By Dr. Farwa Kazmi
Hello there,
I never formally introduced myself, so here it is.
My name is Dr. Farwa Kazmi, and while I currently live in the UK, I proudly call Rawalpindi, Pakistan my home. I’m an Associate Member of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), a Peer Reviewer for the Cureus Journal of Medical Science, and someone who has walked the often exhausting but incredibly fulfilling path of both PLAB and two parts of the MRCEM exams.
But titles aside, I’m someone who knows what it feels like to look at the MRCEM syllabus at 2 am and wonder,
“Can I really do this?”
The Night It All Started
I remember the exact moment I first opened the MRCEM Primary syllabus.
I was in my House Job, doing COVID rotations — exhausted, uncertain, and staring at a document that felt more like a mountain than a curriculum.
Physiology? Pharmacology? Anatomy? I hadn’t touched some of these subjects in years.
The imposter syndrome was loud.
But something in me said, “Just begin.”
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
Why MRCEM Felt Different
Unlike many other exams, MRCEM isn’t just about studying hard — it’s about studying smart.
The pattern is unfamiliar. The syllabus is vast. The time? Never enough.
And yet, I didn’t let that stop me. I created a study plan, figured out how to break down the content, and used every pocket of time — from early mornings, post-shift evenings, and even lunch breaks — to just keep going.
I passed MRCEM Primary while still a House Officer, in the middle of a global pandemic.
And it wasn’t because I was extraordinary.
It was because I was intentional.
From Learner to Leader
Over the years, I’ve been lucky to learn from incredible global platforms like:
- World Health Organisation (WHO)
- Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM)
- Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI)
- International Federation of Emergency Medicine (IFEM)
- Aga Khan University (AKU)
All of these courses and workshops helped shape the way I learn, teach, and approach clinical care — especially in emergency medicine and critical care, which I’m deeply passionate about.
Why I Teach Now
Now that I’ve crossed some of the hardest parts of this journey, I’ve made it my mission to walk back and help others come up.
Every tip I share, every plan I build, every strategy I recommend is something l’ve tested, refined, and lived through myself.
I’ve tried the late night cramming. I’ve dealt with self-doubt. I’ve tested the study hacks.
And now, I want to help you win your exam without burning out, getting lost, or feeling alone.
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn
To every aspiring MRCEM candidate out there, I say this:
- You are not too late.
- You are not too far behind.
- You are exactly where you need to be — at the start of your next breakthrough.
If a House Officer in Rawalpindi, running on call duty and dreams, can do it,
so can you!
Let’s rise, together.
With heart, purpose, and focus.
Dr. Farwa Kazmi
Learn more about our PLAB Course if you’re preparing for that as well.
Check the full RCEM Primary Syllabus here.