Dr Sihle Letren was thrown in the deep end of the pool when she graduated from medical school in 2020, and again on January 29 when she was crowned Trinidad and Tobago’s representative for the Top Model of the World competition, to be held in Cairo, Egypt on March 11.
Letren works at the St James medical complex in the covid19 unit, which she describes as “the heart of the battle.” She said compared to the Port of Spain General Hospital where she did her internship, it is harrowing.
“Working during the pandemic overall has been very difficult…Having to navigate situations where co-workers were getting sick and we had the same patient load with fewer staff members…Working in the covid unit, there was a lot more death to deal with and I don’t think anything prepares you for that,” Letren told WMN.
She said it was a struggle trying to stay positive and in a good mood, while at the same time keeping patients comfortable and trying to reassure relatives.
“This really challenged my ability to compartmentalise things. It wasn’t really something that I had done before because, for me, the ability to empathise makes you a better doctor. Normally, I try to remain very open to understanding patients experiences and what they are going through. But, in the covid unit, while I maintain my empathy because that’s who I am, I have to make sure I don’t dive in so deep that it affects me mentally.”
She said even before she had completed her degree, the pandemic had erected its share of hurdles in her path.
[caption id="attachment_938248" align="alignnone" width="683"] Dr Sihle Letren is TT's representative for Top Model of the World. The competition will be held in Egypt on March 11. Photo courtesy Dr Sihle Letren -[/caption]
“When covid reached TT it was very chaotic because, at the time, I was trying to get back to Jamaica to sit my exams. With the border restrictions and the cancellation of flights, I had to learn to manage online school while preparing for exam. It was very different to in-person classes. Fortunately though, by the time covid had started affecting us, I had finished the practical and clinical aspects of my degree and was just studying for exams.”
The 27-year-old said although she was crowned winner of the local leg of the Top Model of the World competition, she has very little pageant experience. Most of it has been from the outside looking in. Her mother and one of her cousins models.
“This is my first international pageant. In 2015 I took part in Miss UWI, Mona, in Jamaica, where I went to medical school, and I was the first runner-up. That’s the extent of my involvement in pageantry.”
She said it was always a dream to take part in a pageant, and she decided it was time because of the age stipulations that go with pageantry.
“I told myself, ‘if you want to attack that dream you have to go now.’ I decided to jump in and give it my best. It was uncomfortable at first, but it worked out in the end. I won!”
The Diamond Va
