Dr. Safiul Karim Md. Elies

Room 202 is on the second floor. You probably have to take the slow elevator up. Dr. Shafiul Karim Md Elias sits in there. Head of the physical medicine department at CIMCH. MBBS and FCPS. The hallway outside usually smells like strong muscle rub. Lots of older people waiting. Sitting on those metal benches rubbing their knees. He sees a lot of back pain. People who sit at desks too long. Or stroke patients trying to get their grip back. He looks at MRI films of spines. Pointing at the squished discs. Tells them they need physiotherapy. Maybe writes down some painkillers. Nothing instant. Physical medicine takes time. Probably months.

The rehab room is usually next door. Full of weird equipment. Pulleys attached to the wall. Small machines with wires and sticky pads. TENS machines I think. He walks in there sometimes to check on the patients. Watches them lift small blue dumbbells. Or squeeze rubber balls. He is the associate professor so he oversees the junior therapists. Tells them to increase the heat on the wax bath. Or adjust the ultrasound wand. Patients always want a quick fix. A magic injection. He just shakes his head. Tells them to do the stretches at home. They probably forget the stretches by the time they reach the ground floor. He goes back to room 202. Sits down.