Interview 1

M: Mila Therese Reyes
A: Dr. Alicia Cuento, Pediatrician

M: I’m interested in studying medicine. What can you tell me about it?

A: Oh, that’s so broad! [laughing]

M: Yeah.

A: Medicine is an art, it’s a science, it’s a…, you know it’s um– what is this… uh course uh– I mean, for anyone who truly wants to take it [sic] up medicine, it’s a choice that they make because of many reasons and uh [sic]. Like for me, really [sic] when I was young, I really wanted to be able to help in the, y’know, in treating people, caring people [sic].

M: Mhm.

A: Yeah. Uh what can I tell about– why I like it and what can I tell about it? It’s not– it’s not an exact science. There’s no 100 percent answer to everything. Y’know, it doesn’t mean to say you go to the doctor and the doctor knows uh exactly what to do.

M: Yeah.

A: Yeah. So, (inaudible) your mom can answer that. Yeah, it’s not an exact science. It’s a very good profession, of course, because there’s a lot of classes… But it’s not an easy field.

M: Okay, cool.

A: Yeah.

M: Um, how did you decide to pursue this career path?

A: How did I decide?

M: Yeah.

A: Well, I didn’t have any um, y’know, um… I did not have any other desire to do anything else but– y’know from a very young age, maybe around eleven or twelve, I really watned to be a doctor and it just– the desire grew stronger as I, y’know, as I got older. And I didn’t have like a choice between uh business or y’know art or…

M: How did– how did you decide that it’d be pediatrics and not like OB/GYN or something?

A: Oh, I just love children. For me it’s just uh so delightful to treat children.

M: I see.

A: Yeah. It’s not easy because um, y’know, um the chil– the child cannot usually say y’know a young child cannot usually really express how they feel as opposed to an adult --they can pinpoint exactly where is the pain or whats bothering them… Y’know a baby cannot tell you, a baby will just cry. That part is difficult.

M: So, are there any problems that you’ve encountered like while being a pediatrician?

A: Many, many problems! In what aspect? From what standpoint?

M: Maybe a patient’s I guess? Yeah.

A: Patients?

M: Yeah.

A: Well, like I said, like depending on the age of the patient… like the toddler or the infant [sic], they cannot express what’s bothering them – that’s one. You really have to be very sensitive… you really need to have a clinical eye in that sense. You really have to be very careful in assessing the patient’s condition and keeping a very good history. Of course in pediatrics, you’re not just dealing with the patient. You’re dealing with the parents, the grandparents, the whole family. Like take for example, with vaccines. We are all pro-vaccination. You’ll encounter a parent who are [sic] against vaccination. But that’s true with adults too. You already have a plan of treatment but sometimes if they come from a culture that believes in some other ways of treatment, it’s difficult.

M: Yeah, I see. Well, how do you balance your time…your work schedule with your family and then like SCC and other stuff?

A: You can do it. I mean, if you have the desire to be a good mom, a good doctor, and everything, it’ll put itself in order. I just feel that way. It’s not easy, it’s not easy for sure. But first comes God, second family, and third work. Like going to church on a Sunday I wanted to make sure if I’m on call I will go on a Saturday just to make sure that I can go to Mass. That’s always a priority. I don’t want to make an excuse “I’m so busy I cannot go to Mass,” unless it’s an emergency really [sic]… like close to a life and death situation…

M: You mentioned like being a good doctor. How do you define a good doctor?

A: I think if you’re focused on making the patient well, in all aspects, you have good bedside manners. I think that is it.…you're not thinking of monetary gain, you’re focused on making the patient well. Because some people, they think… going to medicine is going to make a lot of money. That’s why they get medicine, which is very wrong.

M: So, do you suggest I study medicine? Like, what do you think I should study or I could study that would be significant to other people?

A: It’s all up to you. It’s your desire, your passion. I don’t tell my kids what they should take up. I make them decide for their own because they’re more or less mature enough to know. Besides, if they’re undecided like some students, they stick [sic] and then, after one or two years, they make a decision. But I don’t tell them, “Oh, you go to nursing.” I haven’t done that. I was surprised they went into medicine because they’ve seen my schedule. So hectic… I really, really, really work hard. I remember *** calls back and forth, C-sections… They don’t even know That I slept in the van the whole night. When I go to the hospital, I stay there until the C-section is finished. Sometimes I have to go back again. A lot of sacrifices. A lot.

M: Since I am already interested in studying medicine, what do you suggest I read? Like books or sources to learn more about it?

A: To help in your decision? No. What is there to gain? It’s really what you feel like. Maybe when you start your pre-med or what, during that time you will probably have a better insight. You know, “Is this really for me?” I know that there are some are [sic] undecided becasue they want to but after a while they change their mind for some reason. But I think no one can answer that except you. Because it’s really you that will decide… Yeah, there are questions that you alone can answer, not even your parents.

M: Do you know of anybody, another person who I could also inteview about medicine?

A: You can interview my son if you want . You have to call him though.

M: Oh yeah, he’s a pediatrician too. I forgot.

A: Yeah. Well there are a few… Basically, Mila, you have to pray about it. You have to think… You still have your undergrad before you go to medicine so during that period of four years, I think you’ll have to look at it carefully and then decide… It is not easy. It’s pretty difficult. I mean, I gave up a lot… Some people say, “Oh, you’ll give up a lot of good time… time with friends and family…” You cannot join them because you have to be either on call or in the hospital. There were many times I had to give those things up. There’s a lot of things to give up. Very demanding of your time. And, of course, not to say [sic] you’ll have to study a lot.

M: Okay. I have one more question that is kind off of medicine but not really on the job itself… In our senior project, we have to do a mentorship component where you either take a class or work on an activity with your mentor or do something that’s related to medicine – or your topic of choice and my topic is medicine [sic]. So the question is, what kinds of places or activities do you recommend I do [sic] for the mentorship component?

A: Well, you see, the thing is I don’t go to the hospital anymore otherwise you can go with me go go [sic] make rounds. I don’t do that anymore. But the thing is you can always volunteer at the hospital… I think that’s easier way to go.

A: It’s very rewarding, very rewarding. That’s the thing. Once a child is sick and you’re able to make the hild better… sometimes it seems like theres no hop but somehow the child gets better. really its more than just satisfaction. You feel so much joy. It’s a different feeling from any other career. bc most of the careers are just mainly to make money, to be successful but this is a different kind of

M: It’s not your typical job?

A: No, it’s just a kind of reward.

M: So the most rewarding part is when your patients gets [sic] better? When it seems like all hope is lost pretty much?

A: Yeah, uhuh. Or when you make someone feel happier. Because sometimes it’s not physical, it’s emotional or mental. When you make that person feel better… it gives you a very good feeling.

M: Is there anything you dislike about being a doctor?

A: Well, of course, the hours… are bad.

M: Because you’re always on call, too?

A: Yeah, it can be anytime… You have to do a lot of sacrifice. You have to do a lot of self-denial… Also remember, some patients, even though you’ve done your best, your very best, you’ll find some patients not appreciative at all. So, you have to be ready for that… I feel like almost crying. I feel like so– you’ll feel so frustrated… The frustration factors sometimes if very high. Especially some…rich patients, they feel like you’re the doctor…just like a servant. Like they can do anything with you… Don’t expect to be appreciated all the time. That’s what I mean to say.