FOREWORD

So you want to be a doctor? Today the choice is vast with options ranging from a graduate degree program to the standard undergraduate course, the choice of a university with city or rural regional offerings and then not least is what sort of practice do you want to ultimately pursue? This last preference may well influence the other decisions.

While the choice widens then the availability narrows of good information to help you make that choice.

Today the old trend of medicine being a family vocation is much less common than in the law. Money alone will not get you into a reputable medical school nor will it buy you good advice. The trusted family doctor who is willing to be your mentor and friend will sadly be difficult to find. So what are your options?

Career Doctor goes a long way to help young people interested in medicine as a vocation make a sensible choice by providing facts about medicine and its varied specialties in plain English. Language which despite its simplicity lacks none of the vital information.

Of course writing in plain English requires the author to be knowledgeable and to really understand the subject, Professor Sydney Nade fulfils all these requirements. I suspect this is the first time that prospective doctors have been able to have some overall view of the profession.

Francis Bacon wrote "Knowledge itself is power ..." so it is good that Sydney Nade is giving young people that power as they contemplate a career in medicine.

Dr John Yu AC
Chancellor, University of New South Wales

PREFACE

How often have we heard the words from parents of prospective medical students, "Her heart was always set on Medicine" or "He never wanted to be anything but a doctor"? Yet to assist and to guide such enthusiasm is not easy. The bewildering maze of choices and challenges within Medicine makes decisions difficult for all but the most single-minded.

Access to high-quality factual data to inform choice is another issue. Although a huge volume of literature exists on syllabi and curricula for each of the specialities, such information is almost invariably directed at regional or national readership. While many young graduate doctors move into specialities as a result of calculation and analysis of information, others choose specialty training because of a personal positive experience, or because of example set by an inspiring role model or even by chance or unexpected opportunity. Publications providing a balanced overview of the spectrum of possibilities available to medical students or graduating doctors have not been available until now.

Career Doctor provides such a balance. It will appeal and be helpful to all school-leavers - those who have decided to study Medicine, those who are contemplating the career but who are uncertain and those who do not know what they want to do. It defines and describes the purpose, function and training requirements for each medical specialty. It is factual, explicit and focussed. It is written in a clear way.

The appeal of this book is therefore timeless and universal. It should be distributed widely and translated extensively. It is a delight to read.

Professor Niall O'Higgins
President, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland