Heartfelt letter from one of our Doctors

Have you wondered what it's like to work at Muscat Eye Laser Center?

 

On today's blog Dr. Dita Sekito tells us how her arrival was at Muscat Eye Laser Center and what she saw about the clinic that made her stay much longer that what she had planned. 

 

“It was in the year 2006 that I had the opportunity to work abroad. I had this offer to work as a General Ophthalmologist in Oman. During that time, I did not even know where Oman is and that there was a country called Oman. I came for the interview unprepared and I was even not properly attired. The first thing that struck me was that the person who was going to interview me was the owner himself. The man I met was Mr. Sameer Al Awam. Little did I know that this person I met would play a great role for the next years of my life. The interview went well and in the afternoon Dr. Maria who is the medical director interviewed me. Right away after the interview, I searched the internet about Oman, Muscat Eye Laser Center and Dr. Maria Clara Arbelaez. I have learned that Dr. Maria has published numerous journals in the refractive field and has won many awards. I have learned that Mr. Sameer was in the Guinness Book of World Records who during the interview showed me Christmas pictures of his family. Even though his religion is different, seeing those pictures made me realize that I was talking to a man who is broad minded. I searched about Oman and I found that it is a beautiful country, considered as one of the top peaceful places in the world and the Omanis are ranked as the kindest people among the Arab population.

 

Furthermore, I searched about the clinic and I found out that it has the latest equipment and the latest technology in refractive laser surgery – procedures that I have not even encountered during my residency. During that time, in 2006, the clinic already had the Pentacam which was very new and not yet available in the Philippines. Moreover, I found out that there were a lot of Filipinos employed at Muscat Eye Laser Center. Based on these facts, I decided to grab this opportunity to work.

When I decided to take the job, I instantly felt the support of the clinic. I was regularly receiving calls from Muscat Eye Laser Center to give me updates. The people who were calling me were Filipino employees who were the secretaries of Dr. Maria and Mr. Sameer at that time. Instantly, I felt comfortable and was already part of the organization. So I came in Oman with the intention to work for only two years. Little did I know that those two years will be extended for so many years more. I have been working at Muscat Eye Laser Center for ten years. My daughter who came when was five years old is now sixteen.

Why did I stay for ten years? I stayed for a lot of reasons. Muscat Eye Laser Center is like a family. The owners and the employees are all part of a big family working together with a mission. The support that I got is more than what I was expecting. All the staff here are treated like a family and not as employees. The administration has programs for staff support. Even the education of the children of the employees is taken care of. The organization itself has a noble which is to provide the best service. In line with that, the clinic is very dynamic. The Medical Director and the CEO make sure that they are up to date with the latest in Ophthalmology. This is the reason why we have the best equipment and the latest technology. Working with such a dynamic organization has helped me a lot to progress professionally. Having this innovative and dynamic culture in the clinic motivated and pushed me and the others to give the best all time in all aspects of our lives.

Muscat Eye Laser Center is also a place for great learning. The medical staff is required to be involved in studies. Dr. Maria, as I have mentioned earlier, has published hundreds of international journals. Due to this, my knowledge has increased and I learn something new every day. Lastly, I have learned to love Oman. It is a beautiful and peaceful country. It is the only place in the world I know where I can still leave my shopping cart outside the store and nobody will steal your goods. Oman does not have too many shopping malls and the way of living is very simple. The local people value things that are really important like family, friends, tradition and religion. The culture is not materialistic. This could be the reason why it is a peaceful country; people are not greedy for material things. All these things have made Muscat Eye Laser Center the best refractive clinic in the Gulf. People from distant places come to us for consultation and for surgery. It is an honor to be working at Muscat Eye Laser Center. To be involved with such a dynamic organization is an opportunity that I hope only deserving people will grab. It is truly a GIFT”.

 

-Dr. Dita Sekito