Graduates throwing their caps in the air after receiving their degrees on Tuesday. PHOTO: EXPRESS
It was a moment of great joy and pride for MBBS graduates who were awarded degrees after five years of intense study and rigorous training as well as years of waiting on Tuesday.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal awarded degrees to 136 MBBS graduates who qualified in 2007, 2008 and 2009 at the first convocation of Islamabad Medical and Dental College (IMDC) held at Jinnah Convention Centre. A total of 16 gold medals were awarded to graduates.
Dr Nimra Tehzib and Dr Rameez Ahmed Mughal bagged three gold medals and received a huge round of applause from the audience.
“I’m speechless, I do not have words to express my happiness or what these medals mean to me,” said Mughal.
Dr Waqas Zafar, 25, who had bagged two gold medals, one in biochemistry and the other in Otolaryngology (Ear Nose Throat), said, “It is like a dream come true, I have no words to express my joy.”
Talking to The Express Tribune, Zafar said he faced many challenges during these five years but at the end of the day his struggles paid off.
“Many times I felt like I would not be able to complete my MBBS, but some of my teachers really supported and motivated me.” He was hopeful he would to continue work with the same passion and determination to make his mark in medicine.
Another achiever was Dr Rana Ejaz, a resident of Lahore who had won a gold medal in Ophthalmology. “It’s the most memorable day of my life as I’ll be taking a gold medal home. Though it was not easy for me to live away from my family but my determination to achieve my goals kept me going.
Ejaz plans to specialise in general surgery as she believes that very few women opt for it.
Speaking on the occasion, Iqbal said the medical profession is a lifelong mission to serve humanity.
“It’s a sacred profession and students who opt to become doctors should understand its worth.”
Pakistan is facing challenges like terrorism and extremism, but we have to move forward and fight against people who are trying to spread hatred, he added.
IMDC Managing Director Yasir Niazi said, “For faculty members, students and parents it is more than just a dream come true.”
IMDC was recognised by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council in 2007 and is affiliated with Bahria University, Islamabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2014.
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