Dr Alison Tree - Ipswich High School 1985  - 1992

Oncology Specialist

The first step to becoming a doctor is to gain a place at medical school.  Everyone will tell you that their medical school is the best but the qualification from each is equivalent.  The course is five or six years long and is certainly not the easiest course, but there is always time for a good social life! 

After qualification every doctor does one year as a pre-registration house officer (PRHO).  Half of this is in surgery and half is in medicine.  By the end of this year you should have some idea of what general direction you would like to go in i.e. surgery, hospital, medicine, GP etc.  Many people do a six month job in accident and emergency which, as well as being fantastic experience, can help you establish what kind of medicine you prefer. 

After this most doctors enter a “rotation” which usually consists of 4x6 month jobs in a specific field (medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, general practice etc) I chose medicine and for this, as for most branches of being a doctor, there are higher exams to take which can be quite a hurdle.  This is called the MRCP (membership of the Royal College of Physicians) and after you have passed this exam you are permitted to apply for registrar jobs (the next level of promotion.) 

I chose oncology, which is the care of patients with cancer, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy.  I enjoy this because I have a high level of contact with patients and their families whilst being part of an exciting and fast moving subject.

Best of luck whatever you choose to do!

I am happy to be contacted via the website.