Newly qualified DFN Doctor, Dhandendra, has passed his medical licensing exam. Like many of our scholars, his path was not straightforward. Dhandendra faced significant financial and personal hardship throughout his studies, but pressed on, and his persistence has paid off. He is now a fully licensed doctor!
He will now begin his bonded service period, returning to his home area in rural Nepal to practise medicine in a region where qualified healthcare is in short supply. He will work among the communities he grew up in, and the ones he trained to serve.
Dr. Dhandendra said:
‘This is one of the happiest days of my life, not only for me but also for my entire family. I am proud to share that I have become the first registered doctor in my family’s generation. This achievement belongs not only to me but also to all of you who supported me, believed in me, encouraged me, and stood beside me throughout this long journey.
My path to becoming a doctor was not easy. In my medical journey I failed the examination several times. Every failure broke my heart. Every unsuccessful result made me question myself and my future. There were days when I felt lost, hopeless, and afraid that I would never reach my goal. Watching others move forward while I remained behind was painful, and many times I wondered if I was strong enough to continue.
Along with the emotional struggles, there were financial challenges as well. After failing multiple times, I worried that people would lose faith in me. I feared that I had disappointed everyone who had supported me.
But Doctors for Nepal never gave up on me.
Not once.
Even after repeated failures, you continued to support me. You never made me feel like a burden. Instead, you encouraged me to keep going. You reminded me that one examination could not define my future. Whenever I was struggling, Dr. Kate reached out with kindness and asked, “What can we do to help you?” Those words gave me strength during some of the hardest moments of my life.
Your support was much more than financial support. You gave me hope when I was losing hope. You gave me confidence when I doubted myself. You believed in me when success seemed very far away.
Many people celebrate us when we succeed, but very few stay beside us when we fail. You stayed beside me during my failures. That is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
To all the donors who supported me, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your generosity helped me continue my journey when giving up would have been much easier. Every contribution you made helped me move one step closer to this day.
To me, you are not just donors. You are my living angels. You are among the biggest reasons why I am able to write this email today as a licensed doctor.
Looking back, I realize that failure taught me many important lessons. Failure taught me patience. It taught me humility. It taught me resilience. It taught me how to stand up again after falling down. Most importantly, it taught me the value of people who stay beside us during difficult times.
Today, I understand that success is not about never failing. Success is about continuing to move forward even when life becomes difficult. The challenges I faced have made me stronger, more compassionate, and more determined. I believe these experiences will help me become a better doctor and a better human being.
My family would also like to express their deepest gratitude to every member, trustee, and donor of Doctors for Nepal. They have seen every struggle, every disappointment, every sleepless night, and every attempt that did not go as planned. They have also seen the incredible support that I received from all of you. On behalf of my parents, grandparents, siblings, and the entire family, thank you for believing in me when the road ahead was uncertain.
I would also like to share that after completing the necessary government procedures and official documentation, I expect to begin my work as a Medical Officer in rural Far-Western Nepal, which is my home region. It is one of the most remote parts of our country, nearly 60 to 70 hours by road from Kathmandu. In the coming weeks, I will likely leave the Kathmandu Valley and return home to serve my community.
As I think about this next chapter of my life, I feel deeply emotional. The support you gave me did not only help one student pass an examination. It helped bring a doctor back to a rural area where healthcare services are limited and where many people need medical care the most. I hope to serve my patients with compassion, honesty, and dedication, and I hope to honor the trust that you placed in me.
I passed my medical license examination , but this success belongs to all of us. It belongs to every donor who helped me. It belongs to every trustee and member who supported me. It belongs to my family who never stopped praying for me.
And it belongs to Doctors for Nepal, who believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself.
Thank you for changing my life.
Thank you for standing beside me through my failures. Thank you for helping me achieve a dream that once felt impossible.
I will carry your kindness with me throughout my career and throughout my life.
With deepest gratitude and respect,
Dr. Dhanendra Shahi
NMC Registered Medical Doctor
A Proud and Forever Grateful Doctors for Nepal Scholar‘