Rewards in medicine

Klang General Hospital Obstetrics and Gynaecology Medical Officer Dr Alvin Isaac provided advice and insights on the field of medicine to foundation students at a talk held in Sungai Long Campus on 17 June 2016.

“The skills needed to work as a doctor are reflected through the amount of time you spend in school learning about human anatomy. However, there are other skills important to doctors that allow them to excel,” Dr Alvin said.

“Communication is the most important skill for a doctor. You spend a lot of time asking and explaining their diagnoses and treatment plans. Patients expect doctors to be confident, empathetic, humane, respectful, and thorough,” he continued.

However, a doctor’s work is long, often with irregular hours, and puts one up against many difficult challenges while on the job.

He advised the students not to pursue medicine for the wrong reasons such as for wealth or to fulfil their parents’ wishes. Instead, it should be the passion to help the needy that drives them towards the field.

He also shared multiple non-clinical career options for medical professionals. “Besides being a doctor, you can teach new generations of doctors, be involved in medical research, or lead hospital administration; the possibilities are endless.”