Not completing intern year- help thinking through this please

somebodylikeme

Hi all,


I am looking to change careers and study medicine as a graduate. I have just been diagnosed with a long term immune condition and am worried about the future. I am thinking about the worst case scenarios - just to try to work through everything right now.



Does anyone ever make it through the degree program and NOT do their intern year (I'm thinking what if my health declines and I'm not in a position to practice).


Are there any career options open to people with a degree but who are not licensed to practice medicine clincially? It's been really difficult to find any information on this which makes me think it's very uncommon!



Obviously I want to get through the intern year but if anyone has any insight on this that I could just keep in mind I would be really grateful!


Thank you!

taxignorant

First off can I say I'm sorry for your diagnosis. My mum had an auto immune disease and they are a real unseen thing, people don't often realize how unwell you might be feeling. I hope you can get it under control easily.

I would imagine your specialist and GP might be the best to advise you. They will have a fair idea of prognosis and may even know of someone in a similar boat.

I am sure there might be research jobs you could take, or medical informatics posts but perhaps an MD with it's associated costs wouldn't be the best degree for that, maybe health informatics or medical biology as a mature student? It depends on where your passions lie. I don't personally know anyone practicing medicine with a chronic illness so can't even give anecdotal advice. Maybe try ringing the various admissions offices as they may have had students through before with health issues. Universities are fantastic about supporting students with various needs, but I have no experience of the intern part perhaps another poster can advise on that.

Complicated girl

Hey!
I'm kind of in a similar boat! I have a chronic illness and I've applied for Graduate entry medicine this year. And honestly it's such a hard decision to make and there really isn't much information to go off. When I was at an open day I did ask the course director and she said they've had students with various conditions complete the course over the years. Personally I'm so torn because medicine is something I've always wanted to do and I'm more passionate than ever about it and if I was completely healthy I wouldn't think twice and I'd jump at the chance but it is hard not knowing how an illness could progress over the years, it's so unpredictable!
Sorry it doesn't really answer your question but I suppose I just wanted to let you know there's other people trying to make that decision too! ��

somebodylikeme

Complicated girl wrote: »

Hey!
I'm kind of in a similar boat! I have a chronic illness and I've applied for Graduate entry medicine this year. And honestly it's such a hard decision to make and there really isn't much information to go off. When I was at an open day I did ask the course director and she said they've had students with various conditions complete the course over the years. Personally I'm so torn because medicine is something I've always wanted to do and I'm more passionate than ever about it and if I was completely healthy I wouldn't think twice and I'd jump at the chance but it is hard not knowing how an illness could progress over the years, it's so unpredictable!
Sorry it doesn't really answer your question but I suppose I just wanted to let you know there's other people trying to make that decision too! ��

Thank you so much for your response and sorry to hear you are in a similar position. It's so stressful.

Luna73

Hi - I am starting medicine in September mature entry undergrad. I have had the worse last few years including an autoimmune diagnosis on top of other issues.... I also have a number of friends that are immune compromised and like me on a cocktail of immune suppressing medication to boot. I also currently work as an AHP and have done for a number of years..... 1) Colleges will work with you - they have to. I have trained students for years as an AHP and we do out best to help. Support is there just ask 2) College is only the start and if COVID thought me one thing - it is that you will be looked out for. I had to shield for a few weeks at home - flare up of my creaky joints and change of medications/ A&E SHO friend (Crohns) had to move to oncology (patients there are also immune compromised)/Paeds Reg I know - telephone clinics. Aside from the A&E person we are all back working and seeing patients in last few weeks. He is enjoying ONC so much he's thinking of staying in it!! In terms of rota's - they get adjusted - your colleagues as health professionals should accept you didn't pick your illness off a shelf and that you will do the best you can.... I am not allowed near A&E but following same precautions as my colleagues - I am however not dealing with respiratory patients to be safe. I have accepted my place I have my consultant(s) support which is very important... and one's advice is 1) there is always research if clinical becomes to challenging..... 2) consider an easier speciality... so plenty options!! Don't give up... Any why undergrad in my case - more spaced out to be honest and as I originally graduated a while back and AHP post grad was eligible to apply.

avalon68

Complicated girl wrote: »

Hey!
I'm kind of in a similar boat! I have a chronic illness and I've applied for Graduate entry medicine this year. And honestly it's such a hard decision to make and there really isn't much information to go off. When I was at an open day I did ask the course director and she said they've had students with various conditions complete the course over the years. Personally I'm so torn because medicine is something I've always wanted to do and I'm more passionate than ever about it and if I was completely healthy I wouldn't think twice and I'd jump at the chance but it is hard not knowing how an illness could progress over the years, it's so unpredictable!
Sorry it doesn't really answer your question but I suppose I just wanted to let you know there's other people trying to make that decision too! ��

Just to add in - nobody really knows how their health may be affected in the future. The perfectly healthy person next to you could have a car accident. I've decided to go for it this year after hesitating for a while. If needs be for health reasons you can work less than full time to get through intern year. You could then chose to specialise in an area that isnt as physically demanding - like pathology for example if you found your health deteriorating. The main concern for me would be having to take on large loans and not being able to make the payments if I had to take time off. But, at the end of the day if I dont do it I will always wonder 'what if'

taxignorant

avalon68 wrote: »

Just to add in - nobody really knows how their health may be affected in the future. The perfectly healthy person next to you could have a car accident. I've decided to go for it this year after hesitating for a while. If needs be for health reasons you can work less than full time to get through intern year. You could then chose to specialise in an area that isnt as physically demanding - like pathology for example if you found your health deteriorating. The main concern for me would be having to take on large loans and not being able to make the payments if I had to take time off. But, at the end of the day if I dont do it I will always wonder 'what if'

Good for you, it sounds like you are taking both your condition and med seriously so that is good. Fingers crossed your condition behaves itself during the rough periods. Doing a little study each day and minding nutrition and stress levels can go a long way. If you have flares or rough periods then you just have to take it slow.

The intern year does not seem to be as many hours as it used to be and if you need to put it off a year so be it. There are plenty of less demanding subspecialties and research to choose from. I hope you have good support around you and if your classmates and team are worth their salt they will be supportive too.

Complicated girl

avalon68 wrote: »

Just to add in - nobody really knows how their health may be affected in the future. The perfectly healthy person next to you could have a car accident. I've decided to go for it this year after hesitating for a while. If needs be for health reasons you can work less than full time to get through intern year. You could then chose to specialise in an area that isnt as physically demanding - like pathology for example if you found your health deteriorating. The main concern for me would be having to take on large loans and not being able to make the payments if I had to take time off. But, at the end of the day if I dont do it I will always wonder 'what if'

Yeah that's very true, no one knows what will happen in the future! The financial aspect is a big one for me too and it is daunting to think about that level of debt if I was unable to work. But I think, like you said there's lots of options of specialities etc. And I definitely think I'd always regret it if I didn't go for it!

avalon68

taxignorant wrote: »

Good for you, it sounds like you are taking both your condition and med seriously so that is good. Fingers crossed your condition behaves itself during the rough periods. Doing a little study each day and minding nutrition and stress levels can go a long way. If you have flares or rough periods then you just have to take it slow.

The intern year does not seem to be as many hours as it used to be and if you need to put it off a year so be it. There are plenty of less demanding subspecialties and research to choose from. I hope you have good support around you and if your classmates and team are worth their salt they will be supportive too.

I think I sort of view it that I am not defined by my medical issues. I just carry on as normal, and when something happens, deal with it and move forward. There is always a risk - even when healthy - things don't always go to plan I am minimizing the risk by studying outside of Ireland to make it affordable. I wont qualify for the loan in Ireland anyway, so that sort of made the decision for me.

There are many specialties - I wouldnt focus too much on research though if anyone is thinking of going down that road. I currently work in that area, and its extremely competitive. A PhD would be required, followed most likely by postdoctoral training and its difficult to get academic positions, even as a medic. Competition is intense for a very limited number of spots an its likely you would have to be willing to relocate frequently.