THIS future doctor is an epitome of the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
People taking up a medical course can say it eats up a majority of their waking hours and their noses buried in books. Vincent Lorenzo Cabahug can attest to that too. But that does not mean having to completely alienate himself from fun and recreation.
Cabahug, 23, joined a lot of fun runs during his early years in medical school. By being part of the track and field team, he even helped his college win medals in during the school’s annual intramural games.
“Classmates later invited me to become part of the swim team and I also gave it a shot,” he reveals.
It was in these events that an experienced triathlete, Rochelle Tan, asked him to give triathlon a try. This paved the way to increase his physical training and to participate in various triathlon events like Xterra and Iron Man races in Cebu and the World Xterra Championship in Maui, Hawaii, in 2012.
After finishing on top of his class at Cebu Doctor’s University (CDU) School of Medicine just last April, Cabahug was also declared as this year’s recipient of the Sotero B. Cabahug Medal of Academic Execllence.
The “Cabahug Medal” is named after Justice Sotero B. Cabahug, who was a former Cebu governor and distinguished national leader from Mandaue City. The award is bestowed upon college graduates from this city who finish their studies with flying colors.
Cabahug, a grandson of the late Court of Appeals justice, is the 71st recipient of the prestigious award.
A graduate of the Cebu City National Science High School in Labangon, before finishing nursing in CDU, Cabahug found it easier to balance his time for recreation and studying in medical school. He said that with “problem-based learning” in med school, there were a lot of opportunities for self-study and other things he wanted to do.
He often dedicated several hours of straight reading his books and still made sure he had enough relaxation time with the family on Sundays.
“I usually ‘assess’ the lessons that we would have for the week and adjust the amount of time needed to study based on the scope of these lessons,” he shared when he was asked about his idea of a good study habit. Perhaps students can follow these pointers most especially since the academic year has started again.
As of now, Cabahug is undergoing post-graduate internship at the Chong Hua Hospital.
This is another significant step towards his childhood dream of becoming a doctor. “I think I am the only one in our batch in elementary school who really stuck to a childhood ambition (of being a doctor).”
With parents also working as medical practitioners, Cabahug sets his sights in ophthalmology, orthopedics or cardiology as his possible specializations. However, being an eye surgeon, he said, is his priority since people often remember the value of a medical practitioner when he/she “restores” this vital human sense.
“Ophthalmology is also less stressful compared to the other (specializations),” he said.
Although he to have further training abroad, Cabahug promises to veer himself away from the so-called “brain drain” and to practice here in the country.
“I think doctors are more needed here,” he said. This just shows an extraordinary brilliance in his personality, not just radiating from his mental and physical capabilities but more importantly, his warm sensitivity to people in need.