Chencho Dema

Dr Dechen Wangmo, a graduate of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in Colombo, Sri Lanka, made history at the university’s 2024 General Convocation.

On October 15, Dr Dechen Wangmo achieved an extraordinary feat by winning nine gold medals. Her accolades recognised excellence in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Anatomy (Memorial Gold Medal), Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Overall Best Performance (2nd in the MBBS Examination), and Best Performance in the MBBS programme.

These awards represent some of the highest academic honours conferred by the university.

Dr Dechen Wangmo was among 1,732 graduates recognised at the convocation.

At just 27 years old, from Pemagatshel, she had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Today, that dream is a reality as she serves in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at JDWNRH in the capital.

In her interview with Kuensel, Dr Dechen Wangmo expressed her joy, saying: “I am truly happy and thankful for this. Coming from a humble background and not being a particularly confident person, what matters most to me is seeing my family, friends, and teachers happy and proud of my achievements. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I’m also glad that I was able to represent not only myself but my country that night.”

She emphasised that her success was not the result of a single examination but a culmination of her hard work across several assessments.

“I earned four medals from my first major MBBS exam, the 2nd MB Bar Exam, four from my final MB exam, and one for overall performance,” she said

Dr Dechen Wangmo’s academic journey began in earnest after completing her high school education at Punakha Higher Secondary School in 2016. As the youngest of six siblings, she credits much of her success to the support of her family.

“I would like to attribute my success to all my teachers who taught me from pre-primary through to the end of my degree programme. They saw in me the potential to become a doctor, and I believed in myself because of them,” she said.

Dr Dechen Wangmo expressed deep gratitude for her family, who have been her support system and listened to her concerns every day.

“My friends cheered me on and believed in me when others didn’t. Finally, I extend my gratitude to all my patients in Sri Lanka, who allowed me to examine them and perform procedures despite my lack of experience. I learned a lot from each of them,” she added.

Dr Dechen Wangmo’s path to success was not without challenges. She shared her struggles with anxiety and self-doubt during her exam preparations.

“Actually, when appearing for these exams, seeing myself winning a medal felt nearly impossible. The MBBS exams have always been tough; you need to study repeatedly to retain the content. Anxiety and panic attacks during study leave were common. Sometimes, it was hard to even believe that I would pass the exam,” she said.

Through perseverance and an unyielding spirit, Dr Dechen Wangmo not only overcame these obstacles but also excelled.

“I believe resilience is crucial. The MBBS journey is inherently challenging, and being placed in a foreign land among different people adds an extra layer of difficulty, especially for newcomers. However, continuing to work hard despite the obstacles is the key to success,” she said.

As she embarks on her medical career, Dr Dechen Wangmo serves as a beacon of inspiration for Bhutanese youth and aspiring medical professionals everywhere, demonstrating that with hard work, determination, and a strong support system, even the loftiest dreams can become a reality.

She said: “I’m still learning. However, one valuable lesson I’ve learned is to always strive to bloom where I am planted. Life presents many circumstances beyond our control, so it’s important to let go of those and focus our energy on the things we can influence.”