Case studies: ST1 in obstetrics and gynaecology: Gemma Govinden

Gemma graduated with a degree in medicine (MBChB) from the University of Manchester. She also completed an intercalated degree, gaining a BSc in Neuroscience, by taking a study-leave year between her fourth and fifth years

After I graduated, I completed a two-year foundation programme. I got the position by completing a national application form and jobs were appointed on the basis of this form alone.

It was a rotational job with the first year spent working in a teaching hospital and the second year in a district general hospital. Each year was split into three rotations where I worked in different areas. Over the two years I have worked in general medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, neurosurgery and general practice.

During the second year of the generic foundation programme, I decided that I would like to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology. I applied for a training post via a national recruitment scheme, which was coordinated by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology.

The first stage was completing an application form and ranking the deaneries where you wished to work in order of preference. I was successful and received an invitation to interview with my top two preferences and was successful at interview in both. I accepted a job in obstetrics and gynaecology.

My medical degree is obviously essential to my job as a doctor, but the extra degree I completed has also helped me. It allowed me to gain research experience and when applying for jobs this has made me stand out, because not everyone can demonstrate active participation in research at a junior level.

The University of Manchester takes a problem-based learning approach. Now that I work I am used to the fact that very few health problems are straightforward. With a problem-based learning approach I am able to look at the problem as a whole and break it up into parts so that I can look at each aspect that requires treatment.

My day normally begins with a ward round. I will see the patients under the care of the consultant I work for and decide on a daily action plan. This is normally done with the team of doctors who work for the consultant. Following that, I will then spend half of the day either at a gynaecology or antenatal clinic or at a theatre session and the other half of the day will be spent covering the wards and dealing with acute admissions.

I enjoy working with a variety of people as part of a team to improve patients' general health. I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of the job and using skills I have learnt to ensure a successful outcome. In obstetrics and gynaecology I enjoy the mixture of medicine and surgery.

It is difficult when the outcome for a patient is unsuccessful due to complications or when there is very little that can be done to improve a patient's quality of life.

Work experience is a good idea for people who are considering applying to medicine. For those at medical school already, I would advise them to seize opportunities that are offered to them such as doing on-call work and participating in research and audits.

AGCAS

Sourced by AGCAS editors

Date: 

July 2010

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd | Disclaimer