CAREER PLANNING FOR YOUNG PSYCHIATRISTS- CONTACT IPS

After several years of complaining to all the high and mighty about the dearth of mentoring opportunities for young Psychiatrist, I was completely thrilled that Dr Vishal Reddy took up this task and formulated a CME based on it. I heartily congratulate Vishal and the other Editors on bringing out this book.

This book is a collection of the material presented in the CME. I think the cover is quite apt, and the 'wings' look really nice. Does the orange-yellow colour scheme suggest 'burning ambition to succeed'? Also the the teasing statement 'what you dont learn at college' is very apppropriate. The book is 170 pages and enables reading in one day.  The initial write-ups provide with an adequate and appropriate introduction.  

Most of the chapters are on careers in specialty psychiatry. The Chapters titled ‘Mastering the Art of Private Practice’, ‘Balancing academics with practice of psychiatry’, ‘Beyond Money!’ are very good and practically helpful. The chapter ‘Gender issues’ seems to have missed the point.  Overall, the book succeeds in providing guidance to young psychiatrists on important matters. 

I hope this will only be the first edition, and the beginning of an initiative which grows larger. Psychiatry is among the best professions and provides a most needed service to the community. By providing directions to the new crop of Psychiatrists and helping them survive, Psychiatry will survive.

In the next edition, I would expect a survey/ study of the common difficulties faced by young Psychiatrists and the means used to deal with them. I want someone to write honestly and practically about the career prospects and concerns of women Psychiatrists. (For now, I recommend Dr Syyeda Ruksheda’s article, on this topic). I wish we could set up a careers  cell in IPS, which helps psychiatrists find jobs and assignments. I also wish we could have some mentor-groups, who help youngsters settle into their profession.

 I would say, this initiative is not only innovative but also a very noble one. The contributors seem to have honestly shared all things they know, and this is a remarkable feature in the context of competitiveness and somewhat selfish nature of most doctors (I am sorry, but it is true).

I would recommend this book as a useful (not necessary) reading for any young Indian Psychiatrist. I cannot comment on how you can get your hands on a copy; though I have planned to give mine for display in the library of KEM Hospital, Mumbai. I don’t know if the IPS will be making this compilation widely available. At least they could put it on their website.