‘Not all those who wander are lost’

I woke up dazed from only a couple of hours of sleep after a busy night of call. I forced myself to brush my teeth, shower and get dressed before pretending to be calm as I walked downstairs to check my email. Disappointment.Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that life would go on and that there would be chances later in my career. And then I remembered—my phone! Not the on-call phone that had been glued to my side for the previous 24 hours, but my personal phone that I often forget to carry. I typed in my passcode and saw that a message awaited. With shaking hands, I listened:“Hi Sarah. I wanted to officially give you the big welcome to the pool of doctors who work for Doctors Without Borders.”I sat stunned, thrilled, excited, nervous and alone, with no one to tell my news! I Skyped my twin sister and, after exchanging pleasantries, I broke my news: “I’m officially a Doctor Without a Border!” I squealed. She joined me in making similar excited noises (we are twins, after all).A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog (why I’m not ready to work for MSF) where I discussed how I had the desire to work for MSF but knew that I didn’t yet have the right skill set or enough life experience. This spring, after completing my Diploma in Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and temporarily relocating to my third continent in as many years, I took the plunge and filed out my application.I honestly wasn’t sure I would get the gig. The people whom I’ve met who have worked for MSF have always seriously impressed me. They are outgoing men and women with amazing skill sets, a zest for life, and the ability to see beyond paycheques. Perhaps they’ve impressed me most by seeing the huge medical needs in some of the most challenging environments in the world, and then doing something about it. I still can’t believe that I’m considered worthy of their company.Eleanor Roosevelt famously said: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” One of my mantras is similar—I try to live outside my comfort zone. Why? Because that’s where the awesomeness occurs! Most of the worthwhile things I’ve done in life have terrified me. Often, it hasn’t been the activity that has scared me, but the fear of rejection. So, with courage, I’ll soon arrive at the start line of a new challenge; at some point, early in 2014, I will be posted somewhere in the world where doctors are hard to find but illness, and likely conflict, abound. Wish me luck!Dr. Sarah Giles is a locum family doctor currently working in the Northwest Territories.

‘Not all those who wander are lost’

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Sarah Giles