This young doctor quit her job and set out to help those in need

Dr Sharminithevi wants to work with an organisation like Doctors Without Borders. Photo: Inclue

By 30, Dr Sharminithevi Paramalingam was working as a general surgeon and lecturer at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). She loved surgery and working at a teaching hospital like UMMC where training, while grueling, was second to none. But, as much as she loved her job – “to help people feel better” – Dr Shar­mi­nithevi was deeply dissatisfied.

“I enjoyed teaching and serving my patients but at the same time I felt I was in a rut. I felt as if I was nurturing only one part of me and I didn’t have the time to do a lot of the other things that I love. I love to travel, meet people and learn new things. But my routine at the hospital ... where we practically work every day just didn’t allow me to do any of those things. I felt stifled and was restless,” says the 36-year-old from Petaling Jaya, frowning ever so slightly as she explains her frustrations.