Interview With Dr. Young:
1. What did you have to do to become a doctor (How long in school/where you have worked)?
In New Zealand where I studied – most students go to medical straight out of school, which is what I did. It is a 6 year basic programme – with the first 3 years basic sciences and then the clinical attachments after that for 3 more years. Then I worked as a junior Dr in the hospital for 2 years getting more experience. After that some speciality training – I did extra qualification in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Child Health. Then I did General practice training programme.
In 2003 I went to Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and did a 3 month diploma course in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2. Do you use a lot of what you learned throughout your schooling in your job now?
The basic medical training is very important but it is important to get experience on the job. Also to keep on learning throughout the career as things in medicine are changing quickly.
3. What brought you to Malawi?
When I decided to train as a Dr I had thought that it would be a useful skill to use if I was able to be a missionary. Then during my medical training there were a number of committed Christians in my class who were keen on medical mission. So we encouraged each other with the idea that we may work overseas in developing countries working as medical missionary.
When my husband and I were thinking about working overseas we looked at different options. We were keen to work in Africa – and thought that learning a language would be hard for us. So we looked at SubSaharan Africa to a country where English was the trade language, so we would hopefully only need to learn one other language, Chichewa
4. How long have you been a doctor?
I graduated in 1987 – so getting towards 30 years!
5. What is your favorite part of being a doctor?
I like being able to help people in a practical way in a time of need. We are in a position of trust - people share very personal things with us and trust us with that information, so confidentiality of information is very important.
As we meet patients regularly you get to know them and their families. Seeing the mothers in pregnancy and then coming back with a baby who you watch grow up is a special thing.
In Malawi we can make a big difference often with simple interventions – like the basic antiseizure drugs given out at epilepsy clinic. Also very sick kids with malaria can recover quickly – one day you are fearing for their lives, next day they can be sitting up eating chips and keen to go home, that is very satisfying. Also patients with AIDS who can go from near death to healthy living on antiretroviral drugs.
6. Anything else you want to add?
Medicine is a good career choice to work with people and help them. Valuable skills for mission work too.
In New Zealand where I studied – most students go to medical straight out of school, which is what I did. It is a 6 year basic programme – with the first 3 years basic sciences and then the clinical attachments after that for 3 more years. Then I worked as a junior Dr in the hospital for 2 years getting more experience. After that some speciality training – I did extra qualification in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Child Health. Then I did General practice training programme.
In 2003 I went to Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and did a 3 month diploma course in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2. Do you use a lot of what you learned throughout your schooling in your job now?
The basic medical training is very important but it is important to get experience on the job. Also to keep on learning throughout the career as things in medicine are changing quickly.
3. What brought you to Malawi?
When I decided to train as a Dr I had thought that it would be a useful skill to use if I was able to be a missionary. Then during my medical training there were a number of committed Christians in my class who were keen on medical mission. So we encouraged each other with the idea that we may work overseas in developing countries working as medical missionary.
When my husband and I were thinking about working overseas we looked at different options. We were keen to work in Africa – and thought that learning a language would be hard for us. So we looked at SubSaharan Africa to a country where English was the trade language, so we would hopefully only need to learn one other language, Chichewa
4. How long have you been a doctor?
I graduated in 1987 – so getting towards 30 years!
5. What is your favorite part of being a doctor?
I like being able to help people in a practical way in a time of need. We are in a position of trust - people share very personal things with us and trust us with that information, so confidentiality of information is very important.
As we meet patients regularly you get to know them and their families. Seeing the mothers in pregnancy and then coming back with a baby who you watch grow up is a special thing.
In Malawi we can make a big difference often with simple interventions – like the basic antiseizure drugs given out at epilepsy clinic. Also very sick kids with malaria can recover quickly – one day you are fearing for their lives, next day they can be sitting up eating chips and keen to go home, that is very satisfying. Also patients with AIDS who can go from near death to healthy living on antiretroviral drugs.
6. Anything else you want to add?
Medicine is a good career choice to work with people and help them. Valuable skills for mission work too.