EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 Issue 2 | Page 5

CO U R S E S & C A REERS
MED I C I N E



A day
in the
life of a
DOCTOR

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Planning to become a doctor? So you’re aware
that includes forsaking certain pleasures and
a life-long commitment to society. No more
sleeping all the way until noon and getting to
bed at dawn like a vampire. Kiss goodbye to
your late nights at the mamak stall. It is not
about you anymore; it is about other people’s
lives. Whatever you do has to be dropped if
you are paged. Even on bad days, you would
still have to shamble off to work like a zombie,
especially if you are on call.

In a nutshell, when you become a
doctor, you are dedicating yourself to
the benefit of mankind. What could
be nobler than that? But are you sure
you are up for the challenge? Do
you have what it takes to be in this
profession? Mind you, it is not at all
like how they portray it in TV shows
such as Grey’s Anatomy or Private
Practice. You need to be mentally and
physically ready for anything.
There are many kinds of doctors,
and they include (but not limited
to) audiologist, oncologist, family
physician, gynaecologist, haematologist,
surgeon, internist, paediatrician,
allergist, dentist, ophthalmologist,
cardiologist, anaesthesiologist, urologist,
dermatologist, endocrinologist,
epidemiologist, gastroenterologist,
plastic surgeon, immunologist,
geneticist, neurologist, neurosurgeon,

neonatologist, obstetrician, orthopaedic
surgeon, ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor
or surgeon, nutritionist, chiropractor,
psychiatrist, psychologist, radiologist,
ER trauma doctors or surgeons and
podiatrists, among many others.
When you are down with fever or any
other general ailment, you’re likely to
visit a general practitioner (GP). A GP
is a medical practitioner who treats
acute and chronic illnesses and provides
preventive care and health education to
patients. A good GP will treat patients
both as people and as a population.
Unlike most medical doctors or surgeons,
GPs take a holistic approach to medicine
that takes into consideration the
patients’ biological, psychological and
social environment. Their duties are not
confined to specific organs of the body,
and they have skills in treating people
with multiple health issues. They are

trained to treat patients of any age and
gender to levels of complexity that are
defined by each country.
In some healthcare systems, GPs work
in primary care healthcare centres
where they play a central role in the
healthcare team. Nevertheless, in some
models of care, GPs work as singlehanded practitioners. They increasingly
work as part of a team alongside other
healthcare professionals, including
community health doctors, to discuss
care options for patients and their
families and help patients take
responsibility for their own health.
GPs who are partners in a practice are
also responsible for the running of
the practice, which involves a range
of administrative activities, such as
employing staff, managing contracts
and working within strict budgets.

easyuni Guide 2013

Issue 2

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