The medical field is not an easy journey, but it is definitely rewarding – Dr. Nikita Clementson

Doctors reel under unrelenting work pressure; they work for inhumane hours, suffer from severe burnout, and undergo sleep deprivation and anxiety, but despite all of these struggles, their profession demands them to put up a brave front that lacks any fragility.

Dr. Nikita Clementson

Guided by the Hippocratic Oath, Dr. Nikita Clementson has been throwing fear to the wind in her quest to save lives and curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Nikita was born on the 1st of November, 1990, at the Prashad’s Hospital to parents Dane and Andrea Clementson. She grew up in a nuclear family and two other siblings at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

She described her childhood as a normal one, as she explained that her grandparents always instilled good family values. She noted that they celebrated every milestone, which allowed her to appreciate and cherish her childhood.

My dad has always been enthusiastic about off-road driving, and he exposed us to this at a very early age. I have been privileged to travel to at least one area in all of the regions of Guyana. My mom was the pillar of my childhood and taught me the foundational aspects of life. I knew how to cook, clean, and do household chores. Which was a great help during my international studies.

The 30-year-old revealed that her passion for becoming a doctor was sparked when her grandfather was diagnosed with type II Diabetes Mellitus. She was always fascinated by his treatment.

But according to the medical practitioner, this was seen as a big dream to achieve. Nevertheless, her family saw her knack for the profession and supported her throughout the way.

 I remember always being interested in his treatment regimen and diet, trying to understand exactly what was going on with him. This, coupled with my love for science and helping people, made medicine a very good contender when I was thinking about career options. But my sister was a tremendous influence on me, deciding specifically to become a doctor. My family always motivated, encouraged, and supported me.

Nikita attended the Stella Maris Nursery School and then the Stella Maris Primary School, where she completed the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in 2001.

Dr. Clementson in her protective wear

She managed to secure a spot at the St. Stanislaus College, where she wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and then moved on to complete the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Dr. Clementson then pursued her Medical Degree at the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba in 2009.

After completing my Spanish and pre-med courses, I continued with my medical program, which lasted for 6 years culminating with my graduation in 2016.

After returning to Guyana, Dr. Clementson started working at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she worked for 18 months. She was then transferred to the Bartica Regional Hospital to complete her hinterland stint.

However, in March this year, when the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) landed on Guyana’s shore, Dr. Clementson said she was not surprised. She noted that it was a task that she was preparing herself to deal with. Prior to that, she was working in the Neglected Infectious Diseases Department of Vector Control Services of the Ministry of Health.

“It came as no surprise when I was transferred to work at the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) at the beginning of April. It’s my opinion that covid-19 patients are like any other sick person who needs the help of a doctor and that they should be treated as such,” the doctor added.

The MD explained that the medical field is not an easy journey, but it is definitely rewarding.

“You feel a sense of pride after you have helped a sick person feel better. Sometimes, it’s not the actual medicines but the fact that you would have spent time and listened to the patient. It’s always rewarding to see the satisfaction on a patient’s face. For any future doctors, I’d stay to study hard, stay focused, and know that the career that you have chosen is very satisfying once you’re dedicated and hardworking,” the medical practitioner advises aspiring doctors.

Apart from saving lives, Dr. Clementson is a buddy chef who is always looking for something new to cook or bake. In addition to that, she loves seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. The young woman credited her success to God and the support of her family.

Nikita is aspiring to specialize in family medicine as she pointed out that this is a neglected area in Guyana. The budding professional says that once Guyana can focus on preventative medicine, it will ease our hospital’s burden. She hopes to be one of the contributing factors to this process and would be pursuing her Master’s Degree. Her favorite quote is, “If nothing ever changed, there would be no such things as butterflies” ― Wendy Mass.