TMC Podcast: Interviews with Medical Specialists

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Prof Michelle Leech is a rheumatology consultant and deputy dean at Monash University's Faculty of Medicine. It is hard to believe that she was once a self-described "shy" medical student that dreaded answering questions given her success as a doctor! Today, we walk to Prof Leech about how she evolved from timid medical student to academic pioneer and respected clinician.

Michelle thoroughly enjoys the clinical side of her specialty. For her, it comes down to taing a "good history" in order to tackle the "diagnostic dilemmas" she faces on a daily basis. Her description of a typical day is truly reflective of her university's motto, "ancora imparo" (I am always learning). We learn lots about the perks of rheumatology, including the teams they interact with, and the cases encountered on the wards, which sound fascinating. Moreover, Michelle is able to delve into each in great detail with both the patient and their families. The constant opportunity to teach students and delve into research limits Prof Leech from getting "stuck in a rut". Yet as with any specialty, dealing with patients can bring an emotional toll, especially in rheumatology where it can seem a "world of pain".

We talk at length about the "training bottleneck" troubling many specialties, its impact on rheumatology, and where the future of specialty training may lie (literally - and it's not in hospitals!). Other ideas, such as dual training and flexible working hours, are explained to us by our wonderful mentor. Michelle also gives us fantastic insight into her pathway to being an academic professor and researcher, and how this has helped her clinical work.

Michelle's advice to use students is to simply "have a rest!". We debate the origin and future of the hypercompetitive state of medical school which she believes is up to us as a group to "dial up and down". Her opinion is that work and life exist on a "continuum", not as separate entities, and that we should pursue that which keeps us "energises, and causes [us] to energise others" rather than to fill out our CVs. Wise words! Work and life is a "continuum". She also implored young doctors to admit their vulnerability and ignorance, to lean on those around them for support, and share our stories with colleagues, to foster a supportive community that will stay with us through our junior years (and beyond).

Lots of interaction with ortho, ID, haem, resp.

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Michelle Leech, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into Rheumatology Medical School → Internship → Basic Physician’s Training (3 years full time equivalent) → Advanced Training in Rheumatology (3 years) → Consultant

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 50 female general medicine specialists earning an average of $169,409 * 85 male general medicine specialists earning an average of $256,933

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Dr Alan Briedahl is a plastic surgery consultant working at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Today, we chat to him about his journey from GP-loving medical student to his lofty positions today! As an intern, Alan decided to specialise due to the vast breadth of knowledge required to stay up-to-date as a GP. He found his way into plastics, which suited his self-described "obsessiveness" and desire to use his hands. Listen in to find out why plastic surgeons are the only ones not "pressed for time" and the "creative" ways solutions they find to complex problems.

Dr Briedahl splits his time between public and private work in his theatres and clinic. Both of these involve waking up fairly early and working long hours, with additional on-call work in the public system. This aspect grants him access to some of the more exciting presentations - involving hand, craniofacial and skin trauma - albeit in the middle of the night. For the most part, plastic surgeons deal with skin lesion excisions and cosmetic surgery, and we were surprised to learn which of the two are more grateful for the work done on them!

His work has taken him overseas, where he has honed his skills with basic equipment and helped improve the lives of countless patients. This involves his work as a missionary and board member of Operation Smile. Alan is excited about the future of plastics, especially with the prospect of facial transplants on the horizon. He sees the workload increasing, due to the increase in trauma and skin cancer. Most surgeons tend to subspecialise, but Alan enjoys the variety that general plastics offers. He mixes things up by teaching and making time for his hobbies of sailing and golf - we were amazed how he does it!

As always, we finish with some insider tips as to how to make your resume glean and how to make the most of our intern year. Alan's key message to everyone, regardless of their predisposition, is to "enjoy the journey".

We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Alan Briedahl, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey. Pathway into Plastic sugery Medical School → Internship → Surgical Education and Training program (3 years) → Advanced Surgical Training in Plastic surgery (4 years) → Consultant

Source: FRACS Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 56 female plastic surgeons earning an average of $281,608 * 237 male plastic surgeons earning an average of $448,530

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Dr Heidi McAlpine is a neurosurgery registrar at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. Today, she gives us fantastic insight into what it's like being the only female registrar currently on the program! While occasionally being mistaken for another, more junior member of the team on ward rounds, Heidi thoroughly enjoys her work. She initially wanted to be a neurologist but loved surgery, eventually finding a field that combined her two passions.

Nowadays, her typical day lasts from 7-5 (eek), and involves a mix between clinic and theatre. Listen in to hear some of the awe-inspiring cases she has led or been part of. This high-risk, high-reward specialty lends itself to immense reward from managing the "unexpected" and the adrenaline rush it provides. It provides fantastic vaiety. Nevertheles, she has had to address many uncomfortable and heartbreaking situations, such as breaking the news to family that the team cann't resuscitate their loved one. It is also difficult "when things don't go to plan", as the slightest deviation can have devestating consequences, making it a "considered" decision to undergo surgery.

From Dr McAlpine's perspective, neurosurgery constitutes a significant time commitment, but not one that should get in the way of pursuing one's own life outside of medicine, including starting a family. She encourages all female medical students (including you guys!) to enter the program to show that it's doable, as doctors will change the system by "pushing those boundaries" and "highlighting and addressing" issues within the program. To everyone else, she urges us to "experience everything that we can", especially "hands on" activities, "look after each other", and do what we enjoy.

We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Heidi McAlpine, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey. Pathway into Neurosurgery Medical School → Internship → Surgical Education and Training program (3 years) → Advanced Surgical Training in Neurosurgery (4 years) → Consultant

Source: FRACS Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 26 female neurosurgeons earning an average of $323,682 * 142 male neurosurgeons earning an average of $577,674

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Dr Ranjana Srivastava is a well-decorated oncologist that also holds numerous accolades, including the Westpac Women of Influence Award, recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to medicine in the field of doctor-patient communication, and award-winning author for The Guardian. As a medical student, she enjoyed most fields, but ruled out obstetrics when she "almost dropped a baby", and surgery when she fainted in theatre! It was a rural rotation in oncology where she saw the calming influence her consultants had on patients that she decided to pursue this field.

She has also kept up her writing and journaling which she began at age 5, which has led to her writing for the Lancet (as a medical student no less!), Penguin, The Age and now The Guardian. Her focuses include society and ethics, especially on issues she thinks it is "important for the public to know" about. Dr Srivastava encourages students and doctors alike to read medical journalism exposes. These include JAMA's "A Piece of my mind", NEJM's "Perspective", and the Annals of Internal Medicine's "On Being A Doctor", writing to inform patients and/or doctors.

Her typical week involves a mixture between clinical work and authoring. Listen in to discover how she deals with the emotional burden of discussing prognoses, terminal illnesses and chemotherapy on a daily basis to patients and families. While she finds it incredibly rewarding to help patients, managing their expectations and breaking harsh truths to them can be tough. Moreover, the specialty is "bounding along at an unprecendented pace". This makes keeping up to date inrcredibly difficult, especially with patients consulting the internet for novel regiment. In future, she sees treatments being targeted to patients.

There is no "magic solution" to maintaining a work-life balance, but Ranjana gives us some aspects we should prioritise. Increasingly, clinicians can choose their own hours and draw boundaries from an early age. She encourages students to spend extended periods of time following consultants to learn what each specialty is like. The initial "glitter and glamour" can fade away unless one truly enjoys what they are doing. At the end of the day, Ranjana stresses the importance of being "present" in each consultation, since we "may never see that patient again".

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Ranjana Srivastava, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into Oncology Medical School → Internship → HMO → Basic Physicians Training (3 years full-time equivalent) → Advance Physicians Training in Oncology (3 years full-time equivalent)

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 145 female oncologists earning an average of $208,612 * 200 male oncologists earning an average of $322,178

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Dr Belinda Hibble is an emergency medicine physician currently working in Geelong. Her self-admitted short attention span and desire to experience a variety of encounters in a single day makes her perfectly suitable for her position. Based in a rural setting, one simply "makes it work" in an emergency department. We debate the advantages and disadvantages of not having subspecialties at hand to "siphon off" broad or complex patients, and how this has helped her learn to manage patients in a more pragmatic manner.

Dr Hibble describes high burnout rates amongst ED physicians. To combat this, she suggests doctors involve themselves in other aspects of medicine, including administration, research and teaching, while working in multiple public and private hospitals and considering subspecialising. Work-life balance seems to be an aspect ED physicians struggle with. We discuss the importance of "learning how to say no", and the seemingly impossible task of truly "switching off" with smartphones at hand 24/7.

Belinda emphasises the need to remain "well-rounded", no matter how far along our training we find ourselves. She explains why the Colleges hold extra-curricular activities in "good stead", even for things as seemingly unrelated as sports coaching. She has been able to do this through remaining involved with her Geelong-based Deakin University and spearheading critical care projects. We learn how we can become involved in effecting change from any (sub)committee and any position we hold within one.

Belinda's time with MUMUS has served her well not only in her career but in other aspects of her life. She has used her experience with policy to work with the ED college in changing their curriculum. This leadership has also translated over into her clinical work, as well as looking impressive on her CV. At the end of the day, Belinda encourages us to get out there, experience as much as we can and make an educated decision about a path we want to pursue.

We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Belinda Hibble, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey. Pathways into Emergency Medicine: Medical School → Internship → Provisional ED Training (1yr) → Advanced ED Training (4yrs) → Consultant

Source: Australian College of Emergency Medicine Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 474 female emergency medicine specialists earning an average of $165,786 * 829 male emergency medicine specialists earning an average of $232,595

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Dr Shavi Fernando is an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant working in metropolitan Melbourne. As a medical student, he gravitated towards O&G and paediatrics, deciding on the former after a BMedSci, an initiative he encourages us all to take. He is currently completing his PhD, moreso out of interest than requirement, although we do discuss the growing competition within the field.

Dr Fernando was drawn to O&G because of the "high acuity" of problems facing young, mostly healthy patients. In this way, he sees his work as adding great benefit, and always appreciates the thanks he receives from patients. While he found some barriers as a male medical student, his success demonstrates the (mostly) level playing field O&G offers to both genders, aside from a few hiccups.

Shavi's current practice involves a mix between obstetrics and gynaecology, in both public and private settings. He offers insight into why some doctors choose one over the other, as well as why O&Gs get sued so much and what prospective ones can do to protect themselves (hint: honesty is key)!. In future, he sees a further split between the field's two branches, as well as a greater focus on the growing obesity rate and its complications on pregnancy and delivery. We also discuss the training program's requirements, including the emphasis on research, rural work and clinical time.

One of the main drawbacks of O&G seems to be the "unpredictable" working hours (even more so than Dr Fernando had expected!). Shavi described a typical week and how he functions being on call practically 24/7 at each of the 3 hospitals he works at! He also walks us through the minefield that is taking time off, and tells all our interns to "buy a house early" and follow their passion, both of which seem to be a major focus in the 21st century.

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Shavi Fernando, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Medical School → Internship → HMO (1 year minimum) → Core Training Program (4 years) → Advanced Training Program (2 years)→ Consultant

Source: RANZCOG Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 570 female obstetricians and gynaecologists earning an average of $264,628 * 641 male obstetricians and gynaecologists earning an average of $446,507

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Dr Alessandro Demaio is a doctor in the field of public health that works for the World Health Organisation. He has pioneered several global public health movements, including NCD free, the UN decade of action on nutrition, and Festival 21. Alessandro's work has taken him all around the world, from assisting aid workers in Sri Lanka after the tsunami, Copenhagen - where he completed his PhD in public health - Harvard University, where he pursued a post doctorate fellowship, Geneva, for his work with the WHO, and even Mongolia!

Listen in to hear what it was exactly that swayed Alessandro from aiming towards life as a rural GP to applying for and being accepted as an intern at the WHO. It was in this role that he realised that preventable diseases were found "everywhere", not just in developed nations. Controlling preventable diseases has become the force that drives him to achieve his lofty goals.

The biggest struggles Alessandro faces are the requirement to be "cautious" with what he says when representing the WHO, and the slow pace at which it effects change. He sometimes missed the "immediacy" of the impact one can make as a clinician. Nevertheless, he humbly counts himself "lucky" to work on projects that can effect change globally. His particular interests involve nutrition, food waste and obesity.

A typical day lasts 11 hours and involves practically nothing of what we expect of your average doctor! Alessandro spends his time liaising with experts from around the world and working on large-scale projects. For those of us wanting to do our part, Alessandro encourages us to become involved in the WHO, medical school organisations, or other non-medical organisations. Indeed, he sees his best investment as the "time and risk" he put in to leaving the "safe" path of medicine, with a clear goal and the comfort of equifinality in mind (yep, we had to google that one too). He believes life "comes in stages", and he is happy to sacrifice his work-life balance for the moment to make an impact on the world.

We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Alessandro Demaio, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Also, Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads out there!

http://ncdfree.org

http://www.who.int/nutrition/decade-of-action/en/ Pathways into Public Health: Medical School → Internship → Masters of Public Health (recommended; 1-2 years)

Source: Monash University (degree available at other universities around Australia as well) Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 3,252 female public health specialists earning an average of $118,310 * 3,551 male public health specialists earning an average of $187,468

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Mr Philip Jumeau is an ENT surgeon working in Melbourne. Philip takes enormous pride in his calling, most of which involves nasal reconstructive work, which he finds challenging but rewarding. The "growth and change" he sees in his patients after operations makes it feel like he's contributing to their lives. Such satisfaction more than makes up for the competitive nature of the field's training and practice. While ENT is growing in popularity, there is little overlap with other fields, resulting in fantastic "diversity" with regards to cases. He deals with people from all walks of life with myriad medical ailments, as well we being able to work with implantable technology.

Philip also spends 1 in every 8 weeks in Cairns, where he has established his own business. This aspect of his work involves a higher case load and can be difficult due to the lack of support and tropical climate. However, he sees many weird and wonderful ENT conditions and emergencies (no spoilers here!). At the same time, dealing with hospital administration and budgets can make one "disillusioned" with the healthcare system.

ENT surgeons are beginning to pursue fellowships overseas, taking longer to establish themselves due to the growing subspecialisation of the field. Philip gives us his take on what this means for future applicants. Outside of his field, Philip enjoys mountain bike riding and racing, a passion he has gladly protected by sacrificing some of his work hours. We end with some advice to consider the patients, lifestyle and outcomes we are hoping to deal with instead of the type of work we do when considering a career.

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Mr Philip Jumeau, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into ENT Medical School → Internship → HMO → Surgical Education and Training (SET) Program (3 years) → Advanced Training in Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery (3 years) → Consultant

Source: Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 17 female ENT surgeons earning an average of $200,136 * 85 male ENT surgeons earning an average of $445,939

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Dr. Daniel Golshevsky is a paediatrics consultant working in metropolitan Melbourne. As a student and junior doctor, Daniel had the "pleasure and displeasure" of enjoying every rotation, a dilemma to which many of us can relate. But before he committed to a training program, Daniel took extensive time off (2 years!) to travel during his medical studies, and worked part-time for a while during his training. Listen in to hear about what he did and why he thinks this helped him to become a "better person and better doctor".

The 'mantra' he wishes to impart onto listeners is "don't be in a hurry". In particular, he urges us to consider and seek out the different perspectives of specialties from that of a student, junior doctor and consultant, all of whom see the profession differently. This could help us to not make a "premature" decision. When push came to shove, he was faced with the dilemma of choosing between paediatrics and geriatics, between which he saw many similarities (which we thought was counter-intuitive but which he explains perfectly). Yet it only took one day as a paediatrics JMO to cement his decision.

With increasingly fewer full time public metropolitan consultant jobs available, Daniel originally dabbled in private practice and locum work. This helped to grow his patient base and fill the (surely very few) gaps in his knowledge. Currently, he operates on a 50/50 split between private and public work. He has also noticed that fewer people are using a regular GP, instead turning to public EDs and private paediatricians.

Additionally, Daniel stresses the importance of having a life outside of medicine. For him, his passions are keeping fit and pursuing a field he refers to as "infotainment". He loves "demistifying" the concerns of patients that have been consulting Dr Google or present to him with common misconceptions about their childrens' health or illness. Regardless of the patient's outcome, he feels like he has made a difference. Yet paediatrics isn't all fun and games. In particular, caring for the very sick patients, especially when they are separated from their parents, is tough work. However, seeing his own kids grow up has made it "easier to relate" to his patients on a day-to-day basis.

We finish our interview, as usual, with a couple of pearls for students and interns.

We hope you guys like today's show! As usual, we appreciate any feedback you may have for us. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Daniel Golshevsky, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Paediatrics Medical School → Internship → Basic Paediatric Training (3 years) → Advanced Training in General Paediatrics (3 years)

Source: Royal Australian Fellowship of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 654 female paediatricians earning an average of $147,347 * 683 male paediatricians earning an average of $239,405

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Dr Michael Gingold is a rheumatology consultant working in Melbourne. Today, we unpack this oft forgotten specialty, in which Michael has an abundance of experience. His training has taken him all over the world, and he is yet to meet a rheumatology consultant that isn't "happy". He personally puts this down to the enduring relationships he forms with his long-term patients.

The work Michael performs on a daily basis seems intriguing. As with most doctors, he splits his time between public and private practice, with most of this comprising outpatient work, as well as teaching and supervising the trainee program. However, a good chunk of his day is also dedicated towards answering questions from GPs, specialists and patients. Rheumatologists seem to be an accessible, easy-going bunch! He also gives his two cents on why the current "workforce review" might result in a large changeover of staff in the near future, and encourages all of us that are clinically inclined to be a part of this. Many novel and newly-generic medications will continue to change the pharmacological landscape in this time as well.

Michael's advice for students - aside from taking up rheumatology - involves how and when to take time off, as well as finding and prioritising our interests, both within and external to medicine. "Jobs will be waiting" for us when we return, he assures us! Michael creates envy in listeners they listen to the fantastic places his training and work have taken him. Tune in to this one!

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Michael Gringold, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into Rheumatology Medical School → Internship → Basic Physician’s Training (3 years full time equivalent) → Advanced Training in Rheumatology (3 years) → Consultant

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 50 female rheumatologists earning an average of $169,409 * 85 male rheumatologists earning an average of $256,933

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Dr Chris Karayiannis is a consultant geriatrician working in Melbourne. Originally from New Zealand, he was drawn to Australia in his resident year by its reputation for good working conditions, and has loved it ever since. Chris liked pretty much every specialty he encountered, but it was the diagnostic challenge that solidified his interest in geriatrics. Those with strong communication skills and who enjoy working with allied health should also consider this field.

With the growing popularity of geriatrics, we discuss how to acquire experience and research in the field early on. Chris explains why a growing proportion of prospective doctors are not getting accepted on their first application. Nevertheless, for those accepted into the profession, a rewarding and varied lifestyle awaits. Geriatricians seem to be "generalists that are specialists", dealing with each system as well as the patient as a whole. Chris walks us through his typical day, including how he finds time to work on his PhD! He also offers insight into the rapidly expanding subspecialties our ageing population has birthed.

Yet Chris' work goes beyond preventing falls and managing polypharmacy. Elderly patients have multiple, complex, biopsychosocial needs, which explains why prolonged social interactions with patients, families and treating teams are common. Chris finds it rewarding making a difference to a concerned family by crafting a personalised plan for each patient. However, hospital politics dictating how long patients can stay on the ward for can impede this work.

As always, our interviewee suggests where he sees the field in five years' time, such as how the role of hospital in the home will change, and what we can do as interns to make our first year of work run as smoothly as possible.

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Chris Karayiannis, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into Geriatrics Medical School → Internship → HMO → Basic Physicians Training (3 years full-time equivalent) → Advance Physicians Training in Geriatric Medicine (3 years full-time equivalent)

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary Unfortunately, no data was available regarding the salary of Geriatric consultants. Let us know how this has impacted you Fill out the Google form below to let us know how useful this episode was for you. We really appreciate your feedback, it's very important to us!

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Dr Leon Lai is a neurosurgery consultant at Monash Health. Leon has always been a focused and driven doctor, never considering any specialty other than neurosurgery. His special interest lies in vascular neurosurgery, although this is somewhat in decline due to the advent of interventional cardiology. Nevertheless, as we are walked through his daily routine, we learn how intensely busy life as a neurosurgeon can be. This is a world where 3 hour operations are the norm, and the tiny margin for error can be the difference between improving someone's life and further complicating it.

Leon gives us some advice as to learning the "rules of the game" that is entry into medical specialties. For him, this was taking a PhD and acquiring experience in his desired field early on, both key "tools" to his success. While medical grades as important, he believes the "currency is different" in the working field; in particular, he views two attributes as key to our future prosperity. Leon gives us his two cents as to why it is potentially dangerous to like every field or no field in our student years - eek!

While it fluctuates year-to-year, neurosurgery is highly competitive. We were shocked to learn how many graduates are accepted each year! Leon likens the program to "getting on an incline treadmill and running at full speed". Yet before one jumps on, he suggests we ensure we "understand ourselves a bit more", finding what "motivates us as a person" to prepare ourselves for the long days and sleepless nights ahead that are common in neurosurgery. Indeed, Leon averages around 6 hours of sleep per night (which this writer simply could not do). However, he explains how he was not always like this and what helped him adapt to this lifestyle. We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Leon Lai, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Pathway into Neurosurgery Medical School → Internship → Residency (2 years) → Surgical Education and Training program (3 years) → Surgical Training in Neurosurgery (6 years) → Fellowship (1 year, optional) → Consultant

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Dr Chris Brasher is an anaesthetics consultant who has worked extensively for Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF). He was inspired by the calmness of anaesthetists in "coping with" and "fixing" chaotic situations. After training as a junior doctor in Melbourne, Chris flew over to the UK to complete his training out of "fear of boredom", wanting to broaden his view of the world. This led to his involvement with MSF.

Chris has worked mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa and extensively in war-torn Rwanda, after the genocide. He tells many fascinating stories about the colleagues and patients he met (no spoilers here!). This includes dealing with issues rarely seen in metropolitan Australia, such as gunshot trauma, malnutrition, and tropical diseases. He described how he was able to adapt to the vastly different working conditions and available resources. Dealing with the sudden death of patients, interpersonal conflicts with staff and fear of physical safety were everpresent difficulties on the 30 missions he undertook over 9 years, not to mention the social isolation of being apart from family and friends.

Eventually, Chris' cumulative burn out and overload of "chaos" led him to return to Melbourne. However, he has found it difficult to transition back into the "comfortable" life back home. It is somewhat "alienating" having so many experiences that are difficult to share. However, his experiences have improved his problem solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure, as well as aiding him to deal with the reality of death.

Chris offers a few ways in which students and doctors can prepare themselves for volunteering overseas. He lists a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when it comes to considering and applying to work in this field. We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Chris Brasher, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Pathways into Anaesthetics: Medical School → Internship (1 year) → HMO 1 (1 year) → Anaesthetics training (5 years) → Consultant

Source: ANZCA

Get involved with MSF here Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 945 female anaesthetists earning an average of $243,582 * 2160 male anaesthetists earning an average of $370,492

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Dr Ahmed Hassan is an ophthalmologist working in Victoria. We begin our conversation today with how Ahmed stumbled into ophthalmology during his HMO 2 year in Bendigo (quite literally!). Having entered medicine with a background interest in fine arts and crafts, the skill of "bloodless" surgery appealed to Ahmed, who hasn't looked back since entering the field (no pun intended). Since that time, his work has taken him from Australia - predominantly in Wonthaggi but also in Alice Springs performing outpatient procedures - to Myanmar and Ethiopia. We learn about what other specialties aside from ophthalmology are useful for this doctors aiming to work internationally.

Ahmed believes ophthalmology to be one of the most rewarding specialties. For example, we learn that cataract surgery ranks second in operations in terms of improvement in quality of life (number one will shock you!! #clickbait). It is this patient satisfaction that drives him to pursue his line of work. However, some aspects of the job, including advanced diseases with no cures, can be taxing.

The training program, which comprises intense study, on call work and a great deal of learning on the job, is "busy". Yet graduates are rewarded with a fantastic lifestyle upon passing there exams. The lack of inpatient work, few emergencies and extensive private practice make this specialty a lucrative one. We discuss the subspecialties available to consultants, as well how to maximise one's chances of being accepted into the program, such as the benefits of diplomas and general surgical years. Ahmed delivers some fantastic life advice that all aspiring doctors should hear. We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Ahmed Hassan, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Pathways into Ophthlmology: Medical School → Internship → HMO (1 year minimum) → Advanced Training in Ophthalmology (5 years) → consultant

Source: FRANZCO Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 143 female ophthalmologists earning an average of $217,242 * 423 male ophthalmologists earning an average of $552,947

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Dr Jillian Lau is an Infectious Diseases registrar at Box Hill. Throughout her junior doctor years, various specialties stood out to Jillian. Her enthusiasm for surgery and cardiology were dampened by the lifestyle sacrifices she would have to make, while the variety of ED was made too stressful with the introduction of the infamous "4 hour rule". We learn why the simple reason she chose to do an ID rotation in her residency led to her pursuing it as a career pathway, despite failing her first exam!

Jillian touts the myriad "lifestyle" benefits of ID, including the lack of bedcards, emergencies, overtime and on-call work. Working mainly with other teams, she is able to both enjoy the benefits of liaising with a multidisciplinary team - ranging from podiatrists and pharmacists to allied health and nurses - while structuring her own day based on the priority level of her referrals. The specialty keeps her on her toes with the variety of patients encountered, most of which she is able to cure or restore quality of life to. Consultants are flexible when it coms to job sharing and maternity leave. This specialty almost sounds too good to be true!

Yet all medical pathways come with caveat(s). For Jillian, this is mainly the frustration involved when the bedcard specialty team discards her carefully-crafted advice. Each patient encounter involves a great detail of documentation, which (she jokes (?)) "surgical interns use as discharge summaries". Moreover, the rise of multi-drug resistant organisms has complicated once straightforward patient management. Jillian sees judicious use of antibiotics as a cornerstone of future changes in the ID sphere.

We talk about the various subspecialties in ID - including travel medicine, microbiology, and why infections in pregnancy is a niche waiting to be explored by students. Most of these involve cobbling together part-time positions, which Jillian sees as both an advantage and drawback of modern medicine. However, she gives us a tips regarding networking, internship and research to help us enter and enjoy our field. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Jillian Lau, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Infectious Diseases Medical School → Internship → Basic Physicians Training (3 years Full Time Equivalent) → Advanced Physicians Training in Infectious Diseases (3 years Full Time Equivalent)

Source: Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases Salary Unfortunately, no data was available regarding the salary of Infectious Diseases consultants. Let us know how this has impacted you Fill out the Google form below to let us know how useful this episode was for you. We really appreciate your feedback, it's very important to us!

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Dr Rabi Solaiman is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon working in metropolitan Melbourne. Initially drawn to cardiology and neurology, Dr Solaiman's experience in his ED rotation as an intern solidified his career outlook, where he contrasted the uncertain and "longitudinal" journey of medical patients with the "acute" issues and quick fixes offered to surgical patients. However, for those of us still uncertain of where our future lies, Rabi encourages us to consider a general year or taking some time off.

Dr Solaiman's love for "instant gratification" has been fulfilled in his time as an orthopaedic surgeon. We discuss with him why the nature of operations satisfy both the patient and treating team, despite their difficulty and complexity. We also touch on the tougher aspects of public surgery: he extrapolates on the difficulty of operating on other doctors' patients, and losing your own to other consultants. In perhaps a topic of discussion not raised enough with medical students, he also gives us fantastic insight into the logistics of running a private practice.

Rabi explains the benefits of the wave of younger doctors beginning to flood the orthopaedic training program. Registrars are no longer expected to work backbreaking hours, a trend which is carrying over to the consultants. The new world of part-time positions means consultants such as Rabi are "as busy as [he] wants to be". This leaves him with ample time to pursue his hobbies such as soccer.

Orthopaedic surgery is also becoming a frontier for cutting-edge surgical technology, including Rabi's own "exciting" experience of performing a robotically assisted hip replacement. Lastly, we glean some helpful advice from Rabi about making ourselves more appealing to the orthopaedic team. He also explains why we shouldn't look at the lifestyle of the registrars when deciding on a medical specilaty.

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Rabi Solaiman, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into Orthopaedics Medical School → Internship → HMO → Surgical Education and Training (SET) Program (5 to 6 years, earliest you can apply is PGY2) → Fellowship (FRACS) for 1 to 2 years in orthopaedics → Consultant

Source: Australian Orthopaedics Association Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 61 female orthopaedic surgeons earning an average of $159,479 * 805 male orthopaedic surgeons earning an average of $439,629

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Dr Eugene Teh is a General Medicine consultant working in metropolitan Melbourne. Our discussion with him today centres around the growing and ever-changing role of the generalist, which is no longer a "specialty by default". Indeed, Dr Teh explains why the idea of dual specialties is becoming increasingly popular in his field.

We chat with Eugene about the benefits of the "holistic" approach general medicine offers to doctors. This not only involves a breadth of systems but considerations of the patient, including psychological and social needs. We talk about the "challenge" of diagnosis, an aspect of the specialty he stresses students must enjoy. However, with an increasingly ageing population with multiple chronic illnesses, Eugene finds it difficult to "cure" his patients. Instead, he has learnt to manage them, a distinction we must keep in mind in order to prevent becoming disillusioned by or frustrated with our goals.

As students, Eugene, like most, encourages us to "enjoy student life" while making sure we "tick the boxes". He emphasises the importance of not only a well-rounded resume but character. Dr Teh explains why and how we should take plenty of time to commit to a field as he did, as well as the critical role mentors play in clinical years.

Practically, Eugene's profession involves the usual combination of clinics, ward rounds, private work, teaching and research, with the reasonable physician consultant hours one would expect. We talk about the benefits of choosing one's hours as a consultant, but the hassle of doing so across multiple sites. As we often see, Eugene's focus shifted towards his family once he established himself. On a side note, let's not forget to keep our own families in mind, even in our years of study! If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Eugene Teh, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into General Medicine Medical School → Internship → Basic Physician’s Training (3 years full time equivalent) → Advanced Training in General & Acute Care Medicine (3 years full time equivalent) → Option to do an extra year in a different speciality for dual training → Consultant

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 500 female general medicine specialists earning an average of $207,225 * 1,023 male general medicine specialists earning an average of $315,114

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Dr Eleanor Thong is an endocrinology fellow at Monash Health. She settled upon endocrinology as a resident, where she gleaned satisfaction from the "direct results" she saw when treating patients. It was this "black and white" nature of the specialty that drew her towards it. Endocrinology seems to be a specialty filled with uncertainty and plenty of public health. While she thoroughly enjoys this aspect, she finds the complex patients difficult to piece together, an aspect of her job which keeps her on her toes!

We talk about the variety of paths one can take as a doctor that don't involve metropolitan medicine. This includes degrees we can study - ranging from masters in public health to diplomas in tropical medicine - to research, taking time off after our intern or residency, and interstate/overseas placements. For instance, Eleanor details for us the indigenous clinics she is proud to be a part of in the Northern Territory. Eleanor fills in the gaps on what her daily routine involves in Melbourne and how this changes as a fellow.

We discuss the growing competitiveness of the field, including what research is looked upon favourably by assessors. We touch on more personal aspects of endocrinology, such as the best ways to stay up to date (including what a journal club is) in the field, the subspecialties available down the line, and where the field will be in the near future. Eleanor in particular raves about the explosion of interest and development in diabetes and osteoporosis research (you heard it here first!). As a woman in medicine, Eleanor has found it important to find a mentor to reach out to for guidance. However, endocrinology seems to be quite accessible in terms of its work-life balance, as we flesh out. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Eleanor Thong, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Endocrinology Medical School → Internship → HMO → Basic Physicians Training (3 years full-time equivalent) → Advance Physicians Training in Endocrinology (3 years full-time equivalent)

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 122 female endocrinologists earning an average of $174,542 * 125 male endocrinologists earning an average of $258,972

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Dr Sid Levy is an advanced radiology and nuclear medicine trainee. He originally intended to be a surgeon, only changing his career pathway late in his training (during his PhD). However, while his career "took a hit" in making this choice, he explains to us why he does not regret his decision. Indeed, he encourages us all to make sure we are fully invested in the field we are pursuing when we discover what that is. For Sid, radiology offers a world of "changing technologies" and the opportunity to "branch out" into myriad subspecialties once established. The enviable work-life balance and novel technologies outweighed any doubts he had about the field.

Sid's typical day involves a mix between performing and reporting on scans. He works with a variety of fields, from cardiology to neurology to his personal favourite in oncology. In this field, he is pioneering the use of PET scans in identifying and managing tumours. Indeed, Sid sees the future of radiology as involving much more nuclear medicine as our reliance on technology and understanding of tumours increases. He enlightens listeners as to the benefits and drawbacks of working primarily with medical colleagues in lieu of patients.

Medical students who find themselves drawn to the visual world, visuospatial orientation and even video games will thrive in a radiology setting. Sid discusses the benefits that attention to detail and "learning a recipe" in order to hone one's craft have. Yet at the same time, he affirms the need for diplomacy and dexterity to appease the colleagues he works with. There is also scope for those who enjoy the science, physics and biochemistry of the different imaging modalities, given that this is where he sees the future lies.

As always, we end our discussion with hot topics including the best time to take time off, the competitiveness of the field, and why radiology exams are considered the "hardest of all specialties" (!!). Nevertheless, there are numerous ways to enter the course, and once one has finished core training, there is great "variety and flexibility" available in this interesting and ever-changing field.

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Sid Levy, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Radiology Medical School → Internship → HMO (2 full years) → RANZCR Radiology Training Program (5 years full time equivalent) → Consultant → Nuclear Medicine subspecialty training (2 years)

Source: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 713 female diagnostic and interventional radiologists earning an average of $180,695 * 1,139 male diagnostic and interventional radiologists earning an average of $386,003

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Dr. Jeffrey Kirwan is a psychiatry consultant at Eastern Health who hails from a small town in New Zealand. His experience in rural hospitals, he feels, greatly accelerated his learning as a junior doctor. He explains when the best time to undertake a rural rotation is and the myriad benefits we can glean from it, as well as why some of the disadvantages regarding references and lack of support are overblown. As interns, he implores us to speak us should we feel like we're not being given enough clinical exposure.

We discuss with Jeffrey how a consultant persuaded him to switch from physician training to psychiatry, and why he has stayed in this specialty ever since. His typical week involves great variety, switching from inpatient, outpatient, and community work to interaction with the legal system and consultant liaising. Each of these are rewarding in their on right: he sees community visits, for example, as an "intrinsic" part of the service, and finds it "enlightening" and a privilege to step into someone else's home. By contrast, there is also gratification in seeing someone recover from a long inpatient stay. Yet as with any profession, there are patients that give doctors grief, with psychiatry being no exception. Jeffrey portrays the stress placed on both patient and doctor by the unpredictability of patients, their lack of insight, and the need to invoke the Mental Health Act.

One of the major advantages of psychiatry seems to be the lifestyle, which Jeffrey argues is predictable and mostly relaxed, with the option to delve into on-call and private areas. However, this contrasts with the training, which involves intense supervision, psychotherapy training, and - of course - exams. Once specialised, there are several subspecialties available to psychiatrists. Jeffrey details why he has chosen old age psychiatry as his main focus outside of his administrative and organisational roles at the hospital.

We hope you guys like today's show! As usual, we appreciate any feedback you may have for us. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Jeffrey Kirwan, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Psychiatry Medical School → Internship → Basic Psychiatric Training (3 years) → Advanced Psychiatric Training (2 years) in general, adult or paediatric psychiatry

Source: Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 1,126 female psychiatrists earning an average of $152,437 * 1,485 male psychiatrists earning an average of $234,557

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Dr. Paul Urquhart is a Gastroenterology consultant based in Melbourne. Today, we dive into his journey into gastroenterology, starting with what drew him into the field and the many places he has travelled to research and train. Paul spent time in Canada, explaining why many doctors choose to practice here during their fellowship as opposed to next-door neighbour America.

Paul gives us great advice on why we should take any job that's available after we graduate before consolidating and shaping the career we want down the line. For him, this was endoscopy, one of gastroenterology's many subspecialties. His reasons for enjoying his work to such an extent are contagious and relatable. Paul enjoys the team-orientated nature of his work, and compares this to the private sector where solo work is the norm. We touch on where the field is heading in the near future, including the growing role of ultrasound.

While Paul admits that the exposure students receive to each specialty is "narrow" and that selecting a pathway requires a "leap of faith", he gives us some tips as to how to make an informed decision. This includes what sort of extracurricular and hospital-based activities and initiatives we can pursue to gain further understanding of what working in a field full-time will be like. In the meantime, we discuss the importance of time away from and hobbies outside of med. He highlights why these not only make us more rounded people but actually reflect well on a resume. We hope you guys like today's show! As usual, we appreciate any feedback you may have for us.

Remember to support us on social media! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Alternatively, you can send us a message via our website. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Paul Urquhart, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Gastroenterology Medical School → Internship → Basic Physicians Training (3 years Full Time Equivalent) → Advanced Physicians Training in Gastroenterology (3 years Full Time Equivalent)

Advanced Physician Training can be undertaken in Adult Medicine, Paediatrics or Child Health

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 86 female gastroenterologists earning an average of $260,925 * 294 male gastroenterologists earning an average of $415,192

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Dr Kate Rankin is a cardiology registrar at Eastern Health. Originally from rural Victoria, Kate has travelled to wonderful cities and brought back world-class skills from these conferences during her training. We discuss what she enjoys about cardiology, including the split between "fixing" ill patients and "equipping" them for and following them up in the future. Kate provides insights on how to deal with those patients that simply won't listen, a situation we can all relate to!

Kate explains the growing number and complexity of subspecialties within cardiology, and whether a PhD is necessary to work in metropolitan Melbourne. She delves into some of these subspecialties and the exciting changes in surgery, pacemakers and imaging that are on the horizon. We discuss her typical day, ranging from the "puzzle" of patients presenting to ED to the long-term changes cardiologists can make, such as Kate's unique initiative that has reduced hospital re-admission rates for those with heart failure.

We learn about the culture of doctors supporting their sleep-deprived colleagues and the importance of finding a "release" and "turning your brain off" outside of medicine. Finally, we get more great advice on several hot topics. These range from making yourself known as a medical student to tips for interns and taking time off. Kate encourages us to always keep the world outside of medicine in mind and justifies why it's okay to change your mind throughout your medical career. This includes degrees we can complete outside of medicine to broaden the scope of our thinking and understanding. We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Kate Rankin. As always, we'd love any feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Pathways into Cardiology: Medical School → Internship → Basic Physicians Training (3 years Full Time Equivalent) → Advanced Physicians Training in Cardiology (3 years Full Time Equivalent).

Advanced Physician Training can be undertaken in Adult Medicine, Paediatrics or Child Health.

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians. Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 151 female cardiologists earning an average of $215,920 * 651 male cardiologists earning an average of $453,253

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Dr Aman Sarai is a first year anaesthetics consultant. Today, we delve into the role of the anaesthetist, which, as most doctors are unaware of, goes beyond putting patients to sleep and sitting on their smartphone. We discuss what happens before, during and after each procedure, as well as switching between "cruise control" mode and jumping into action to manage a critically unwell patient.

Aman particularly enjoys the nature of his encounters with his myriad patients - both in theatre and ICU - and the short, sharp, instant-gratification nature of his work. He gives his thoughts on who is suited to anaesthetics. This also extends to what sort of personality is required to survive and thrive in the theatre environment with health care workers of all inclinations. However, the intense nature of some situations means it can be difficult to teach or interact with the team.

We discuss the lifestyle of an anaesthetist, including how tough it is to get in to the program, why some choose to be on call, and what sort of hours they work. This is split across public and private work, as well as some research whenever they can fit it in. Aman informs us as to the current and future role of anaesthetic nurses and computer programs and how they mesh with the role of the modern anaesthetist right now. Thanks for listening! We hope you enjoyed this week's episode. If you'd like to more about anaesthetics, please fill out the Google form below, or shoot us a message.

Pathways into Anaesthetics Medical School → Internship (1 year) → HMO 1 (1 year) → Anaesthetics training (5 years) → Consultant

Source: ANZCA Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 945 female anaesthetists earning an average of $243,582 * 2160 male anaesthetists earning an average of $370,492

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Dr Nicola Davis is a GP and a medicolegal adviser. Today, we talk to her about her experience in both fields, including what training she had to undertake to become a qualified adviser, and what medical students can do to get a taste of this often unheard of field. She discusses the diversity that having two roles brings to her weekly routine, and how each role and the patients and doctors she meets through them have contributed to her overall understanding of medicine.

We chat about the most common complaints filed against doctors as well as (most importantly!) some practical preventative advice on how to avoid these in the first place without practicing 'defensive medicine'. This includes how to best stay up to date with the literature, communicate properly and document patient encounters. Nicola also gives great advice as to who we can contact and how to diffuse controversial encounters should they arise.

Nicola informs us what she has learnt from her patients as a GP over the years. She then contrasts the reward of helping her colleagues as a medicolegal adviser with the difficulty of untangling tricky situation. Her thoughts are highly insightful given that she is exposed to both the patient's and doctor's points of view. We talk about creating opportunities to travel, optimising our work-life balance and surviving and thriving on our own once we graduate, especially in a rural setting. We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Nicola Davis, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Pathways into General Practice Medical School → Internship → Australian General Practice Program (3-4 years) → General Practitioner

Source: RACGP Pathways into Medicolegal Advising Master of Health and Medical Law (1 year)

Source:UniMelb (available at other universities around Australia)

Salary

According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had approximately: * 9,434 female general practitioners earning an average of $129,834 * 11,178 male general practitioners earning an average of $184,639

Unfortunately, there was no data available for Medicolegal Advisors. Let us know how this has impacted you Fill out the Google form below to let us know how useful this episode was for you. We really appreciate your feedback, it's very important to us!

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Dr Lloyd Nash is a General Medicine consultant, public health advocate and founder of entrepreneurial organisation Global Ideas. Lloyd’s pioneering work in the global health sphere has taken him from the freezing blizzards of Antarctica to the scalding heat of the Kimberley. We talk to him about his experiences in these areas as well as his ongoing work in indigenous communities and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Lloyd explains to us how he transcribed his longstanding passion for public health into a flourishing and sustainable medical career in a field full of “uncertainty”. He describes how he avoided being pushed along the “conveyor belt” of the medical system and now is able to effect change on the “upstream factors” of health. Listen in to learn about the 5 types of public health advocates we may identify with.

We debate how to find a balance between locking in a career path early and spending time gaining “formative experience” in other specialties and as a locum. This includes which specialties are useful to have background knowledge in when considering overseas work. Lloyd advises us how to stay true to our strengths and passions in the face of uncertainty.

Our conversation also encompasses the split between his clinical, non-clinical and overseas work. We touch on what he has achieved through his Global Ideas forums and the myriad people from all walks of life he has had the opportunity to work with. Finally, Lloyd tells us how best to achieve the oft-sought after work-life balance, as well as a balance between achieving our own goals and contributing to society. We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Lloyd Nash, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Pathways into Public Health: Medical School → Internship → Masters of Public Health (recommended; 1-2 years)

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Mr Michael Law is a Breast and Endocrine Surgery consultant at Eastern Health. In this podcast, we talk to him about the pathway he took to end up in his role, and why that may involve spending time in other surgical specialties, completing research and obtaining quality references before beginning dedicated Breast and Endocrine work. He gives us insights into why Breast and Endocrine Surgery has great variety and interaction with the medical field compared to other surgical specialties.

Michael talks about how predictable and stable the lifestyle of a Breast and Endocrine surgeon is compared to other specialties. For him, this includes public and private work, surgical and outpatient interactions, and non-clinical roles. We delve into the "instant gratification"his work gives him as well as how satisfying it is to see patients "survive and thrive" down the track. However, his field does not come with its own technical and psychological difficulties, which he advises us how to traverse.

Our discussion also touches on why Breast and Endocrine surgery are coupled together, and where the field is headed in future, both logistically and technologically. Michael stresses the importance of our junior clinical year, laying out a few ground rules we can follow to make the most of our time. Tune in for his hot tips regarding time management, asking questions and making mistakes.

Hope you guys enjoy this podcast. Feel free to leave us any feedback as always! If you have any questions you want asked, we can send them to Mr. Law for you. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Mr Michael Law, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathway into Breast and Endocrine Surgery Medical School → Internship → Basic Surgical Training (2 years) → Advanced Surgical Training (4 years) → Consultant

Source: Australian and New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons Salary Unfortunately, there was no salary data for Breast and Endocrine Surgeons as part of the 2013-2014 Australian Government Taxation Data. Let us know how this has impacted you Fill out the Google form below to let us know how useful this episode was for you. We really appreciate your feedback, it's very important to us! Loading...

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Dr Farhat Zarei is an Emergency Medicine consultant working in several metropolitan hospitals. Today, we talk to him about what drew him to this field and the pathway he pursued to enter it. He discusses how students can make the most of clinical and research opportunities to maximise their skill set, and what advice he wishes he had as an intern. Moreover, his insights into the lifestyle and job opportunities show a side of the profession that may be different from what we expect of a typical consultant.

We go into detail about how he handles the variety and unpredictability each day brings as a consultant, which involves more than simply diagnosing and managing patients. This includes the importance of managing the “chaos” that is patient flow in addition to the multiple ED teams that may be working alongside each other.

Our discussion touches on where he sees the profession in the near future, both from a logistical and technological standpoint. Farhat informs us as to the benefits of the lifestyle the profession offers and how this contrasts with the stress of control multiple aspects of patient care simultaneously on the job. Listener Questions We had a specific question for an ED consultant from one of our listeners! Jimmy asked: "I would just like to know more about the longevity of the job as many in this field move to a different specialty or retire past the age of 50."

We posed this to ED consultants and asked for their response. We've boiled down their response into the following key points: * You can't work in ED full time for the rest of your life. * Very few emergency physicians work full time over the age of 50, you'll burn out if you do so. * Most emergency physicians have a side gig which they might commit 50% of their time to * Side gigs include working in education, administration/management, quality assurance, ICU, retrieval medicine, toxicology and medico-legal. * You'll always do shift work as an ED consultant, but you tend not to do any overnight shifts, as it will be the registrars who take those shifts. * Emergency physicians are quite desirable from a health service perspective because of their broad experiences.

We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Feel free to send through any questions you may have for Dr Farhat Zarei, and give us feedback on this week's episode by filling out the survey.

Pathways into Emergency Medicine: Medical School → Internship → Provisional ED Training (1yr) → Advanced ED Training (4yrs) → Consultant

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Dr Tarini Fernando is a senior pathology registrar currently completing her advanced training. She decided quite early on to pursue this pathway after enjoying her elective rotation in forensic pathology in her final year of university. We discussed with her what sort of students might enjoy the "culture shock" that is pathology and how best to prepare oneself for the interviews. This includes the importance of research and experience in other wards in the hospital.

Tarini provides us with an insight into the scope of fields and and range of tissues pathologists deal with within the lab, as well as the teams she interacts with outside it. She highlights the difference between public and private work, comparing the financial reward, time commitment and workload demands of both.

Our discussion also touches on the level of knowledge required for both day-to-day tasks and the final exams, as well as how to balance the demands of simultaneously learning and teaching with personal pursuits, family and friends. Her advice also extends to the traits doctors should have to pursue a career in pathology and to deal with the challenges of failing exams and working extra hours.

There is so much information in this podcast - We hope you guys enjoy it! Feel free to leave us any feedback or send through any questions you have. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Tarini Fernando, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Pathology: Medical School → Internship → Advanced Training in Pathology (5 years)→ Consultant

Source: Royal Australian College of Pathologists Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 1709 female pathologists earning an average of $90,935 * 808 male pathologists earning an average of $224,378

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We'd also like to give a quick shoutout to Melbourne artist SNED for composing the music accompanying our introduction.

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This week’s podcast is an interview with Mr. Raaj Chandra, who is a consultant colorectal surgeon at The Royal Melbourne and Box Hill hospitals.

Mr Chandra took a slightly different pathway to most through his junior doctor years – he joined the military air force halfway through this degree and as a result, worked for 5 years in the Royal Australian Airforce after he graduated from medical school. He discusses the advantages and disadvantages of working with the military, the work he did while he was there and how his training pathway changed due to the extra time he put aside to work in the military.

Mr Chandra became attracted to surgery quite early on in his career and he talks about the highlights of surgery and the aspects of surgery that appealed to him. Furthermore, he provides insight into how he came into colorectal surgery specifically. The podcast also covers the best and worst parts of colorectal surgery, which include how challenging but fulfilling colorectal surgery can be, as well as how severe complications can get at times.

We ask Mr Chandra about his day-to-day jobs and variety that exists in colorectal – from clinics to surgeries to endoscopy. He discusses the types of cases he commonly sees as well as the hours he is expected to work. He provides his opinions on how he thinks the colorectal surgery field will advance over the next 5 years, particularly whether technology will reach a point where robots can perform surgeries.

This podcast goes into a lot of depth about what a career in colorectal surgery involves as well as the type of personalities that would suit the job. We hope you guys enjoy it! As always, feel free to leave us any questions or feedback you may have. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Mr Raaj Chandra, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Colorectal Surgery: Medical School → Internship → HMO → Surgical Education and Training (SET) Program (5 to 6 years, earliest you can apply is PGY2) → Fellowship (FRACS) for 1 to 2 years in colorectal surgery → Consultant

Source: Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand Salary Unfortunately, there was no salary data for Colorectal Surgeons as part of the 2013-2014 Australian Government Taxation Data. Let us know how this has impacted you Fill out the Google form below to let us know how useful this episode was for you. We really appreciate your feedback, it's very important to us! Loading...

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Hey listeners - this week we have a chat to Dr. Piyumi Wijesundera who is a general medicine registrar. Dr. Wijesundera is very passionate about her field and it is really great to hear from someone who so thoroughly enjoys their job. She provides a lot of information about the benefits of doing general medicine and the sort of care you are expected to deliver to patients and how this may differ from a more specialised field. She also gives us her thoughts on pursuing research in order to become a better candidate during job applications and whether or not it is necessary for medical students to be involved in research.

Dr Wijesundera goes into detail about the pathway from a medical student to a gen med consultant and the number of years and exams involved. She also discusses dual training and the option for someone pursuing general medicine to pick up a separate specialised field to also practice in as part of a dual training program. We ask her about her day-to-day jobs and the amount of hours she spends at the hospital, as well as how these hours are split between completing clinical and non-clinical work. Dr Wijesundera also gives a brief description of the types of patients and cases you treat in general medicine - it’s really a very wide variety!

We hope you guys like our sixth installment in this podcast series! Like usual, we appreciate any feedback you may have for us. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Piyumi Wijesundera, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

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If you're interested in what we're doing and would like to join our team, head over to our Get Involved page to apply for a position!

Dr. Da Cheng Liu is a Radiology registrar at The Alfred hospital. In this podcast, he talks to us about the type of medical student he was and how he thinks that translated to the career he has now. We discuss the internship application and interview and ways to come across as a good candidate. Dr. Liu also provides advice on how to pursue your interest in radiology as a medical student as he decided quite early on that radiology was what he wanted to do.

Dr. Liu provides insight into how competitive the field of radiology is and ways to improve your CV if you are unsuccessful in attaining a training program position the first time around. The podcast also includes information on the day-to-day jobs of a registrar, the hours involved and the amount of study one is expected to complete after the day is done.

We discuss the subspecialties available in radiology and where the field might progress to in 5 to 10 years. There is a lot of variety in Radiology and this is something Dr. Liu really enjoys about his specialty.

Hope you guys enjoy this podcast. Feel free to leave us any feedback as always! And if you have any questions you want asked, we can send them to Dr. Liu for you. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Da Cheng Liu, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into Radiology Medical School → Internship → HMO (2 full years in a hospital as an intern/resident required before applying to RANZCR) → RANZCR Radiology Training Program (5 years full time equivalent) → Consultant

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This week’s podcast is with Dr. Jessie Teng, a consultant in endocrinology who holds various posts at different hospitals across Victoria. She provides insight into how to go about choosing a career pathway and steps to take in order find information about specialties you may be interested in pursuing. We discuss the importance of research/publications or extra-curricular achievements when applying for positions and the best way to find these opportunities.

Dr. Teng gives us some details on the pathway into endocrinology with a rough timeline on when to expect exams, interviews and how long it will actually take to get into an Advanced Training program. She also discusses the options available for someone who might not necessarily get into Endocrinology training the first time around and ways to become a better candidate for the following year.

Dr. Teng outlines the best and worst parts of endocrinology and gives us several reasons to pursue the specialty. She talks about her work-life balance and the flexibility endocrinology provides in regards to taking time off to have a family or to pursue research or clinical teaching, etc. This podcast has a lot of information for anyone who is interested in endocrinology and will provide a great vignette of the consultant endocrinologist job.

Remember to support us on social media! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Alternatively, you can send us a message via our website. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Jessie Teng, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

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Mr. Yahya Al-Habbal is a General Surgical fellow who completed his training at the Austin Hospital and is currently working with Eastern Health. In this podcast, he talks about what is expected from a general surgical trainee on a day-to-day basis, breaking down the time spent between operating, outpatients and paperwork, and the on-calls/weekends involved. He describes how the job changes as you progress from an intern through to a registrar and then a fellow and highlights some ways to show your interest in surgery as an intern. Mr Al-Habbal talks to us about the difficult conversations you need to have with family when undergoing training and how to maintain a balance between family and study commitments.

Mr. Al-Habbal completed a portion of his training interstate and rurally - and he discusses the differences in the role of a General Surgeon between a big city hospitals and rural hospitals. He also touches on how technology has contributed to the evolution of general surgery over the last couple of years and the potential for robotics to take over general surgery in the future.

The podcast covers the subspecialties available under general surgery and the differences between them. He also provides insight on the types of personalities that would be suited to general surgery and its subspecialties. Overall, this podcast is really interesting for anyone wanting to pursue a surgical career pathway. There are lots of good tips and tricks mentioned for junior doctors and medical students.

We hope you guys enjoy this podcast! Please remember to leave any feedback you may have for us and fill in the survey.

Remember to support us on social media! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Alternatively, you can send us a message via our website. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Mr Yahya Al-Habbal, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Pathways into General Surgery Medical School → Internship → HMO → Surgical Education and Training (SET) Program (5 to 6 years, earliest you can apply is PGY2) → Fellowship (FRACS) for 1 to 2 years +/- subspeciality training → Consultant

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons states that in 2016 eighty-one (81) trainees were appointed into the SET Program to commence in 2017.

The selection criteria for applying for a surgical program can be found here.

The guidelines for surgical applicants, including what your CV should include when applying to the program, can be found here. Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 309 female general surgeons earning an average of $210,796 * 1,289 male general surgeons earning an average of $357,996

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Dr. Sern Yeoh is a Gastroenterology fellow who completed majority of his junior training at Austin Hospital and travelled to Hobart for the beginning of his Advanced Training. In this podcast, he talks about how he decided to pursue Gastroenterology and other specialities he was interested in along the way.

We discuss the diversity of subspecialities available in gastroenterology and how a registrar can be expected to split themselves between inpatients, outpatients, endoscopy, research and several other jobs throughout a normal week. Dr. Yeoh also goes through the number of hours a gastro registrar is expected to work, including on call, weekends and overtime, touching on how difficult it can be to maintain good work-life balance.

Dr. Yeoh gives us his stance on whether or not medical students/junior doctors should spend time pursuing research to make them competitive candidates when applying for hospital positions. He also provides details on how to find research projects that are the most “high-yield” at a medical student and a junior doctor level. Gastroenterology seems to be a very competitive speciality, with about 2.5x the number of applicants to advanced training positions each year; Dr. Yeoh provides some tips on how to be more competitive as an applicant and ways to get your foot into the gastro door.

We also talk about the time Dr. Yeoh spent in Hobart and the benefits of working away from Melbourne and in a smaller hospital. He discusses the challenges he faced as a registrar as well as outline the most rewarding aspects of his job. Furthermore, he gives us his thoughts on how he sees the gastroenterology field advancing in the next couple of years in regards to research, types of patients, new sub-specialities and treatments.

Finally, we discuss the plausibility of taking breaks during the “medical school to consultant” journey and when Dr. Yeoh thinks it’d be most appropriate to take time off, whether it be to travel, to complete a different degree, to start a family or to pursue other interests, and the consequences that may be associated with this.

We hope you guys like our second installment in this podcast series! Like usual, we appreciate any feedback you may have for us.

Remember to support us on social media! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Alternatively, you can send us a message via our website. If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask Dr Sern Yeoh, fill out the form below or shoot us a message!

Advanced Physician Training can be undertaken in Adult Medicine, Paediatrics or Child Health

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Associate Professor Andrew MacIsaac is the Director of Cardiology at St. Vincent’s Hospital. He also holds a role as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and is responsible for all junior medical staff at the hospital. This podcast focuses on the cardiology specialty – what it involves on a day-to-day basis as well as how the specialty has evolved during his time in the field. We also discuss work-life balance and how this changes as you progress from a junior doctor to a consultant in cardiology.

A/Prof. MacIsaac provides his thoughts on the personalities that would thrive in cardiology and as someone who is very involved in intern selection and taking care of junior medical staff, he gives great tips on what to prioritise when preparing for intern applications.

We also discuss how to choose what hospital to apply for in your internship, how to make a good impression in your work as a junior doctor and the role of technology and robotics in future interventional cardiology.

We hope you guys enjoy this podcast – it’s a great interview with lots of insight into being a well-rounded junior doctor and contains several pearls of wisdom!

Being that this is our first podcast which is released, we'd love to get some feedback on the show! Whether it's to do with the content, the format or the technicalities, please send us a message. You can contact us through our website or through social (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

If you have any other questions you'd like us to ask A/Prof MacIsaac, fill out the form below or shoot us a message! Pathways into Cardiology Medical School → Internship → Basic Physicians Training (3 years Full Time Equivalent) → Advanced Physicians Training in Cardiology (3 years Full Time Equivalent)

Advanced Physician Training can be undertaken in Adult Medicine, Paediatrics or Child Health

Source: Royal Australian College of Physicians Salary According to the Australian Government Taxation Data, in the 2013-14 income year we had: * 151 female cardiologists earning an average of $215,920 * 651 male cardiologists earning an average of $453,253

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Hey everyone! We are really excited to bring you this project, and we hope you benefit in some way from listening to our show. You can vote for the first episode here on our blog. Choose wisely!

We have spent many months in the lead up to our release working on this project and we would be so happy to get your feedback on it!

We would also love you to follow us on our journey, so make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Our pages are at @themedcollab for all platforms.

We're working on getting ourselves on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and your other favourite podcasting databases, so stay tuned for updates regarding the process!

If you have any questions, send us a message via social or via our website :)

See you guys in episode 1!

TMC000

TMC Podcast: Interviews with Medical Specialists: Recent Episodes

The Medical Collaborative