Tribute to a Great teacher!
Adieu to a great teacher of teachers, father and mentor!
To a great icon who gave ‘his life’ as it were, to ensure best practices in Ophthalmology!
Adieu to my trainer, who reminded us at every opportunity to be meticulous and excellent in our practice!
Adieu to a great teacher who would not give in to mediocrity and indiscipline, who insisted we were thorough in all we did. Who worked so hard to ensure that training of residents was properly done; in character and learning!
Your teachings will not be forgotten in a hurry, I hear your voice ‘eh! Did you examine the iris?...and that is one ocular structure we quickly hurry past but you drew us back to its importance..
You ensured patients were well attended to by residents, no putting off of what could be done at a particular clinic visit for the next visit… You insisted and checked to ensure that ‘gonioscopy’ and ‘dilated fundoscopy’ was done as at when due. You insisted that we did things right and you did same.
You had a special way of getting the truth from some patients who were not so forthcoming with information, you were a super-detective! You cared greatly for your patients.
In theatre, you insisted that we performed the surgeries in the actual sense of it… for which I am glad… at intervals you would call out ‘eh! Be gentle with the tissssues(tissues)- for you had a special way of pronouncing it, ‘ have respect for the conjunctiva’… and the eyes and body as a whole, always reminding us that the eyes are part of the body.
Our excuses for coming late for departmental activities could never be tolerated, through it you made us tough and ‘hijacked’- as it were, our souls from the path of ruin…’please sir, my car had a problem’…’you should have flown’, you would say… It sounded hard but as we grew, we understood that those excuses were lame and would not take us to enviable heights! We hope to also help the younger ones who take excuses for every and anything, for therein lies the pathway to failure!
Residents and medical students alike had to learn, actively learn as you were always available to teach and drill! You taught us to spell ‘Ophthalmology ‘correctly and any student needed to get that right before proceeding.
You taught us to take a good history, you insisted that a doctor should write and speak good English…
No loitering around the corridors was allowed…
You told us to ‘stagger down’ when we complained of illnesses… You made us more resilient to stressors than we probably would have been…
You came for daily seminars, everyday for several years and you came on TIME!!.. what a sacrifice!!! Not to mention weekend rounds!!
In the last few months, when you had to leave town, you still called to find out how the residents were doing, how the training was going us and you made your inputs on how it should go.
You taught and taught until we learnt! You drew up guidelines on training which we have had to use for several years. Your work in drawing up the ‘medical students posting in ophthalmology booklet’ gave us a solid framework for which a recent review by a number of great minds could be done.
This space would not be enough to write about all your positive impact but we cherish your sacrifices.
Adieu Baba!! Adieu Dr Uduak Asana!
You will be greatly missed!
May your soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.
Fondly remembered by:
Dr. Martha-Mary Udoh
Department of Ophthalmology,
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar.