"Medicine involves a curiosity of science, practical skills and the opportunity to not only engage with, but to transform people’s lives."

Before making the decision to work in medicine, I decided to do some work experience in hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. Once I completed the worked experience, I knew that medicine was the right path for me.

I currently work as a second year foundation doctor in acute and respiratory medicine. A typical day for me starts at 8am when I receive a handover of the patients who have been admitted overnight or current patients whose condition may have changed. I also review the test results for all my patients and complete a ward round either on my own or with a more senior doctor. Junior doctors spend a lot of time organising and marshalling the care of their patients and getting this right can make a huge difference both to individual patients and the flow of the whole hospital!

I usually have lunch with my colleagues, as there is often there is some teaching put on at this time. My afternoons involve finishing off any ward jobs, writing to GPs about patients who’ve been discharged and helping the nurses with any problems on the ward. If the wards are quiet, I sometimes get the chance to go to clinic, work on a research project or prepare for postgraduate exams. 

Medicine involves a curiosity of science, practical skills and the opportunity to not only engage with, but to transform people’s lives. Medicine is a lifelong profession to which you both belong, and continually learn from - there are few careers as varied.

Talking to patients is both a privilege and a delight. You can often make a diagnosis by just speaking to them and can make a huge difference to their stay in hospital by taking time to explore their feelings and engage with them and their family on a human level. When a patient you have taken the time to know and understand thanks you for your help before they leave hospital, you know you have done your job well.