r/PinoyAskMeAnything • u/ExtremePurple1860 • 17d ago
Student Life & Campus Experiences I graduated from INTARMED. AMA!
For context, INTARMED (Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine) is a seven-year accelerated medical curriculum offered by the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM).
Before entering INTARMED, I studied at a science high school. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to pursue medicine at the time. In fact, my dream degree program was Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. However, when I learned that I had been selected for INTARMED, I decided to pursue medicine instead.
The early years of the program were really challenging for me, and I stayed mainly because I thought it would be a waste to leave. I only started to genuinely enjoy medicine when we began our hospital duties.
When I finally rotated through Internal Medicine during my clerkship, I realized that I wanted to pursue a subspecialty under it. Another reason I chose this specialization was that we have a family history of diseases associated with it. Having that career path in mind kept me going. I pursued residency right after topping the PLE.
This year, I completed my residency and passed the PSBIM. However, I’m currently on maternity leave. This is actually the first time in many years that I’ve finally been able to take a break from studying and working in the hospital. My baby is asleep right now, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to do an AMA!
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u/befullyalive888 17d ago
Congratulations! What is one instance u can remember how life humbled u?
Do u want ur child to take the same path u took?
All the best in ur motherhood journey. Continue to be kind & gentle with urself.
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u/ExtremePurple1860 17d ago edited 6d ago
What is one instance u can remember how life humbled u?
There were many instances throughout this career path that humbled me, but I would say that UP itself humbled me in ways I never expected. Naramdaman ko siya first year pa lang, and things only became more challenging as I stayed in the institution. From difficult lecture exams to toxic hospital duties, UP has humbled me a lot.
Do u want ur child to take the same path u took?
Honestly, I don’t want her to go through the same struggles I experienced. But if she genuinely wants to pursue medicine, then I would support her. Maybe I would just ask her several times if sigurado ba siya, knowing how difficult this path can be. More than anything, I want to make sure that she chooses this career because she is passionate about it, not because she feels pressured to do so. I want her to have the freedom to choose her own path.
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u/meikolena 16d ago
How was the environment being with fellow INTARMED students(I assume most are from Pisay) and what are some misconceptions about being in INTARMED?
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u/ExtremePurple1860 16d ago edited 16d ago
How was the environment being with fellow INTARMED students?
Overall, I feel like everybody is just a normal student. Like any other group of students, we still hung out, helped each other through group studies, and supported one another through the more challenging parts of the program. We ranted and cried together whenever things got overwhelming.
What are some misconceptions about being in INTARMED?
Maybe one misconception is that we don't have a life outside medicine. You still have the option to branch out, participate in extracurricular activities, and meet people from other programs.
Another common misconception is that you're missing out on the "full" college experience because you're in an accelerated program. However, I think it ultimately depends on how you choose to spend your time and what you consider a "full" college experience. You can still make friends outside your program, join organizations, and enjoy activities unrelated to academics.
As I've been reiterating, we're just like normal students. We have our own interests, hobbies, and lives outside school. We aren't all gifted kids like Sheldon Cooper. 😅
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u/ishiguro_kaz 16d ago
How do you feel towards UP med graduates who choose to work abroad rather than serve the country?
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u/Revolutionary_Bed430 16d ago
hi congrats! as a fellow iskolar from a different campus, curious ako do intarmed students still participate in the UP Org life? How are the orgs/frats/soros? Where you a part of one?
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u/ExtremePurple1860 16d ago
Yes, you can still join various student organizations as an INTARMED student. You can even join organizations unrelated to medicine. I used to join student organizations as well!
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u/tofufairy_ 16d ago
Have you ever held any bias against fellow doctors who did not graduate from UPCM?
How has your experience been working on duty with them?
What is your perception of doctors who graduated from medical schools like FEU-NRMF, San Beda, or UERM?
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u/ExtremePurple1860 16d ago edited 16d ago
Have you ever held any bias against fellow doctors who did not graduate from UPCM?
I have a high level of respect for everyone, regardless of whether they graduated from UPCM or not. I’ve had several consultants who weren’t UPCM graduates, and I didn’t see any difference in that regard.
Maybe the only time I felt a bit awkward was when I first met colleagues from other medical schools during internship and residency. I wouldn’t deny that I initially felt more comfortable with my UPCM classmates simply because they were the people I already knew and had been around for years. It was only natural for me to feel closer to them at first. However, it had nothing to do with looking down on graduates from other medical schools. Eventually, I also became closer to my colleagues from other schools as we spent more time working together.
How has your experience been working on duty with them?
People have different personalities, regardless of where they graduated from. Of course, there have been great experiences and good days. However, I wouldn’t deny that there are also toxic experiences in the hospital. Unfortunately, that is part of the reality of working in this field. I don’t think these experiences are exclusive to graduates of any particular medical school.
What is your perception of doctors who graduated from medical schools like FEU-NRMF, San Beda, or UERM?
I don’t judge someone based on the medical school they graduated from. I judge my colleagues based on their individual performance, regardless of where they came from. I’m not the type of person who would fall into the logical fallacy of assuming that just because one person behaves a certain way, everyone from the same school must be the same.
This mindset applies not only to medicine but also to other aspects of my life. If I judge someone, it is because of their own actions. I don’t automatically extend that judgment to other people who happen to share the same background.
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u/Affectionate_Pie_376 16d ago
Hi, doc! What are the advantages and disadvantages of INTARMED grads over those from the traditional pre-med + med grads?
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u/ExtremePurple1860 16d ago
Of course, the main advantage is that you get to become a doctor in a shorter period. However, the main disadvantage is that you don’t really have a fallback plan if you decide to leave the program. That’s why, if you want to pursue an accelerated medical program, you should really assess whether becoming a doctor is what you want. You have to reflect on whether you genuinely see yourself pursuing medicine or if you’re simply drawn to the prestige of being part of an accelerated medical program. If it’s the latter, then I suggest you think twice before committing to it.
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u/allanon322 16d ago
Thank you for sharing and for the very well thought out and very well expressed replies. My daughter just passed on intarmed for this very reason. But she chose a course in CAMP instead and I pray she will always be content with her choice.
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u/Droo103013 16d ago
Baliktad naman tayo, my dream is to be a neurologist but now I’m a chemical engineer by profession 😂
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u/Potential-Air-2117 16d ago
Hi OP! Also a recent UPM grad here. Would like to hear your stance on RSA bilang nabanggit mo na rin siya here. Me personally as someone na 6 years, it’s probably out of fear na magbabayad ako why I kept going lol.
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u/ExtremePurple1860 16d ago
I have mixed feelings about the RSA. I understand the intention behind it, especially considering that we received our medical education from a state university. I also believe that serving the country is important. However, I think an RSA becomes horrendous when it operates within a system that fails to provide healthcare workers with the working conditions, compensation, and support they deserve.
We are expected to stay in the Philippines and serve our fellow Filipinos, but what happens when the very system we are expected to serve fails to take care of us? We cannot keep telling healthcare workers that they have a moral obligation to serve the country without also acknowledging the country's responsibility to take care of them. There should also be meaningful incentives and working conditions that make staying in the Philippines a viable and fulfilling career choice.
I understand why the RSA exists, and I am not against the idea of giving back to the country. However, I believe that service should be encouraged by a system that makes healthcare workers want to stay, not one that makes them afraid to leave. If we want more healthcare workers to serve Filipinos, then we should also work toward a healthcare system that allows them to serve without having to sacrifice their own well-being and future in the process.
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u/xcotto0 16d ago
Hello! Curious if this was a planned pregnancy or if you had a personal timeline for yourself as a doctor and then as a mother. What support do you have for being both?
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u/ExtremePurple1860 16d ago
My pregnancy was unplanned. Right after finishing my residency, I was actually supposed to start my fellowship this year. I even had a personal timeline of finishing my fellowship before turning 30. Obviously, that didn’t happen.
Right now, I’m just enjoying motherhood. My baby has truly been a blessing because of the many lessons she has taught me. One of them is that it’s okay to slow down. Looking back, I don’t even know why I felt like I had to rush through everything in the first place. 😅
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u/xcotto0 16d ago
I love this takeaway and insight! I only asked because I know how rigorous your programme is and then suddenly- BABY! But honestly you have been working so hard. This is a great time to slow down and focus on another part of your life. Good luck and wishing you and baby lots of happiness.
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u/plumpohlily 16d ago
Bakit yung mga nakakasalamuha kong galing İNTARMED, medyo weird or may pagkamember within the spectrum? Or judgmental lang ako?
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u/NarrowBoysenberry 17d ago
Why did you choose to have a kid when you're just basically starting your career?
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u/ExtremePurple1860 17d ago
My child was honestly unexpected, and I actually made a confession post about it a few days ago.
Note: I didn’t include this in my story because it’s something that people shouldn’t follow as an example. However, I thought sharing this might help people realize that I’m not necessarily the role model they think I am. 😅
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u/qualityvote2 17d ago edited 16d ago
u/ExtremePurple1860, there weren't enough votes to determine the quality of your post...