DOCTOR’S PROFILE: Dr Mehdiyah Manji

Since my medical school radiology rotation, I found radiology to be an interesting puzzle solving like specialty – that motivated me! You can imagine getting to see and identify human organs, interesting!

Esther: Thank you so much Dr Manji for finding time to have this interview. Our audience would like to know more about you. Could you please share about your early life, education and career?

Who is Dr Manji?

I’m Dr Mehdiyah Manji, a radiologist by profession. I schooled in Tanzania – Attained my degree in Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University – Moshi. I later went to do my Masters is Radio-diagnosis and Intervention in Alexandria University – Egypt.

Motivation

Dr Manji: Since I was at a young age, I just wanted to become a doctor and help humanity. And my graduation was honestly just a dream come true!

Esther: Wow, congratulations for fulfilling your dream. Why did you choose Radiology and not other fields such as Public Health or Nursing?

Dr Manji: Since my medical school radiology rotation, I found radiology to be an interesting puzzle solving like specialty – that motivated me! You can imagine getting to see and identify human organs, interesting!

Esther: What do you like most about practising Radiology and why?

Dr Manji: Radiology is fun – everyday you come across new cases and solve them like quizzes and puzzles – it’s challenging but nice!

Esther: Interesting! I’m starting to envy your career! Anyway, moving on, what is the major thing you would want to accomplish in your medical career?

Dr Manji: I definitely would want to be a better and better radiologist and help clinicians in diagnosis to aid better and faster treatment for patients.

Visualizing my Radiology Education

No one starts perfect, everyday is a step towards learning and knowing more. Today I may be better than yesterday and tomorrow hopefully better than today. The important thing is to never stop learning and learning from your mistakes.

Esther: Sure thing, which other medical field would you want to pursue and why?

Dr Manji: Ophthalmology – I always found the eye as a very fascinating organ!

Working together for better patients’ outcome

Esther: I would also want to believe so! How do you collaborate with other primary healthcare providers in your line of duty to ensure the patient gets the best medical attention? 

Dr Manji: I liaise with colleagues from different specialties, attend CMEs, tumor board meetings etc to ensure we discuss the cases in the best of the patients interest.

Esther: That’s a god teamwork! And how do you approach diagnoses and treatments for patients?

Dr Manji: As a radiologist, I mainly deal with diagnoses of patients. Management is done by other clinicians and we liaise and discuss cases with them and fellow radiologists, we also attend tumor board meetings to be able to give our inputs. This way we are able to give a wholesome approach to diagnoses and management for different patients with different scenarios.

Esther: Awesome! What is your philosophy with medicine and treating patients?

Dr Manji: Sickness acknowledged is sickness half treated – Your warmth as a doctor has more healing power, so be kind and compassionate to the patient – that makes the whole difference!

Let’s get to know you more

Esther: Your philosophy by word just heals! How have you been able to handle work-related stress and time management considering that you’re balancing between family/individual and work?

Dr Manji: It is definitely a challenge to balance between work and family but it’s all about priorities. It only became easier when I learnt to prioritize for the moment.

Esther: I can imagine the situation. What do you do for fun?

Dr Manji: Mostly, I spend time with my family for fun, either going for an outing or travelling to nearby nature rich areas.

Esther: Amazing. What aspects of practising Radiology do you find challenging and why? Have you been able to solve them?

Dr Manji: The fact that radiology is very vast and you can get any diagnosis at any time, it makes it a very difficult specialty. Everyday is a new learning experience, we continue to put more effort.

Esther: What have you achieved in your career course?

Dr Manji: I am new to my career and still learning so much as the days pass by. Hopefully every moment is a learning experience and I can make the difference to the health care system by being of aid in Making the correct diagnosis.

Esther: Wow, great! What are the experiences working with sick people?

Dr Manji: Being a soft hearted person, working with very sick people was a challenge in the beginning but I have learnt to cope with it and with radiology I am more of dealing with images rather than the patient, and that makes it easier for me.

Let’s talk Radiology in deeper insights

Esther: What excites you about Radiology in general?

Dr Manji: Radiology is very exciting. You see the inner side of the people, haha that’s just a joke. But like I said earlier, every day is a new experience -new cases, new diagnoses. This makes radiology exciting and challenging at the same time.

Esther: Haha! Very interesting. Do you keep yourself updated with current trends?

Dr Manji: Yes I try my best to read current studies, liasing to discuss cases with fellow radiologists, we also attend tumor board meetings to be able to give our inputs.

Esther: What challenges do you feel doctors are facing today?

Dr Manji: Doctors’ main challenge I feel is the stress that comes from work environments and not being able to rest it enough, either due to the working hours or just the hospital environment which can make someone feel mentally and physically worn out.

Esther: How do you think these challenges should be addressed?

Dr Manji: The first step is to hear them out. Because everyone may be facing a different issue. Thereafter, concerning the working hours we can have better working hours allowing for enough rest and creating groups who do some fun stress relieving activities for the health care workers.

Esther: You recently completed your POCUS Training, what benefits will this add into your career?

Dr Manji: Pocus was an advantageous way of learning ultrasound in settings where you can actually make a quick diagnosis and save a life with that skill

The future of healthcare

Esther: Where do you see Kenya in terms of Healthcare in years to come?

Dr Manji: Kenya has always been ahead of many other countries in terms of its medical facilities, and definitely this is only going to progress in the years to come as the HCW aim to better health facilities and management in betterment of the patients

Esther: Where do you see Africa in terms of Healthcare in years to come

Dr Manji: Africa in general is a difficult one because every country has it’s own way of health care system management. But as Africans are getting more innovative, we hope to beat poverty and in that way address health issues better for a brighter Africa

Esther: Thank you so much for your time Dr Manji.