Dr. Md. Sharif Hasan: My name is Dr. Md. Sharif Hasan. I am a doctor. I work at Square Hospital Ltd. in Dhaka. My specialty is Cardiac Anesthesia. This is a very specific field of medicine. Most people know about heart surgeons. They are the ones who operate on the heart. But there is another doctor in the room. That doctor is me. I am the Cardiac Anesthesiologist.
My job is critical. I describe it in a simple way. I am the patient’s physician during the operation. The surgeon focuses on the surgery. He cuts. He stitches. He repairs the valves. But I focus on the patient. I make sure the patient is asleep. I make sure they feel no pain. But it is much more than that. I keep them alive while the surgery happens.
When a patient is on the operating table, they cannot speak. They cannot breathe on their own. Their heart might be stopped for the procedure. I take over these functions. I manage their breathing with machines. I manage their blood pressure with medicine. I watch the monitors every second. The surgeon fixes the heart’s structure. I manage the heart’s function. We work as a team. But my role is distinct. I am the guardian of the patient’s life during those critical hours.
You asked about the current situation of my work in Bangladesh. The situation is intense. The pressure is very high. Every day, the number of patients increases. Heart disease is becoming common in our country. We see many people with blocked arteries. We see people with damaged valves. The list of patients waiting for surgery gets longer.
There are reasons for this. People are stressed. Diets are changing. Physical activity is less than before. This leads to heart problems. As a result, hospitals like Square are busy. We have to perform many surgeries. This puts a heavy load on the cardiac anesthesia team. We work long hours. We cannot make mistakes. The margin for error is zero. A small mistake can cost a life. So, the mental pressure is always there.
Despite this pressure, the future of this job is strong. The demand is high. It will remain high. As the population grows, the number of patients grows. We need more doctors to handle this load. But there is a problem. There is a shortage of experienced doctors in this field.
We have many doctors in Bangladesh. But we do not have enough Cardiac Anesthesiologists. It requires special training. It requires years of practice. You have to understand the heart deeply. You have to understand drugs. You have to understand machines. Because it is difficult, the supply of doctors is low.
This creates a gap. Hospitals need us. Patients need us. But there are not enough of us. This means the job prospect is very good. If you are a skilled cardiac anesthesiologist, you will always have work. You will be valued. The career path is stable. The financial security is there. The respect is there.
However, I see a worrying trend. You asked if young people are interested in this profession. My answer is no. They are not interested. This is the reality. I see medical graduates. I see young interns. They prefer other fields. They want to be surgeons. They want to be cardiologists. They want to be in front of the patient in the clinic.
Anesthesia is a behind-the-scenes job. When the surgery is successful, the surgeon gets the praise. The family thanks the surgeon. The anesthesiologist is often forgotten. We are the invisible doctors. Perhaps this lack of fame makes the youth less interested. Also, the risk is high. The stress is high. Maybe young doctors want an easier life. They want a job with fixed hours. Cardiac anesthesia does not offer that. It demands your full dedication.
But I believe they should be interested. They must be interested. This is my message to the young generation of doctors. You should choose this path. Why? Because it is vital. You cannot have heart surgery without us. If we do not have good anesthesiologists, the healthcare system will fail. We cannot treat the growing number of heart patients.
Also, the satisfaction is immense. You are the one keeping the patient safe. You are the one managing the crisis on the table. When a patient’s blood pressure drops, you fix it. When the heart rate is unstable, you control it. It is an intellectual challenge. It requires quick thinking. It requires strong nerves.
If you like a challenge, this is the place for you. It is pure medicine. You see the effects of your actions immediately. You give a drug, and you see the change on the monitor. It is very dynamic.
The prospects are there. The hospitals are expanding. New cardiac centers are opening across Bangladesh. They all need specialists. They need leaders in the operation theater. The job market is open for you. The competition is less than in other fields. If you become good at this, you will rise quickly.
We need to change the mindset. We need to show the youth the value of this work. It is not just about putting someone to sleep. It is about perioperative care. This means caring for the patient before, during, and after surgery. The recovery in the ICU often depends on us. We guide the patient back to consciousness. We manage their pain after they wake up.
I enjoy my work. It is tiring, yes. But it is meaningful. Every day I help save lives. Every day I work with a team to fix a broken heart. There is a unique joy in seeing a patient wake up comfortably. There is pride in knowing I kept them safe while the surgeon worked.
So, to the young students, look at this field. Do not ignore it. Do not just follow the crowd. Look at the need in our country. Look at the shortage we face. We need your energy. We need your brains. Come and learn this skill. It is a service to humanity. It is a service to your nation.
The heart is the most vital organ. Protecting it is a noble duty. That is what I do. And that is what I want you to do. The pressure is there, but so is the reward. The future of cardiac care in Bangladesh depends on you stepping up. We are waiting for you in the operating room.

– Author is Specialist (Cardiac Anesthesia) at Square Hospital Ltd., Dhaka