it is physically and mentally exhausting. I also have two children (one in high school and one in college) and it is sometimes difficult to schedule all our activities and jobs so that everything runs smoothly.

10.  Do you plan to broaden your career experiences by changing, or do you plan to stay in the same field?

I like being an Internal Medicine Physician and plan to continue in the same field.

11.  What kinds of courses/activities do you suggest for someone want to pursue a similar career?

I would suggest the person to get a thorough knowledge of the biological sciences and volunteer at hospitals to get a feel for the environment and the nature of the job. Shadowing a doctor will also help learn about patient-physician interaction.

12.  What do you look for in a resume?

I would look for someone who has strong academics in the field and some experience. I would also look for volunteer activities related to the field.

13.  What is the greatest challenge about your job?

Working long hours

14.  What advice would you give an aspiring high school student?

To stay focused and work hard to achieve your goal. Always be passionate about your work.

                I have known Dr. Kumar for my whole life since she and my mother went to medical school together. I have often talked to her about the kind of work she does and she has been giving me good advice on how to be good prospect for medical school. She emphasizes the importance of a doctor-patient relationship because this is mainly what helps physicians establish their fields. If a doctor decides to move clinics, or establish his or her own practice, they are most likely to carry over the same patients. This is only completely successful when the patients like their doctors and believe they are doing all that they can to cure them. I appreciate the fact that Dr. Kumar has taken time out of her busy schedule to do this interview, and I know she will be valuable to me in the future!