Securing a top rank in the AIIMS DM Critical Care entrance exam is no small feat, and Dr. Mrudula BS has done it while still completing her MD Anaesthesia training. Her remarkable achievement of securing the SECOND rank in this highly competitive exam is a testament to her dedication, strategic preparation, and passion for critical care medicine.
In this exclusive interview with Go the Extra Mile (GTEM), Dr. Mrudula shares her journey, preparation strategies, and advice for aspiring critical care specialists. Read on to learn from her experiences and insights into mastering the AIIMS entrance exam.
Dear friends,
Go the Extra Mile would like to introduce Dr. Mrudula BS, who secured the SECOND rank in the recently conducted AIIMS Entrance exam for admission to DM Critical Care. It is an extraordinary achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that she did it while she was still a final-year anaesthetic trainee.
I, Sumesh Arora, on behalf of Go the Extra Mile, had the pleasure of discussing with Mrudula, the things that helped her achieve success. Here is a transcript of my chat with her.
If you have a question for Mrudula, please do write it here, and she will try to answer.
Go the Extra Mile
Mrudula, please tell us a little more about yourself?
Dr. Mrudula BS
I am from Bengaluru where I completed my MBBS (MS Ramaiah Medical College, 2012) and completed MD Anaesthesia from AIIMS, New Delhi, in July 2021.
I chose critical care because I liked the complexity and how dynamic the specialty is. I loved my ICU rotations and felt truly happy when I was working there. It constantly challenged me, and hence I felt that it was the right fit for me.
Go the Extra Mile
How did you prepare for the DM entrance exam? Can you please tell us some of the things that you did that set you apart from others?
Dr. Mrudula BS
Most of the credit for my preparation goes to internet sources like EmCrit, Internet Book of Critical Care, Go The Extra Mile, Life in the Fast Lane (LITFL), and MCQ books like the one by Sandeep Aggarwal and Steve Bennington. FOAM (Free Open Access Medicine) is a boon to mankind! These open-access websites give a fresh perspective on understanding several topics.
GTEM was my first step toward critical care. I subscribed to it last year, and though I didn’t exploit it to its full potential initially, it was my go-to website when I became more serious. It was extremely helpful, especially in understanding topics like extracorporeal circuits, where the detailed explanation and diagrams made it so useful that it was the only source of study material for several such topics.
My preparation duration was a bit shorter due to my concomitant MD exams. Hence, my strategy was focused on revision (I cannot emphasize enough the importance of revision. In my opinion, it is far more important to go through the topics multiple times than to cover a wide range of new topics at the last minute). I also constantly solved MCQs after reading each topic to assess my knowledge gaps. Instead of studying a single book, I preferred to read original sources online and used the mentioned websites extensively.
Go the Extra Mile
Who has been the biggest influence in your success in the DM entrance exam?
Dr. Mrudula BS
I definitely owe this success to a number of people who constantly stood behind me, and I wouldn’t be here without them. My parents, my sister Manasa, and brother-in-law Arjun have always encouraged me on whatever quest I set my mind to. I can easily say that I am absolutely nothing without them.
Secondly, I would dedicate this rank and this seat to my boyfriend Rajathadri. I have been extremely lucky to have found a person with equal passion and determination, who constantly pushes me to reach for the stars. Studying together with him definitely helped me stay on track, and he guided me regarding the books to study. Truly, I would be lost without him.
I cannot forget my friends Nirmal and Yokasekar for all the amazing pep talks during my preparation. This intense preparation can take a toll on mental health, and constant encouragement from friends helps us overcome these breakdowns. My friends excelled at that, and I am forever grateful to them.
Go the Extra Mile
Congratulations to Rajathadri and you for securing the first and second rank in the AIIMS entrance, respectively. You make an incredible team!
Critical Care training is challenging, with approximately 50% of the training time spent in night duties. The pressure of training may be felt differently by female trainees. What advice would you give women planning for a career in intensive care?
Dr. Mrudula BS
What a nice question! Critical care training is definitely grueling, and I have had a few people tell me that it will be difficult to balance personal and professional life (especially for me since my partner is also in critical care). But I think growing up amidst headstrong women just gives us the push to do anything we want in life.
I have seen numerous amazing women in DM programs who have successfully managed both aspects. One of my seniors even had a baby during the course! The crucial key to balance is definitely a supportive family! At the same time, professional happiness is extremely important in life. So, if this is what you love, you should definitely go for it! Just give a heads-up to your family regarding how demanding the course will be.
I may not be able to speak for young mothers or married women, but everyone is equal, and family members should support each other in achieving their dreams. My partner helps me in all household work, and we split everything equally. I have seen other women managing all the pressure with understanding and support from their families.
Man or woman, if this is what you love, you should definitely be doing it! Being a woman should never stop us from doing what we love.
Postscript
Dr. Mrudula BS’s journey to securing AIR 2 in the AIIMS DM Critical Care Entrance is a true inspiration. Her dedication to revision, strategic use of online resources, and reliance on GTEM and other FOAMed platforms played a significant role in her success.
More importantly, her emphasis on mental well-being, support systems, and balancing personal and professional life highlights the human side of this intense preparation journey.
To aspiring critical care specialists, her advice is clear: strategic study, constant revision, and a strong support system can help you overcome any challenge. Her message to women in intensive care is equally powerful—follow your passion, seek support, and never let gender stereotypes hold you back.
We at Go the Extra Mile congratulate Dr. Mrudula BS on her incredible achievement and wish her the best in all her future endeavors!
