Patch Adams became famous for doing ward rounds, dressing as a clown, and bringing joy to children. Like Patch Adams, modern doctors can use creative ways to positively impact their patients.
Dr Amran Dhillon is a rural GP Anaesthetist/Specialist Anaesthetic Trainee with a passion for the health and wellbeing of doctors. He showcases his passion in a unique way: dancing.
With idols like Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, Dr Dhillon grew up dancing. His passion for helping others led him down the path of medicine, and now he wants to talk to Medworld about the health and wellbeing of the profession.
‘Medicine is extremely challenging. The workforce can present several other challenges. Junior and senior doctors are constantly faced with long hours, intensive training, and exam requirements.’
Instead of turning a blind eye to the wellbeing issues junior doctors face, Dr Dhillon wants to do something about them. Dr Dhillon’s eyes were opened to the conditions junior doctors face when he was working in an isolated location.
“There was one experience I encountered working in an isolated area where conditions were sub-optimal for many reasons. Also, hearing stories of how others have struggled has made me more passionate about my leadership and advocacy roles. I will always remain a strong voice and help improve junior doctor welfare.”
This experience prompted Dr Dhillon to set up Media Doctors AU with Dr. Kelly Champane, a project to help create awareness around health matters, including wellbeing.
“In my opinion, when it comes to doctor wellbeing, Australia is leading the way. As more dynamic doctors evolve, we will continue to see more changes that result in workforce conditions improving, and this will help improve junior doctors' wellbeing.”
Dr Dhillon and his team at Media Doctors AU are dancing to create awareness.
“I grew up dancing. I learned from my cousins, Janet Jackson, Usher, and Justin Timberlake. I started when I was 8 years old, at about the same time I learned to play tennis. My mother is from the Philippines, and my father is from India originally. Both of these cultures love dancing. When I was 17, I decided to audition for a talent agency in Melbourne. Since then, I have been involved in a few dance crews and have competed in some hip hop competitions. I continued till the internship, but then I got tired of doing "shift swaps," so I quit. Many years on, I have rediscovered this passion and it really helps me to recharge and refocus for work.”
The first video created by Dr Dhillon and his crew has had 42,000 views and has been shared 120 times.
Dr Dhillon believes in attending to his own health and wellbeing, so that he can practice better medicine.
“It is such a rewarding job to be a doctor. We are in a unique position to make a difference in people's lives in their most vulnerable times. If we are healthy, supported, and well-rested, it benefits everyone.”
Media Doctors Australia’s next video is going to be a tribute to a not-for-profit company Ranges Rescue who has been making scrubs for healthcare workers. Dr Dhillon describes it as ‘my way of paying it forward.’
