A well-known specialist in Bahrain’s medical sector, Dr Nasreen has been voted President Elect 2019/20 of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Gulf Chapter and will go on to become President for 2020/21.
What made you choose your particular field of expertise?
My path to my beloved career was not straightforward, or as initially planned. In fact, many of my choices have been serendipitous. Starting very early in life, my primary interest was in maths.
But, in high school, I realised I was intrigued and fascinated by science, particularly biology. This is when I decide to study medicine. On entering medical school at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain, I developed an interest in cellular biology and I figured out that hormones, in any of their forms, are how our body communicates.
This represents the core of the endocrinology field. Upon graduation, with my MD degree with distinction, ranking second in the top 10, I decided to enroll in an internal medicine residency programme which is a pre-requisite to specialise in endocrinology.
I joined Sinai-Grace Hospital, Wayne State University, Detroit, US, where I was exposed to the field in more depth and realised the epidemic nature of diabetes and obesity and their related complications. Not only that, but the growing number of patients diagnosed with other endocrine disorders such as thyroid, pituitary and bone disorders such as osteoporosis.
I then joined the Endocrinology Fellowship Programme at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, US, where I worked with outstanding mentors in the field and managed to publish some work with them. During my fellowship and in addition to my training in internal medicine and endocrinology, I had the privilege to receive further training in the lipid field, which is the study of cholesterol disorders, and obtained the American Board Certification in Clinical Lipidology. I am happen to be the only Bahraini physician with this qualification and among just a few in the Middle East.
What have been the greatest challenges and rewards?
I chose endocrinology because it was and still is the medical speciality that presents the ultimate challenge in putting an understanding of biochemistry, cell biology and genetics directly into patient care. One of the challenges in this field, particularly for a female endocrinologist, is to gain the trust of male patients in relation to male hormonal disorders, but this is now becoming much more acceptable.
The major reward in this field is that it feeds my passion for taking care of patients and forging long-term relationships. Given the chronic nature of the conditions in this field, I feel patients are part of my life. It makes me fully dedicated to improving patients’ lives.
I love unearthing rare medical conditions and making a difference in patients’ lives. My patients saying that they feel lost, for example, when I go on leave, makes me feel so attached and connected to them and this is the biggest reward.
What would you say to encourage other women and girls into the medical sector?
The learning path for medicine is much longer than other fields and this might create some reluctance in women considering entering this field. One of the biggest fears for women is the difficulty involved in juggling work and family. I want to assure women that it is very possible to balance work and family; besides we need more women in medical fields. I consider my speciality a very delicate one in which, with our gentle nature, we can afford exceptional care for our long-term patients.
What does it mean to be voted as President-elect of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Gulf Chapter?
There are very few women who carry an executive title in the healthcare sector and its related organisations. It’s a great honour and achievement for me to be elected to this post for such a reputable organisation. This position is not only a major achievement for me personally but, more importantly, it will place my beloved country, Bahrain, on the map regionally and internationally, to run the organisation for the best interests of the members and community. I hope I can take the association to its optimum achievement in the field during my term.
