Medicine Overview

Medicine is an incredibly rewarding and respected career. Although it is exciting and dynamic it is ultimately about helping people; about being willing to put someone else's needs first and doing all that you can to improve their health and wellbeing. A career in medicine offers you the opportunity to provide a service to the public through the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, diseases and infections. It is far from an easy option - it takes years of study and hard work, but if you want to push yourself and also have a passion to improve people's lives, it could be the career for you.

Medicine is a challenging career, but the two most important things you must have to succeed are an enquiring mind and the ability to relate to people as individuals, each with their own health needs. Very few areas of work can match the variety of medicine; it will confront you with something new every day. The profession is also concerned with integrity and is committed to uphold a number of timeless values.

If you have a determination to apply the highest standards to your work, you will enjoy the fact that medicine continually pushes the boundaries of what is possible. It will always be at the cutting edge of technology and promote innovation. It will continually ask questions about who you are and what you are capable of and on a daily basis it offers you the opportunity to make a positive and important difference the world around you. That is what makes it a unique and highly-valued career choice.

What does it take?

In terms of the training period, you will first need to apply for a place at medical school, where undergraduate courses are commonly five years. After graduation from medical school, doctors undertake a regarded as an 'apprenticeship' and learning is undertaken while actually doing the job. this 'apprenticeship' begins att eh foundation house officer grade and continues until you become a consultant or a GP. It is also important to remember that doctors have to update their knowledge and skills throughout their career.

To a certain extent, doctors are able to choose in which area of medicine they practise. with the practice of medicine there are over 60 different specialities, each with their own particular characteristics. For example, community-based doctors like GPs have daily face-to-face contact with patients, while other doctors might focus on scientific research that involves less patient contact. Your medical training will give you the opportunity to discover which appeals to you most and can involve studying abroad.

Although the majority of doctors work within the NHS, opportunities exist in other settings, such as the armed forces, the Home Office working as a police surgeon or as a prison doctor, and many others. In your future career you will have good job security and further opportunities to work in another country. Medicine can take you wherever you want to go.

Once you become a doctor you will need to register with the GMC and are strongly advised to acquire medical insurance. Most doctors also become members of the British Medical Association.