You can be a true generalist or choose one of the many sub-specialties. You can look after babies born more than three months early weighing 500g and teenagers who tower over you. It’s a chance to interact with babies, children, young people, parents and carers from every walk of life and build meaningful relationships to optimise their health and wellbeing.
Paediatrics is unrivalled in its support for flexible training and many of our trainees work less than full time to support charity work, care for their children or other relatives or pursue interests such as public health or research. The College will be publishing blogs throughout November from paediatricians sharing their experiences of training.
Many of the changes that have happened within training are as a result of trainees coming up with good ideas, supported by senior colleagues
There is no doubt that the work can sometimes be tough when children are very unwell or when you are doing a block of long shifts. Thankfully, we work in strong, well supported teams and always try to find opportunities to have a laugh too. Both the Schools of Paediatrics in each region and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) work very closely with trainees at all stages of training. Paediatrics is a dynamic specialty and many of the local, regional and national changes that have happened within training are as a result of trainees coming up with good ideas, supported by senior colleagues.
So what are you waiting for? Talk to paediatricians locally, sign up for free membership of the RCPCH (open to medical students and foundation doctors) and come and join us in the most interesting, varied and exciting specialty there is.