Student profile: Surgery

Why I chose surgery

I volunteered at Westmead Hospital for a week during the school holidays. I was scared of doctors as a child, and the idea of cancer terrified me, but this fear also drove me to understand and learn more.

I watched an operation and was totally gobsmacked by the skill and agility of the surgeons. By the end of that week, I decided I wanted to work in the exact field that scared me the most.

Why I decided to specialise in breast surgery

The main reason was that is complemented my everyday clinical decision making and patient management. There is a real need for surgeons to have an in-depth understanding of breast cancer and also benign breast disease and also to have a great overview and understanding of what kind of oncoplastic techniques are available.

How I balance work and family with study

The work-life balance has been very manageable. I can log on after hours so I can do a full-time job, be on call after-hours and still study effectively. I had a baby... so I’ve been able to manage full-time work and study and also look after my children and family at home.

How this course has helped my career

I find the course has helped me enormously in packaging individualised care plans for my patients, so I can give them state of the art, up to date treatment. The way I see it it’s an investment in my future patients and for me in my delivery of care.