Unacademy Educators Battling the Pandemic on the Frontlines
Several of our NEET PG Educators who are medical professionals, are fighting this deadly pandemic by the day and preparing the next generation of doctors by the night.
COVID-19. The new normal that all of us are struggling hard to embrace. We are living in the most extraordinary situation mankind has seen in over 100 years. Human touch has been the most integral part of our day to day lives, and now perhaps, the most feared one. But as our generation is witnessing something unprecedented, they are also becoming privy to the fearlessness of a community of warriors. The ones who are doing everything within their might, to save the human race from collapsing. The heroes who are putting their safety on the line every day to help the rest of us survive — our medical professionals.
We at Unacademy are extremely proud to be associated with some of these real-life heroes, who are saving the nation by the day and preparing the next generation of doctors by the night. Unacademy NEET PG Educators who are also medical professionals are managing double shifts every single day for the betterment of the country. While they are fighting on the frontline to save patients, they are also mentoring the future doctors by taking classes on Unacademy. Their courage, perseverance, and hard work in balancing these two roles, during these extreme times, make them true heroes.
We got a chance to speak to some of these heroes who are also Educators on Unacademy. To understand how they do it all and the way they are coping with the ongoing crisis, we asked them a few questions. Our spirits were lifted after hearing some inspirational responses. Here are some snippets from our tete-a-tete with them on the issues pertaining to the current scenario.
How are you balancing your roles as an Educator and as a doctor?
“COVID-19 has made some drastic and unimaginable changes to my life. For the past 2 months, I have been isolated from my children in order to protect them from unprecedented exposure. It is, of course, emotionally and physically draining at times to work for long periods but the thing that calms me the most is teaching on Unacademy. During this time, I feel even more motivated to devote my time on Unacademy because I know how difficult the situation is for students. Earlier, a lot of them used to resort to group study sessions to keep their morale high but now that’s no longer possible. Some students are just stuck in remote parts of the country, where they are staying in hostels, unable to go back home. With the increasing anxiety among students, I feel it’s my duty to guide them in the right direction and keep their hopes up. I always tell them that the pandemic is going to end one day and we’ll have to all go back to the world outside; so make sure that you are prepared for that day.
On some days, playing all these roles in my life- a doctor, an Educator and a mother does take a toll on me. To get through these days, I remind myself that I have been given the gift of knowledge and I must use it to serve the nation, be it by preparing the next generation or taking care of my patients.” – Dr. Vyshanavi Bommakanti
What are the learnings from this situation that you would want to pass on to your learners?
“This unprecedented situation has brought with it quite a few learnings and the fact that I am gaining a first-hand experience in fighting a pandemic is enriching the knowledge that I pass on to my learners. First, weapons cannot save us, only medical science can. While we continue to focus on R&D in various sectors, the Government should collaborate with the private sector to fund advanced research for crisis management on the medical front. Immunity boosting and infection preventive drugs should be the focus for the next few years. Second, COVID is not the first communicable disease to have affected human beings. There were others in the past and there would be more in the future unless we bring about a change in our lifestyle. Avoiding unnecessary contact and maintaining a strong immunity are the two things that have to be as strong-rooted in our day-to-day lives as brushing our teeth. If that translates into revolutionising education and entertainment systems to follow an online model in its entirety, so be it. Third, no one can help someone who doesn’t help themselves. One has to choose between succumbing to fears and doing their bit to ensure their own safety. In trying times like these, all that is expected out of every human being is that they take care of themselves and spread awareness among their loved ones. Following this simple directive can help us overcome challenges faster. These are my learnings that I strive to pass on to my learners every day through my classes on Unacademy. These learners who look up to me and wait for me to guide them are my driving force after a hectic day at the hospital. But above all, it is my belief that if I successfully mentor 100 learners today, who in turn prepare 100 learners each, I can sleep at night knowing I have done my duty towards the country.” – Dr. Vineet Sehgal
What has been your strongest weapon in fighting these stressful times?
“When I set on my journey to become a medical professional, I knew it was going to be full of challenges. I was up for all these challenges, because of the satisfaction helping people and transforming their lives, gave to me. But I believe, I hadn’t seen the toughest of situations in my profession, until COVID-19. It was one of those events that none of us predicted. Yet, it happened and it is an example of how unpredictable life can be. At present, my schedule is very strenuous, my day starts really early in the morning and I come back by 5–6 PM. After a little break, I start teaching on Unacademy, sometimes till midnight. I believe that it’s as much my responsibility to train the future generation of doctors, as it is to give my best to my patients. My learners have also been very understanding and supportive during this time. Their passion for learning even during such times, is what keeps me motivated to be there for them.
My strongest weapon during this time has been patience. I think it goes a long way in dealing with situations, especially when there is panic all around. I believe, as a nation we will emerge out of this pandemic, stronger than ever. There is now more discourse around investing in medical research and equipping private and public institutions with tools to better deal with a crisis situation. In this time, it is essential to derive our strength from our community while practicing social distancing and knowing we are all in this together.” – Dr Preeti Sharma
How do you perceive the future of Medical Science and Education in the post COVID world?
“I think there’s going to be a lot of changes in terms of how Medical Science is perceived after the COVID crisis ends. There’s definitely going to be a change in the structuring of funds for research and infrastructure. Kerala has set an example for the entire nation with their COVID crisis management simply because they had utilised their learning from the Nipah Virus period effectively. They had invested in developing a system that was well equipped to take quick necessary steps to contain the spread of the pandemic. While at present India spends 1% of the GDP for medical research and 6–8% for defence, the numbers are going to change in the near future. And that gives me and all other doctors who are facing this pandemic head on, a ray of hope!
Similarly, there’s going to be a massive change in the educational system as a whole. While Unacademy has already taken a big step in changing the mindset of people to make it favourable towards online learning, a lot of schools, colleges and examination bodies are soon to follow. The sooner the country realises that online learning is safe, convenient and more accessible, the better because students are the pillars of the nation. I think it’s time the entire educational system moves towards an online model to contain the spread of any type of communicable disease and to democratise education.” – Dr. Hitesh Nathani
In spite of all the disastrous effects on mankind as a whole, COVID-19 has brought one positive change in our lives — it has forced us to pay attention to our hygiene. Our Educators agree that if we continue to do our bit to stay safe by following the safety instructions circulated by the Government, we can win over this crisis soon. While the doctors are fighting day and night to protect us, let’s also continue doing our part. As we endure the most unprecedented time of our lives, let’s support the real heroes and pray for their safety. Unacademy salutes all medical professionals for their contribution to the humankind during the COVID-19 crisis and for always putting our interest before theirs.
Here is a special tribute to them, for their unwavering dedication and selfless devotion to improving the lives of others.
