SHE believes that diffi cult roads lead to beautiful destinations. Dr. Daffodils Guevarra of Prime Healthcare Group-UAE had fought thousands of battles fi rst before being considered as one of the top Filipino General Physicians in the UAE. Her areas of interest include
Rehabilitation Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Aviation Medicine, Diabetes and Hypertension.
Becoming a doctor, she said that it’s not about being wealthy or rich. The perception about doctors being always rich is not accurate. “Being a doctor is not about being rich.You really have to have a heart and I think that’s the secret of becoming a successful doctor,” she added. She is widely popular among the Filipino community because of her expertise and the way she handles her clients. She has the alagang Pinoy that some doctors lack.
The Global Filipino Show has recently interviewed Dr. Daffodils about her whereabouts and how she ended up being a doctor.
Why did you take the course Medicine?
When I was looking for a pre-med course in the University of the Philippines, my dad was thinking that I can take Nursing or Med-tech. I thought the choices were very challenging. So I stumbled upon this BS Sports and you know what, maybe it will be fun. My father had always made sure we’re busy in the summers with different types of sports. So I chose BS Sports, thinking it was an easy course. Then again… it wasn’t easy at all. First, it was a five-year course and I didn’t know that when you take this course, you really have to be good in sports.
What made you pursue this course?
I think I have to blame to the ‘slambook’ I have filled-out when I was in second grade when it used to be a thing. It said ‘Ambition in life’ and I, of course, choose being a doctor without much of a thought. From there, it was already instilled in my brain. My dad was the happiest to know that I wanted to be a doctor because no one in the family really wanted to be a doctor. During high school, I was one of the campus journalists and I thought of changing my future career. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. I took BA English for one year but something is missing. It was a good process because I realized that I really wanted to be a doctor.
How did you manage the learning process and claim the torch of success?
You really have to read–every month there’s new development in the fi eld of medicine so you really have to keep up. There’s no really other way but to read books and journals to be updated.
Tell us more about one of your researches in the Philippines?
During the Annual Resident’s Research Competition in the Philippines in 2006, my research ‘The Incidence and Identification of Risk Factors for Falls Among Filipino Elderly Persons in Nursing Home Facility in the Outpatient Department of Tertiary Hospital in Metro Manila’ has won first place. I chose this research about the falls of elderly above 60 because when they accidentally fall, the ailments start.
Have you reached the pinnacle of success?
In my opinion, I think the pinnacle of success of every doctor is the time when they start treating patients. Our life is a continuous learning process until I bridge the gap between what I learn and when I apply it in practice.
