Unconscious Bias: Why it Happens and How to Unlearn It

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Before you finish reading this paragraph, your brain has already made a judgment about someone.  Their accent , their appearance , their profession, or the way they expressed an idea.  You did not consciously choose to judge — and that is exactly how unconscious bias works. Unconscious bias refers to the automatic assumptions and mental shortcuts our brains use to process the world quickly. These biases are shaped by culture, media, upbringing, education, and personal experiences. They exist everywhere — across countries, professions, and social systems . The uncomfortable truth is this: even kind, educated, well-intentioned people have unconscious bias. What matters is not pretending we don’t have it, but learning how to recognize and unlearn it. “We don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are.” This article explores common examples of unconscious bias seen globally and practical ways anyone can overcome them. What Is Unconscious Bias?  Unconscious bias is not ...
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Choosing a Career After House Job: How to Decide Confidently

Choosing a Career After House Job: The Confusion, The Pressure and the Courage to Choose the Correct Path

When I was doing my house job / internship, I often found myself standing in the operation theatre thinking:

“Is surgery really for me?”


On some days, the adrenaline excited me — the rush, the focus, the responsibility.

On other days, the environment drained me — the hierarchy, the pressure, the unpredictability.

I kept telling myself:

- Surgery is a male-dominant field…

- Sources matter more than skills…

- Branches are limited for women…

- Training in government setups is hard to get and you have to be resourceful to get it…


These thoughts weren’t just passing doubts — they were real fears, the kind many young doctors feel but rarely say out loud.



The Reality We Don’t Talk About

Choosing a career in medicine, especially in Pakistan, isn’t as straightforward as passing MBBS and completing your house job. 

These feelings synchronize with almost every student who walks out of their medical school for the first time without a clear map for the future.

It’s emotional.

It’s personal.

And it’s shaped heavily by the environment around us.

Because in Pakistan — especially for women:

• Some specialties feel “unwelcoming.”

• Competition is intense.

• Training spots often depend on references or connections.

• Family expectations and societal comments can drain your confidence.

• Self-doubt grows silently while you pretend to “figure it out.”


So if you ever felt like surgery wasn’t meant for you — or if you questioned your choice — you are not alone.



What I Learned From My Own Confusion

The moment I admitted to myself that I wasn’t fully happy or confident choosing surgery, something shifted inside me.

I realised:

• You don’t have to force yourself into a field just because it is prestigious.

• You don’t have to choose what others think is “best” for you.

• Your career should feel like growth, not constant survival.


Medicine is not a one-road journey. 

There are multiple specialties, multiple working styles, and countless ways to serve patients — all are equally important.



How to Choose a Career After House Job: Realistic, Honest Advice


1. Reflect on Your House Job Experiences

Ask yourself:

• Which rotation made you feel alive?

• Where did the time pass effortlessly?

• Which ward gave you confidence — and which one filled you with anxiety?

Your body usually knows before your mind does. Notice what felt natural, not what felt forced.



2. Consider Your Lifestyle & Personality

Surgery demands long hours, physical stamina, quick decisions, and emotional steadiness. 

Some people thrive in that environment — others feel constantly drained.

If you prefer:

• continuity of care

• counselling

• diagnosis

• patient relationships

• mental space

• work-life balance


— then medical specialties might suit you better (Medicine, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Radiology, Family Medicine, Paeds, rheumatology depending on your comfort and temperament).

Not choosing surgery does not mean you’re weak.

It means you know yourself.



3. Think Long-Term, Not Just Training Availability

Just because Government hospital/public hospitals  ki training na mile — it doesn’t mean your story ends there.

Sometimes the right opportunity finds you only when you stop forcing the wrong one.

A good specialty chosen with clarity is better than a competitive specialty chosen with panic.



4. Don’t Choose a Specialty Based on Fear

Fear of:

“Log kya kahenge?”

“Yeh field women ke liye mushkil hai.”

“Resources nai hai toh kaise hoga?”

These fears are normal — but they should not shape your destiny.

Decisions made out of fear almost always turn into regret.



5. Talk to People Honestly

Have genuine conversations with:

• seniors

• consultants you respect

• fellow house officers

• people who chose different fields


Real stories — the struggles and the wins — help far more than Google searches or random opinions.



6. Understand That Every Field Is Hard — But in a Different Way

Surgery is hard.

Medicine is hard.

Radiology is hard.

Dermatology is hard.

Paeds is hard.


Each specialty has its own lifestyle, challenges, and sacrifices.

Pick the struggle you are willing to face every day — not the one society tells you to admire.



7. Listen to Your Inner Voice

At the end of the day, when you imagine your future:

• Which specialty makes you smile?

• Which one makes you breathe easier?

• Which one feels aligned with who you truly are?


That’s the direction you must consider — even if it scares you.



A Message for Anyone Feeling What I Felt

If you are confused…

If you feel stuck…

If you feel like surgery (or any field) “isn’t made for you”…


Remember this:


• Your worth is not defined by a specialty.

• You are not less capable for choosing balance over burnout.

• You don’t need resources — you need clarity, consistency, and courage.

• Medicine is huge. There is space for all kinds of doctors.


Choose the specialty that lets you grow — not the one that crushes your spirit.



If this blog helped you feel seen or understood, share it with another doctor who might be struggling silently. Tell your story in the comments — because you never know whose heart your words might heal.

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