AMAV VICDOC SUMMER 2023 - Magazine - Page 11
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Do you have any
advice for others pursuing
a career in medicine?
For me, medicine
has really been like a
‘calling’ or a passion. For
some, it’s not, but it is
still a wonderful career
path for anyone with a
science-based leaning.
For those considering a
career in medicine I would
emphasise to them that
dealing with human frailty,
emotion and disease
requires a mix of patience
and empathy, not just
academic excellence. My
advice is to consider what
specialist path you take,
based primarily upon your
ability to listen and your
willingness to consider
the patient presentations
holistically. This means
taking an interest in
the social determinants
of health and weaving
aspects of this into the
decision-making process,
with a spirit of co-design.
People are people first, not
diseases and conditions
and to remember to start
every conversation from
this premise.
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What do you enjoy doing away from medicine?
Many things, but mostly being with my family. I love hosting
big dinners and lunches — in fact, the running joke on Saturday
mornings has been, “Who and how many are we feeding tonight?”
I love playing the piano, even though lack of practise means I
now play poorly, so I try to forget that others are listening and
continue doing so. Although I call it exercise, swimming laps in the
50 metre outdoor local pool is great fun too. Add to this, walking
in nature, on the beach and dancing to both Greek and disco
music. Acting and writing nearly swayed me away from medicine
in the early student days, so these are creative outputs that fulfill
me. This list just touches the tip of the many things I like doing,
other than medicine.
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