A Healthy support system
Paramedical experts play an important role in the field of medicine, and this offers exciting career choices, writes Usha Albuquerque

Today any medical diagnosis is not complete until the doctor has run through medical tests, X rays and other investigative tools. These could range from the simple blood test to the use of imaging and radiographic equipment that can scan the entire body, or just a minute problem area.

Medical technology has reached a level where there are a variety of sophisticated tools and techniques that assist a doctor both in diagnosis and in the treatment of a disease. So it is not surprising that there is an increasing demand and focus, not just for doctors but also trained professionals to operate and utilise the new equipment.

Paramedical experts play a very important role in helping the doctor make an accurate diagnosis for treatment, cure and overall care of patients. More often than not, the role of Paramedics is both diagnostic and therapeutic. Paramedics can include X-ray technologists, medical laboratory technicians, dieticians, food service workers, dental mechanics, emergency medical technicians, safety engineers, pharmacists, sanitary engineers, micro biologists, optometrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, radiographers, and prosthetic and orthotic engineers.

Radiology is the term that broadly describes radiography, radiation therapy, sonography, and nuclear medicine. In today’s diagnostic world, X-Ray based diagnosis plays a pivotal role in medical technology. Its benefits and applications are well-known and generally applied for routine radiography, fluoroscopy, angiography and CT scanners. Radiographers are trained healthcare professionals who use radiography or Medical imaging technology to capture images on film so that diseases, illnesses and injuries can be properly diagnosed and treated. They operate X-Ray, CTscans and MRI scans and other imaging equipment to produce radiographs and other images of body tissues, bones and organs which are used in the diagnosis and subsequent management and treatment of disease or injury.

Ultrasound technologists known as sonographers administer high frequency sound waves that are sent into a patient’s body to check for abnormalities. The resultant echoes are then made into an image, which can be viewed. This is used for diagnostic purposes. Radioisotope technicians study blood circulation and functioning of major organs.

Radiographers work with medically qualified radiologists and take X-ray photographs to assist in diagnosing diseases. Other areas of radiology include sonography, mammography, cardiovascular-interventional radiography, nuclear medicine, bone density, and radiation therapy.

Training

Paramedical training in radiography and related specialisations can be taken up at one-year to two-year training programmes after Class X and XII through vocational or technical schools, hospitals, colleges and universities. 

Training includes class work with emphasis on anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, patient positioning, radiation physics and patient care.  Medical ethics and principles of imaging are also taught. There are also diploma and certificate courses in the different specializations, including X-ray technician, diagnostic radiography, nuclear medicine radiation techniques. One can also go in for a diploma in X-ray imaging technology, X-ray assistant, radiography and radiotherapy, or medical radiation technology. While some courses require a background in science, there are others for which a pass in Plus II is sufficient for admission.

In addition, there are also degree courses in Medical imaging technology and radiography available at several hospital and medical colleges. A B.Sc in Radiography is offered by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, UCMS, GTB Hospital, Shahadara, Delhi, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Chandigarh, Mahatma Gandhi University Medical College, Kottayam, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore and Christian Medical College, Vellore and several other institutes. Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, Ludhiana and Sanjeevni Institute of Paramedical Courses, Chandigarh, also offer diploma courses in radiography and radiotherapy. Graduates in Radiography can take up a one-year postgraduate diploma in Radiography.

Moreover in a move to encourage more students into this healthcare field, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in collaboration with tertiary care hospitals like Fortis, Apollo and Wockhardt, is introducing a new two-year full time healthcare sciences course in schools for those interested in a career as paramedics. After Class X, students can opt for this special course instead of science, commerce and arts. The two-year course will have five subjects, including one language and another academic elective like biology. The other three subjects are healthcare delivery system, hospital organisation and services, medical equipment and technology (one paper); anatomy and physiology; and food, nutrition and dietics. Students taking up this subject stream can move directly into the relevant certificate, diploma or degree course after school.

Trained medical technologists can find jobs in laboratories, hospitals, private physician’s offices, radiology clinics, dentists’ offices, and other health care facilities that have the necessary medical equipment.

X-Ray technicians and radiographers usually work in hospitals or large clinic or laboratory settings and must be able to stand for long periods as well as to move disabled patients to gain proper positioning during the X-ray procedure. Employment is also available in diagnostic laboratories, government and private research centers and in equipment manufacturing companies. The demand for professionals in this field is on the increase because of the importance given to diagnostic imaging in today’s medical world.

As medical science takes giant leaps in areas hitherto unexplored, the opportunities for technologists who can handle hi-tech, computerised and sophisticated machinery can only increase, and so those looking to further their career prospects must continue to stay abreast of new products, procedures and diagnostic equipment operations.

However, those who get into this field need to have great patience, a systematic and logical way of thinking, a calm temperament , good powers of observation and a strong technical and scientific bent of mind. They also need to constantly upgrade their skills with the increasing advancements being made in this field. X-ray technicians are also required to ensure that they are operating medical equipment in a safe and careful way and to protect patients from overexposure to radiation by using safety equipment.

The Healthcare industry in India is growing at a rapid pace. With an annual growth rate of 30 percent, we are witnessing the setting up state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics across the country for providing multi-speciality healthcare services.

It is also becoming a fast global hub for medical tourism with more and more foreigners visiting the country for sophisticated surgeries, organ transplants and world class medical facilities at half the prices of the Western world. So if you are looking for an interesting career in the medical field, here is one where the prospects can only increase.

Career Hotline
Crusading for child rights

Q. I will be completing my BA LLB this year but I am not particularly interested in joining a law firm. I would like to join an NGO preferably dealing with children’s issues. Is there any way I can supplement my degree? — Avnish Arora

A. Luckily for you, the Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia offers a one-year PG Diploma course in Child Rights in collaboration with a Sweden-based NGO, Save the Children.

Although children constitute more than 40 per cent of the Indian population, they have been completely marginalised, while the female child faces dual discrimination — first on the basis of gender and secondly on account of belonging to a societal group that has not been recognised as citizens. Even after 20 years of adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the urgent need for rights based intervention, children in India lack a forum to address their grievances. Most academic institutions still shy away from incorporating Child Rights as a part of their curriculum.

With your background in law you will be able to easily grasp the language and techniques of the rights based approach that forms an integral part of this course.

Graduates in the fields of social welfare or social development and fresh graduates with at least 45 per cent marks can apply for this course. Admissions are based on a screening test and an interview.

For details log onto http://jmi.nic.in

I also came across this interesting website of terre des homes, an international body that raises funds to support action and advocacy on behalf of children who have no means of defending themselves against poverty, oppression, abandonment or discrimination. http://childrensrightsindia.org.

Women in Coast Guard

Q. I am a Class XII student with (non-medical). I am keen on a career in the Indian Coast Guard, can you please tell me about the jobs offered for women? — Niharika Khandelwal

A. The youngest branch of the Indian Armed Forces (33 years old) the Indian Coast Guard guards and protects our long coastline (7,615 km) and 2.2 million sq km of exclusive economic zone (EEZ) comprising some 1200 islands and 11 major and 164 minor/intermediate ports, not to mention over 500 Indian merchant ships sailing around the world and the Rs 1500 billion worth of offshore installations and oil assets. Its presence at sea ensures safety to seafarers in our waters. From checking piracy and assisting the Customs authorities in preventing smuggling, poaching, maritime fraud and terrorist activities (i.e. LTTE along the S. Tamil Nadu coast), collecting scientific data, protecting our marine environment by fighting oil spills, helping fishermen in distress and even rescuing whales, the Coast Guard has its hands full although some of its responsibilities are shared by the Indian Navy. Women are recruited as Assistant Commandants (General Duty), Assistant Commandants (Pilot/Navigator) and Assistant Commandants (Technical Branch) for ashore billets.

Eligibility: For Assistant Commandant (General Duty):

Degree with Mathematics and Physics in Class XII. Age: 21-25 years. Physical Std: Height 157 cm, Weight 45 Kg.. Eye sight 6/6 & 6/9 without glasses.

For Assistant Commandant (Helicopter & Fixed-wing Pilot/ Navigator):

10+2 with current Commercial Pilot License.

Age: 19-27 years. Physical Std: Height Min 162 cm Max 198 cm, Leg Length Min 99 cm, Weight 91 kg (Max), Eye sight 6/6 without glasses.

Career in finance

Q. I will be appearing for my Class XII board exams this year. I would like to know whether I should do my graduation by correspondence and pursue CA (Chartered Accountancy) or do my graduation in a college and then do CA? — Subash Goel

A. CA continues to remain a popular option among those seeking a career in the finance domain. The profile of CAs has transformed as a professional with multiple skills not just confined to accounting.

CAs now find themselves playing a critical role in India Inc’s confident march forward — be it large M&A activities, cross-border taxation, transfer pricing issues, setting up infrastructure projects, etc.

It is estimated that there are approx 1.5 lakh CAs in the country — with about 10,000 new CAs passing out every year against a projected annual demand of 50,000 by 2010!

With the revised CA curriculum, it does become difficult, but not impossible, to pursue a full-time UG course alongside your CA.

ICAI has signed MoUs with several distance Univs (IGNOU, Bharathiar University, Netaji Subhas Open University) for specially designed BCom / MCom courses which avoid duplication of topics/subjects.

Of course, you can always pursue a regular UG course through correspondence.

Art and crime

Q. I am really good at art and fascinated with crime and criminology. Could you give me some details about the different types of forensic art techniques used to nab criminals? Is this a good career option? — Srikant Bahduri

A. Forensic Artists make those composite pictures of criminal suspects, dead or maimed victims and drawings, slides and videos that lawyers use to present their cases in court.

If you are a regular who-done-it buff, Forensic Art could be the career for you. It’s an artistic technique used by law enforcement agencies to identify, track down, and apprehend wanted criminals. Unlike the old Wild West and Bollywood films where the criminal’s hand-drawn portrait carrying a cash reward on his head, modern-day forensic artists are far more tech savvy. They use computerised image enhancement or morphology not merely as forensic tools but as evidence in court. There are numerous instances where forensic artists have been called upon to track criminals — the latest being the deadly Delhi bombings.

But Forensic Art is no child’s play. It’s not just about adding wrinkles or facial peculiarities. You have to work up an entire psychological profile to be able to accurately depict the way the criminal will look. As a forensic artist you need to be familiar with several disciplines including composite art, image modification, age progression, post-mortem reconstruction and demonstrative evidence.

Composite art: This one is definitely up your alley. You already have the drawing skills of an artist. To that add the sharp investigative mind of a police investigator and you can excel in this field. Referred to as the ‘Portrait Parle’ or speaking likeliness method of criminal identification, the artist reconstructs each facial feature of the criminal obtained from the victim’s memory. The real challenge lies in your ability to successfully gather, interpret and illustrate the information.

Image modification: Using computer-altered photography you can use this technique to trace people who have gone missing or absconding for several years. The amasing part is that you can actually add years to the photograph or even use it for age regression to get a reliable approximation to what the fugitive may look like today.

Post-mortem reconstruction: Computer-generated images, manual sketching any clay reconstruction are used to render facial features of the human remains of an unidentified, decomposed body.

Demonstrative evidence: Recreating the crime scene using basic pencil sketch illustrations or high-tech multi-media presentations during legal proceedings is also the job of the forensic artist.

The writer is a noted career expert and director, Career Guidance India (CARING). Please send in your queries with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers @tribunemail.com 

HIRING days are here again!
S.C.Dhall

Jobs are back with a bang in India, proving it to be the most optimistic nation in terms of hiring plans. The “cautious optimism” that pervaded throughout the last year has evaporated and companies are now looking to hire aggressively.

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, India has a net employment outlook — a measure of recruiting plans — of 39 per cent for the first quarter of 2010, the highest among 35 countries surveyed. India has been reporting the strongest hiring plans globally since the third quarter of 2008.

Banks

With the Reserve Bank of India allowing retired teachers, kirana shop owners and public call office operators to be hired as business correspondents, banks are set to hire over 200,000 persons over the next few years to push financial inclusion initiatives.

So far, only some banks have finalised the number of correspondents they would hire.

Among the banks that are looking to hire aggressively are: State Bank of India, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Barclays, ICICI Bank, Standard Chartered, HDFC Bank and Yes Bank.

While the country’s largest lender — State Bank of India — is expected to hire at least 40,000 persons, Punjab National Bank is looking at an additional 75,000, while the Union Bank of India intends to hire 50,000 business correspondents over the next two to three years.

Canara Bank and Andhra Bank have not yet finalised the number they would hire. They are seeking an authorisation from their boards to get a wider range of people.

The correspondents would be involved in collecting deposits, helping account holders withdraw cash and also sell other financial products such as life insurance. The biggest use of the hand-held devices used by the business correspondents would be to remit funds

StanChart is looking at employing 2,500 people, HDFC Bank is set to hire more than 4,000 people, and Yes Bank is to raise its headcount by about 3,600.

IT Sector

Signalling a return of good times in the information technology sector, India’s largest IT services provider — Tata Consultancy Services — plans to hire 30,000 employees in the next financial year.

The additional recruitment will represent an increase of 20.55 per cent over the 24,855 employees it has hired for 2009-10. The company will maintain its freshers to lateral ratio at 70:30, respectively.

TCS has already made 14,000 offers to students across campuses. They will join the company from the second quarter of 2010-11. The situation has improved over the last two-three quarters. While it may still be too early for an economic recovery, we do see a business recovery underway.”

Infosys Technologies has said it hopes to recruit 15,000 persons in the days ahead and had already begun the process by visiting campuses, even as it looks for acquisitions in Europe and some non-English speaking country.

The company is looking at acquisitions across Europe, and non-English-speaking countries and even in the US, Gopalakrishnan said, adding, “The company is open to acquisitions everywhere...and across verticals”.

The company has plans to recruit from campuses for the next year. It is already recruiting in the campuses. In the campuses it hope to recruit 15,000 persons. Besides, it had already given a raise (in salary) in October, about eight per cent on an average in India.

Technology major Siemens will invest Rs 1,600 crore in India over the next three years for venturing into wind turbine manufacturing and scaling up existing production capacity The company also looking at raising headcount in India from 17,000 at present to 25,000 by 2012.

Of the total investment, Rs 500 crore would be used for setting up a high-end technology wind turbine manufacturing facility in the country.

Reports indicate that Indian IT major Wipro will hire 7,500 new employees in the coming fiscal year. The company is currently making lateral hirings and will also hire non-engineering students.

Placement News
157 get offer letters

In a placement drive launched by Institute of Technology and Future Management Trends (ITFT), Chandigarh, 157 students received offer letters from major corporate houses such as BMI, Radisson Delhi, Taj Hyderabad, Indigo airlines, HDFC, Leela Palace, ISTA Amritsar, Career Weavers, Indian holidays and the likes actively participated in the placement programme, while another 77 students have also been shortlisted.

Some more recruiters who could not turn up for the virtual campus placement but absorbed students were Together Events, International Travel House, Net Tourism Pvt Ltd. and DLF.

Leela Palace, Bangalore, a well-known hotel chain, also selected 23 students. Different categories of jobs such as Front Office Associates, Steward Captains, Events Executives, Customer Service Consultants, Guest Relation Executives, and Housekeeping Associates were offered during the placement drive. — TNS

On My Own
Perseverance pays
Rakesh Kumar

Very few stood by him when the IT bubble burst in 1997. But with three companies — IICE-computer education, International Business Services and Visa Planet — under the banner of Kamra Group almost a decade later, 33-year-old Sharad Kamra is an example of what hard work and perseverance can achieve.

For this young entrepreneur who forayed in education sector from a lone computer centre in the sleepy town of Hisar in Haryana, it has not been a smooth run. Kamra, who hates to call his success a stroke of sheer good luck, aspires to be a Rs 100-crore conglomerate in the next three years. Kamra shares the highs and lows of his venture in an interview.

Excerpts:

What made you enter the field of IT education?

I was a fresh passout from college and unlike many others of my age, I wanted to start my own venture. At that time there was a boom in the IT sector across the world, and IT companies were often complaining about the lack of adequately trained manpower.

At a seminar I heard NASSCOM chief Kiran Karnik urge the state governments of Punjab Haryana and Himachal to provide quality of human resources to the industry. Many felt this could happen only through the intervention of government. But I refused to buy this argument and started with my own venture. Initially I started from Hisar in Haryana and today the group has pan India presence.

What were the main challenges that you faced as an independent entrepreneur and what lessons did you learn?

There is no business which doesn’t have its ups and down. In 1997 when the IT bubble burst the demand for IT related courses dipped drastically. There was a time when our franchises wanted to close shop. It was at this time that we started restructuring our strategies, and started looking for different verticals in education and other fields. This later paved for new companies like International Business Solutions.

Very few stood by me when IT bubble burst in 1997. My employees left me and my company in a way was just a one-man army. But I never gave up and as one door closed I looked for other avenues and took calculated risks. As a result today we have a network of more than 280 franchise-based centres all over India, offering latest courses in the IT sector.

Do you have any expansion plans?

The Indian Institute of Computer Education (IICE-computer education) is looking forward to expanding beyond the Indian territory. The company is likely to open branches in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Sri Lanka, China, and in few European countries besides recruiting 500 more employees for its domestic and international operations. New expansions will take the employee count to almost 1,000 in the next few months. For this we are already in talks with a few venture capitalists. We are pretty sure about the deals and that can happen any time.

What was the idea behind the launch of International Business Services? How did you conceptualise IBS?

IBS is one of the flagship companies of our group. After the success of education venture, we incorporated IBS in 2004. It offers a collage of services for its Indian and overseas clients to overcome the entry barriers so as to enter the new global markets.

We have a mission to help our clients achieve their goals by providing them world-class service that is both reliable and competitively superior. A 100 per cent growth year on year is the direct derivative of our company’s prowess to combine more than 15 years of experience in various fields with the talent of 500 employees working across the world. We intend to open 10 more offices across the world for our IBS venture so as to be a facilitator between entrepreneurs.

Fortnightly Quiz-355

1. Which genetically modified vegetable’s introduction was recently put on hold by the government till independent scientific studies established health and environment safety of the crop?

2. Which year has been the hottest in the past 110 years with abnormally warm conditions during winter and monsoon seasons as per the Indian Meteorological Department?

3. Who recently became the first Indian actors to ring the opening bell of Nasdaq, the world’s biggest stock exchange, an honour given in recognition of the reach and understanding of the world’s largest film industry?

4. Which country is the world’s largest steel producer?

5. Which Asian country recently ushered in the Year of the Tiger?

6. In which place is the tomb of renowned Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib situated?

7. Where is the Osho International Meditation Centre situated?

8. Which Indian city is hosting the hockey World Cup later this month?

9. Which city is holding the Winter Olympic Games this year?

10. Name the car, thought to be fit for all types of circuits, that was unveiled by Force India for the 2010 Formula One season recently. — Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 354: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Yukta, class VI, Sacred Heart High School, Sidhpur, Pin Code - 176057

Second: Gagan Arora, class VII-B, National Public School, Kurali, Pin Code - 140103

Third: Parag Rehani, class VII-B, S.A.V. Jain Day Boarding School, Una Road, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Pin Code - 146001

Answers to quiz 354: 1952; 60; Mahinda Rajapaksa; 1975; V.K. Murthy; Jyoti Basu; Indo-Tibetan Border Police; January 29; Port-Au-Prince; Leander Paes

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address.

Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com

Happiness @ work
Gems of ancient wisdom
Devotion frees

Are achieving excellence at work and leading a balanced life possible simultaneously? Yes. Shiva guided Parvati thus, “Devotion (to the task at hand) frees.” At work, don’t think about dance moves and at the dance floor, forget deadlines exist. Live in the present as the Panchatantra says,

For lost, dead and past, the wise have no laments,

Between the wise and fools is just this difference.

During his fight with demon Gajamukha, Ganesh thrust his tusk into the opponent’s heart. Realising that his death was at hand, Gajamukha sought forgiveness. Forgetting their enmity in an instant, the elephant-god gave the demon the prime position of being his mount.

A muddled head is of no use. Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras writes, “Memory is not allowing mental impressions to escape.”

After her husband Dushyant left, so immersed was Shakuntala in his thoughts that she failed to notice sage Durvasa’s arrival. Enraged, he cursed her, “He, who occupies your thoughts at this moment, will forget you.”

Oblivious of the three promises that Dashratha had made, Kaikeyi rejoiced on hearing about Rama’s coronation. Once Manthara reminded her of the three vows — one to Kaikeyi’s father that his grandson would be crowned King and the remaining two to his third queen for saving his life — all hell broke loose in Ayodhya.

Work hard, party harder! — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com