Mustafa Rashid: my story

Abstract

thousands passing by on what seem to be very important missions. Or you spend your days camouflaged into the walls in an effort to stay out of the way. This fortunately was not my experience at the ROH. Mr Marcus Green brought the speciality to life, involving myself and my colleagues in every aspect of orthopaedics. It did not matter that I was just a medical student who had barely ever scrubbed. I was up there as first assistant bashing in total knees, whizzing around with an arthroscope and walloping out tired prostheses. I was there until the late evenings seeing the clinic patients and being enthusiastically shown what a ‘patella tap’ actually felt like. It is often just that one person who can inspire enough to fuel the long journey ahead. After becoming hooked on orthopaedics, I organised, with the help and support of the ROH, a medical elective at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore where my commitment to the speciality was affirmed. Working hard with the education department at the ROH, I developed my research skills, which was a catalyst for an intercalated BMSc in orthopaedic technology at the University of Dundee. I returned to Birmingham where I carried out my foundation years, which were heavily weighted in surgery. Alongside working, I spent every available opportunity to immerse myself in orthopaedic research back at the ROH. I am certain that it was these opportunities I was so lucky to receive, that enabled me to secure a run-through number in Edinburgh where I am currently training. I recognise that hard work and persistent motivation is essential to secure your chosen career path in life. However, it is equally important to recognise the value of those special units and mentors that help you realise your potential and provide guidance. Many of them do not even realise the merit they hold and without them, I could so easily have found myself in a life of obstetrics and gynaecology! (Figure 1) A Figure 1 A pathway for a career in T&O.