My First Steps To The Career In Medicine
“This is Going to Hurt- Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor” - the title of the book that confirmed my initial desire to pursue a career in medicine. It is packed full of diary entries both hilarious and harrowing; giving me a realistic picture of the chaotic life of a junior doctor in the modern NHS. Most importantly it showed how rewarding being a doctor can be, with no two days the same, while giving me a better sense of medicine that isn’t extremely idealised.
I first seriously thought about pursuing medicine as a career while waiting in an outpatients waiting area where I found myself in conversation with a patient. The topic turned to the current state of the NHS, due to strains placed by budget cuts and an ageing population, as it tries to maintain an excellent standard of care which the doctors work so hard to give. I began to do some research in addition to attending work experience and realised that medicine was a career I could genuinely see myself doing.
When I first became acquainted with the healthcare system, my grandma being diagnosed with cancer, I was left feeling powerless as a bystander. I decided to arm myself with knowledge and read “The Emperor of all Maladies”, which not only educated me in depth about the history of cancer itself but also its modern treatment. I found the historical nature of the book to be really interesting as it showed how our knowledge of cancer has changed from working to find magic bullets to combat the childhood disease of leukaemia to advanced surgical methods used to remove solid tumours today.
Subsequently, I attended lectures that covered more modern methods of treatment for cancer in the NHS. My enjoyment in research led me to a career in medicine as it allows me to undertake continuous learning as well as real-life application. Research is a crucial aspect of medicine as there are multiple diseases that don’t have cures, leaving doctors limited, and methods of treatment could not be obtained without extensive research and trials.
Obtaining work experience in the neonatal department gave the opportunity to observe the work of a variety of healthcare roles. I saw how a consultant took the time to explain to an angered parent why they weren’t told about a particular side effect of a procedure, before it was carried out on their twins, with great empathy and communication skills allowing the parent to feel more at ease about their children’s prospects. From that experience, I have tried to use similarly empathetic language and compassion when dealing with Residents at a care home.
I found hearing about the doctors' experiences to be really enlightening, whether it was of the heart-breaking cot deaths in A&E or when a baby survives despite the odds, leaving me more knowledgeable about the genuine role of a doctor as they have numerous responsibilities. During the morning ward round, I saw how doctors worked as a team of healthcare professionals while examining each baby and altering treatment plans accordingly, illustrating how crucial teamwork and leadership are to the role of a doctor. It was also illustrated how key nurses were to the role of a doctor as they were often the first to detect signs of deterioration in infants.
Furthermore, my work experience in pharmacies has allowed me to experience and appreciate other aspects of healthcare. Additionally, work experience in a hospital in an LEDC has allowed me to truly appreciate the remarkable system that is the NHS which allows for the best standard of healthcare, free at the point of delivery. Volunteering at Oxfam regularly has allowed me to gain customer management skills, by dealing with difficult customers, which is crucial in communication. Additionally, I have volunteered at a care home for a year, interacting with residents and aiding in different activities developing my compassion and understanding, especially with residents who suffer from dementia.
Furthermore, volunteering as a teacher, for four hours weekly at a Sunday School which has a range of over 100students, 5-16yrs old, has allowed me to gain a wide range of skills from the management of day to day activities, to lesson planning for better engagement and as well as communication with students. My voluntary work with both the elderly and young population has left me with skills that would be useful in dealing with a wide range of patients.
Completing a level one BSL course was really engaging and it is a useful skill for a doctor. I have also been a part of multiple science clubs due to my immense enjoyment of the subject, allowing me to explore science beyond the curriculum. Additionally, I have completed my silver DofE award which enabled me to improve my leadership and teamwork skills. I also completed NCS the challenge taking myself out of my comfort zone.
Finally, I have done judo and completed grading for many years and I find it really enjoyable. Ultimately medicine is a career that allows me to fully utilise my problem-solving skills, empathy, and scientific aptitude; giving me a lifetime of learning with the opportunity to develop strong relationships with patients.
