Why I want to be a Doctor

摘要

The fundamental mission of any medical school is to select those individuals who possess the qualities and personality traits best suited to becoming a good doctor. The first part of this article takes a critical look at how United Kingdom (UK) medical schools select doctors, which can vary considerably, and asks whether it can be improved. The qualities needed to be a good doctor are discussed and asks whether work experience illustrates at least some of these personal qualities and should therefore be an essential prerequisite for applying to medical school. Such experience helps the student to make an informed career choice and exploring it at interview can reflect student motivation to study medicine. My experience in Ghana gave me the opportunity to find out at first hand if I had what it takes to become a doctor. The trip was totally inspirational. It made me realise that medicine is much more than being master of all sciences. In Ghana I saw many of the qualities one needs to be a doctor, how this contrasts with the current selection criteria in the UK, and made me wonder whether the UK system offers our society the best practice available.