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From Les Coteaux, Tobago to Eric Williams Medical Science Complex

Dr Raulnel Neptune is one of the few male paediatricians in Trinidad and Tobago, a great accomplishment at just 32 years old. In his seven years as a doctor and his time as a paediatrician, he treated children suffering from a myriad of conditions. For him, the job is a fulfilling one but his journey from Les Coteaux, Tobago to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, was not without its challenges. Dr Neptune shares his journey with MENtions:

I spent most of my younger years in a single-parent home with my father in the small village of Les Coteaux in Tobago. Children seldom live with their single parent father but my situation was different. My father gave me a great deal of independence and autonomy at a very young age. It was frightening sometimes because at times, I felt I was too young to make certain decisions; but this was his way of allowing me to make serious decisions at a young age.

When I wasn’t with my father, I spent time with my mother and maternal grandfather who used folklore to share experiences and history. Those moments were exciting, especially for a child.

As a young boy, my dream was to be a pilot because I always wanted to travel, be in a new place and see the sky from above. That dream quickly died when I realized that I would not be able to afford the training required to become a pilot. It was at that moment that a group of friends from high school and I, decided to apply to UWI to study medicine so that we can help improve the healthcare system in Tobago.

-The move to Trinidad-

Taking the step to begin my medical studies, was not overly challenging but it was a bit daunting because I had to move from Tobago to Trinidad. Not having family around and having to navigate things on my own was intimidating, but in retrospect, this was probably what my father was preparing me for, from a very young age. It was a scary, yet an exciting move.

-The ‘med school’ years and the spoke in the wheel-

Medical school itself started smoothly. I was excited to learn but early on, the three-hour long classes became difficult because my attention span can only tolerate one hour. I quickly realised that what was actually taught in the classroom, was just the mere surface and a lot of independent study was required. During the early years of the degree programme, coffee became my best friend as the nights were used to read and catch up.

In my third year, I had to take a year off because I failed an exam. My life crashed and confusion kicked in. I felt that my dream of becoming a doctor was slipping away in front of my eyes. The day I got the news, I called my mother and told her I am coming home. While there, all I heard was my father telling me that “you are here now, what are you going to do about it?” His comments forced me to ‘take stock’ of the situation and mentally prepare myself for the next academic year. I humbly returned to UWI and finished my degree programme the next year.

Throughout my journey, I received a lot of emotional support from my friends and family. They listened to my stories and got a firsthand account of the daily struggles of studying and working. They also provided views as non-medical practitioners, which helped when I approached situations at work.

Why Paediatrics?

After completing the mandatory internship, I realized at that time that job satisfaction was more important to me than money. Paediatrics provided me with that satisfaction. The ability to continuously see positive results by managing children, gave me great job satisfaction and that’s what sealed the deal for me.

I love my job and I love making a difference. The public has a notion that a Paediatrician is simply a doctor who plays with children, feeds them and changes them. This is very far from what we actually do. As a Paediatrician, we rarely see children who are well and healthy: most are very sick. In fact, nurturing a child back to health is not only about giving medication to make the child feel better but it is about understanding the family structure and incorporating the emotional aspect into the caring of the child.

My advice for young men:

It is okay to be unsure or confused about your career when you are young. Confusion brings growth. Before you embark on your career path, find someone who is in the field and listen to his or her journey. Go back to the drawing board and see which journey you wish to make. If one fails, then you already have a map of the second one.

Most times, we feel badly for failing at one thing because we are never taught how to deal with failure and be able to use it as a building block for our next move. This is where mentors and life coaches are beneficial.

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Dr Neptune completed his medical training and post-graduate medical training at The UWI, St Augustine and recently completed specialized training in London, UK. When he is not attending to the needs of sick children, he dedicates his free time to the Nathan Asher Foundation, which was set up to assist children battling rare diseases with some of their medical expenses.

Update: In mid 2020, Raulnel moved back to Tobago to work in the public health care system. He also opened his own medical office called PaedsWorld.