🌟 Achieving Excellence in Radiology: Dr. Anup Regmi's Inspiring Journey
- Online PG Nepal
- Dec 6, 2024
- 10 min read
Dr. Anup Regmi is a Consultant Radiologist at NAMS, Bir Hospital, who has carved a remarkable journey in the medical field. With impressive achievements, including being MD/MS entrance 2076 [KU-Rank 34, BPKIHS :Rank-15; PAHS: Rank 7; NAMS: Rank 4], Loksewa 2073 [Rank-4], Dr. Regmi embodies academic excellence and dedication. 🩺📚
👩⚕️ Meet Dr. Anup Regmi
Could you introduce yourself and your current specialization?
Dr. Anup Regmi
Consultant Radiologist, NAMS, Bir Hospital
MD/MS entrance 2076 [KU-Rank 34, BPKIHS :Rank-15; PAHS: Rank 7; NAMS: Rank 4], Loksewa 2073 [Rank-4]
📚 Publications that Speak of Excellence:
1.PG Insight : In-depth Review of all subjects for MD/MS CEE, Samiksha Publication
2.MEETS for MD/MS CEE, Samiksha Publication
3.Final Touch for CEE MD/MS, Nirvana Publication
4.Human Anatomy Volume I and II, Ibrahim Books, Dhaka, Bangladesh
5.Gross Histology and Embryology, Ibrahim Books, Dhaka, Bangladesh
🩻 Choosing Radiology: A Thoughtful Decision
There has been a trend of selecting radiology by top rankers for years in Nepal. The craze of that trend and expectation of less risky job, no specific night duties, and good incentives drew me to specialize in Radiology. And yes, I am loving it.
How did you decide on this specialization, and did it influence your study strategy?
❀ At the very time I started to prepare for the MD/MS entrance exam, I was very highly motivated (somewhat crazy) to study Radiology. I had already decided I would not study any subject except radiology until my last exam that year. Consequently, I attended counselling at every institute (IOM, KU, BPKIHS, PAHS) just to quit. By tender effort, luckily I got to study Radiology at NAMS.
❀ Study strategy definitely changes and the routine remains harder if you aim high. You have to cover almost every important things, study harder, apply smart study technique and keep yourself always motivated.What was your daily study schedule , and how did you stay consistent?
❀ I studied total 7 months for the PG entrance exam (1 month for first exam of IOM and 7 months for last exam of NAMS). I studied about 13-14 hours a day at the last months of preparation. Continuous study and regular online mock exams helped me to stay consistent.How did you chose the right study resources for the exam? Could you share the
specific materials you found most helpful?
❀ Indian MCQ books by Sharad Chandra, Mudit Khanna and past MD/MS entrance questions of Nepal, and textbooks for few very frequently asked topics were my principal resources. I also tried First Aid , ROAMS and Across once but could not revise more than once and could not retain them.At the present time, what resources do you suggest for the PG aspirants preparing for CEE after about 2 months?
1. PG insight for CEE MD/MS: For overall coverage of important topics of all subjects
2. Past CEE entrance questions of Nepal (questions of last 4 years CEE)
3. MCQ books by Sharad Chandra, Mudit Khanna (only memorize question and right answer).What inspired you to publish PG Insight book?
❀ During my preparation time, I was really frustrated being unable to find a comprehensive and complete book for theory preparation which I could complete in short time. I tried First Aid, ROAMS and some topics from Across, studied. These are really nice books but I could not retain them effectively in my mind for more than 2-3 weeks. It took much more time in collecting the materials and preparing the notes which hampered my study time a lot. At the same time, I realized a need of comprehensive, well organized, well presented authentic book covering almost all important topics…and promised myself to bring such a book to help the PG aspirants in future, if I succeed in exam …that idea gave birth to a book named PG insight which took about 4-5 years of hard work to make it what it is today.Do you prefer coaching classes or self study? And Why?
❀ I prefer self study. I don’t prefer traditional way of teaching like giving lectures to the graduates. Rather, guidance about effective study strategies may become a great hep for aspirants.Importance of Mock tests?
❀ Online mock test was the reason that always motivated me and gave me courage to quit major subjects in different institutions despite getting higher ranks. Consistent top ranks in mock tests gave the confidence to wait till my dream came true. Mock tests also guide the areas of your weakness and strengths and suggest to further build yourself.Would you recommend quitting a job to focus solely on studying for the entrance exam, or balancing both work?
❀ Continuing your job and getting high ranks in such a competitive exam is very difficult. I prefer quitting the job and focus only on study at these last two months.
❀ If you are giving CEE exam in next year, I recommend to work hard and keep your study together for first 6 months and quit the job and focus only on study at the last 6 months before exam. There will be much more benefit compared to the 6 months salary if you get the subject of your choice in PG.Did you adopt any special strategies for preparation?
Strategies adopted by me for entrance preparation
A. Dealing with the MCQs
❀ Sometimes same MCQs appear in the real exam (with most of the times same options) which you have memorized:-- You will obviously tick the right answer with full confidence. (Sometimes there are many such MCQs in CEE exam from Indian MCQ books (S. Chandra, M. Khanna) and past CEE MCQs from exams in Nepal).
❀ While studying MCQ books, In the first days, I used to analyze and exclude the options before seeing the right answer. Later, I found that I got confused in the same options in real exam where I used to be confused during study. After getting suggestion from one of my seniors, I started a habit of ticking all the right answers of MCQ books with pencil and started memorizing only the right answer without even carefully seeing the other options
❀ It may sound awkward…but It worked best on me. This strategy helped me in two ways:
1.First , It saved my time a lot (made my study almost 5-10 times faster). I could give that time to revise MCQs many times and give time to study theory materials.
2.Secondly, Avoided confusion in real exam: When you see the same question in exam----your mind automatically searches for the same right answer in the option.
B. Dealing with the explanations of MCQs
❀ I almost had all the books famous that time for entrance preparation: Question bank of past MCQs of Nepal by Dr. Sujit Jha, MCQ book by Sharad Chandra, Mudit Khanna, Amit Ashish, Across etc. I revised Sharad Chandra and Mudit khanna Book each almost > 20 times.
❀ A disgusting matter about studying theory from explanations of MCQs was: You have to study one topic of a subject from page no. 1 and another topic from page no. 374; resulting in difficulty to correlate the randomly distributed materials.
❀ On first time study, I made short notes from explanations of Sharad chandra and Mudit Khanna of these topics.Thereafter, I did not go through the explanations except sometimes for understanding why the answer is correct. (just memorized the right answer preticked with pencil).C. Dealing with the theory (subject matter)
❀ For Theory; I had First Aid, ROAMS, Across, Gyneacology and obstetrics by Sakshi Arora, and explanations of MCQs from book by Mudit khanna and Sharad Chandra.
❀ At first I tried First Aid, ROAMS and some topics from Across, Gyneacology and obstetrics by Sakshi Arora and revised once, but could not retain the knowledge effectively.
❀ After getting frustated for few days, I came to a different decision and identified the commonly asked topics of different subjects by analyzing the MCQs of Sharad Chandra and Mudit Khanna book and enlisted them subjectwise with page number, made some notes from explanations of Sharad Chandra and Mudit Khanna by myself during my first time study; and also approached to some text books for commonly asked topics. It took much more time in collecting the materials and preparing the notes which hampered my study time but helped me during final revision. Any strategic recommendations for the PG aspirants
Strategic Recommendations for the PG aspirants
You can pick a right option in MCQs by 3 ways:
First, if you have studied/practiced the same MCQ before exam (most of the time <25% of questions; only sometimes more than that).
Recommended tips to prepare for these MCQs:
❀ You must study the past CEE questions of Nepal (because these are the questions and topics thought by the professors of the respective subjects to be important; and these questions and topics have high propensity to be repeated).
❀ Practice MCQs of Indian exams (MCQ books by Sharad Chandra and Mudit Khanna preferably) :- [because these are the questions and topics thought by the professors of the respective subjects to be important; therefore, they carry higher weightage than randomly made MCQs found here and there; and may be these are the books easily available and recommended as more error free if questions are to be made by someone in short time (but may not be)]
❀ Practice mock tests (to know your status among others; and to build your confidence)Second, if you have good theoritical concept about the topic asked in question.
Sound theoritical knowledge is the backbone of every MCQ exam and is a must to score higher marks/ranks in any exam.Therefore, try to strengthen your basic knowledge of each subject before appearing the exam.
Recommended tips to build the theoritical base for MCQs
❀ Since exam is coming soon, give more focus on the important and most commonly asked topics.Try to cover the important topics of each subject (PG Insight book is highly recommended for this)
❀ Try to study the organized subject matter subject-wise (PG Insight book is highly recommended for this).Studying randomly arranged material will lead to difficulty in correlating and memorizing the studied topics.
❀ Don’t solely rely on explanations of previously asked or randomly made MCQs. Because study material in explanations of MCQs are most of the times randomly arranged (e.g. one question will be about myocardial infarction and the next will be about rheumatoid arthritis, skipping the topics/ system). Additionally, hundreds or thousands of MCQs can be made from a single subject and yet there may be a lot of important topics beyond the asked MCQs.
❀ Focus on important subjects/ cases encountered in emergencies /OPDs /Wards in Nepal (examples: Coronary artery disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Shock, Headache, Fever, Head/Chest/Abdominal blunt trauma, Stroke, Pneumonia, Asthma/COPD, Snake bite, Poisoning, Thyroid diseases, APD, Cholecystitis, Appendicitis, Acute pancreatitis, Hepatitis, AKI, CKD, AGN, Nephrotic syndrome, CLD, Anemia , hydrocele, hernia, PID, Prolapse, Fistulas, DUB, ectopic and molar pregnancy, Abortion, APH, PPH, Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia, Oligo/polyhydramnios, IUGR, Twin pregnancy, UTI, Procedures like Cesarean section, Breech delivery, Instrumental delivery, Fractures, Arthritis, Electrolyte abnormalities etc.) There is much higher probability of asking questions from these topics (PG Insight book is highly recommended for this).
❀ Focus on commonly prevalent diseases and epidemics/ Pandemics occuring in our country now/ time to time (eg. COVID-19, Dengue, Scrub typhus, Tuberculosis (with national management guidelines), Filariasis, Malaria, Chicken pox, Measles , Cholera, Enteric fever, dysentery etc.) . There is much higher probability of asking questions from these topics (PG Insight book is highly recommended for most of the topics).
❀ Focus on important life saving skills, and life threatening emergency conditions a doctor should handle in medical practice (e.g. Basic life support, Advanced cardiac life support, Management of foreign bodies on ear and respiratory tract, Airway management, Intubation, Management of electrolyte and Acid-base disorders etc).There is much higher probability of asking questions from these topics (PG Insight book is highly recommended for this).
❀ Focus on getting updated about latest health statistics in Nepal based on the latest NDHS report, focus on EPI schedule, health related days. There is much higher probability of asking questions from these topics (PG Insight book is highly recommended for this).
❀ It is better to get at least a little knowledge (just overview) about important health programs implemented throughout the country by Nepal government, if time allows(e.g. Filariasis and Malaria control program, TB control program, HIV prevention and control program,COVID vaccination program, Safe motherhood program, Family planning, Child nutrition program) etc. (PG Insight book is recommended for some program related topics; Latest annual health report of Department of Health services is highly recommended for health programs, can be downloaded in DOHS website).Third : by chance/probability/good luck (Grossly around 25% probability if you have not much idea about the topic).
❀ At least try to exclude one or two options which you think it’s very less likely by common sense.
❀ Some experts say the option which your mind thinks at first may be the right option, often comes out to be the right answer.
❀ Try to keep yourself calm, have enough sleep before the exam day.What message or advice would you give to the MD/MS aspirants preparing for the exam?
❀ Getting higher ranks in your PG exam depends on your hard work, smart study strategy, dedication and self-motivation. Don’t care about other competitors; If you can secure a definite minimum mark, you can even get good subjects.
❀ Episodes of frustation, helplesness and hopelessness arise during the preparation time. The medical syllabus is an ocean. You can’t drink the whole water from the ocean. Try to take out the water (knowledge) from the ocean as much as you can by adopting smart strategies.
Final Words of Advice
Times come when you feel you don’t know anything, you have forgotten everything and you can’t do anything better. These are the experiences shared by most of the PG aspirants including myself. Keep yourself calm. If you have studied with high effort keeping yourself motivated, your hard work will surely be paid off. Best of luck to all the PG aspirants for the upcoming CEE exam !!! In the world of medicine, where dedication meets ambition, Dr. Anup Regmi stands out as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring radiologists. A Consultant Radiologist at NAMS, Bir Hospital, Dr. Regmi has not only excelled academically but also emerged as a mentor and guide for students preparing for MD/MS entrance exams. His journey exemplifies perseverance, strategic planning, and an unwavering commitment to professional growth. 🌿✨
📌 Tips for Making the Most of Your Study Journey:
Consistency: Make studying a daily habit, even if it’s just for short periods.
Mock Exams: Regular practice is essential. It’s not just about content but about strategy and managing exam pressure.
Strategic Planning: Don’t be afraid to balance work and study— it’s possible with the right approach.
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