Choosing paediatrics as your career path is a huge decision. As with any significant life choice, it is very important to take your time, gather as much useful information to help as you can, talk to people who know you and who know the specialty and then do lots of thinking and pondering. This cannot be a rushed decision!
Our #ChoosePaediatrics programme is designed to help you investigate and consider your options. I am really thrilled to introduce this new dynamic, web-based resource. It will cover a range of key issues and host blogs and insights from College members – ranging from undergraduates who are considering the specialty, all the way to senior leaders in paediatrics who have many years under their belts and lots of reflections on the highs and lows of life as a paediatrician
The aim is to give interested clinicians as broad a sense of the specialty with plenty of links to resources.
We cannot afford to lose doctors who, but for an opportunity to experience children’s medicine first-hand, would have chosen to join specialty training in paediatrics.
We all have our stories, and I have to confess that I disliked paediatrics intensely as an undergraduate.* That meant I simply didn’t consider it as a career option. I do not regret the time I spent doing posts in obstetrics and gynaecology, and adult medicine, before finding my true home in paediatrics – but, nevertheless, I would have benefitted hugely from broadening my careers thinking and using the kinds of resources you will find here.
The need for excellent resources has never been more important. The pandemic has meant that many undergraduates had very little time on the wards seeing children, and the vast majority of Foundation doctors were deployed to support adult COVID-19 services and so will have missed their placements in paediatrics. We cannot afford to lose doctors who, but for an opportunity to experience children’s medicine first-hand, would have chosen to join specialty training in paediatrics.
I hope you enjoy what you will discover here. Working in child health is a privilege and a joy! I trust you will get a sense of that as you explore these pages.
- *You can read more about Camilla's career story as one of our 25th birthday blogs! www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/our-history-your-future-camilla-kingdon