UNIT 1 WHY MEDICINE

A BECOMING A MEDICAL STUDENT

1 You have come to this faculty to study for a medical degree, which is a rather important life decision. Discuss
your motivation for choosing medicine with your colleagues. Base your discussion on the questions below. In
your discussion, try to go beyond the most commonly stated reasons such as following in your parents'
footsteps or wanting to help people (though the latter one is of course paramount).

1 Why did you decide to study medicine?

2 What steps did you have to take to get accepted to study at the Faculty of Medicine?
3 What was your reaction when you got the acceptance letter?
4 What are you most looking forward to at the medical faculty?
5 How do you think your personal everyday life will be affected? Consider things such as:

­ daily regime, time spent at school and devoted to studying

­ accommodation arrangements
­ social life, meeting up with friends
­ family life, visiting your relatives
­ lifestyle (exercise, diet, sleep…)
­ hobbies

2 The following quotes are authentic medical student statements. Which one do you identify with the most and
why? Write a similar statement of your own and share it with your colleague.6

­ I wanted something where I could talk to a huge range of people, be challenged to leave my ‘comfort zone’ and be
humbled by what I saw.
­ I wanted a dynamic job that changed and improved over time, where
‘cutting-edge’ scientific innovation has a practical application in ‘real-
life’ problem solving.
­ Caring for patients as people really is at the heart of medicine, and
it's a great privilege to be able to help people when they're at their
most vulnerable.
­ Medicine's a relatively secure career, offering a multitude of
different areas of work – including opportunities for working in the
developing world. At a time where many people are being made
redundant, doctors are still in the same demand.
­ I'm really happy to be studying medicine and I'm excited to eventually practise as a doctor, but medicine isn't for
everyone. Caring for the infirm is rarely glamorous and patients aren't always cooperative and grateful – the decision
to become a doctor has to be your own.
­ I knew I'd find medicine intellectually rewarding.
­ Studying medicine is a privilege, to me medicine is the ultimate career.

3 You are going to work in groups and prepare a poster with an overview of tips
on the following: adjusting to medical school, study skills, test taking skills,
and time managements skills. The teacher will provide you with further instructions.

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 UNIT 1 WHY MEDICINE

B MEDICAL CAREER

1 How do you envision your future medical career? Read the text below and then discuss the follow-up
questions with your colleague.1

There are currently more than 60 different specialties in medicine and

your training will give you the chance to find out which appeals to you
most.
In virtually every specialty, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Some specialties require particular skills, such as an ability to make decisions in
life-threatening situations or confidence with technology. Many others involve
an interest in teaching and/or research.
Different specialties will necessitate different qualities. For example, if you
want to be a surgeon, you will need good manual dexterity, whilst psychiatrists
need excellent communication skills to work with patients who have complex mental health problems and difficult life
circumstances. As you progress through your training, you will discover what you are suited to.

1 Have you already thought about what particular specialty1 you would like to choose?
2 Alternatively – which one(s) would you definitely not opt for?
3 Would you rather work on your own or be part of a team?

2 Below are some of the necessary traits for people who want to work in medicine (in whatever specialty).
Choose five that you believe are the most significant. Compare your list with a colleague and justify your
choice.

concern for people awareness of their own limitations

an enquiring and open mind able to work under pressure
a rational approach able to sympathise and be non-judgmental
imaginative hard-working
patient determined
decisive

3 The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK claims to operate on a set of values commonly termed as 6 C's.
Try to guess what these might be, two have been done for you as an example.1, 5

care c

c c

competence c

1Specialty (UK, speciality US) is a particular area of medicine that someone is an expert in. Dr Jones's specialty is obstetrics. Do not confuse with
specialization which is a particular part of a wider subject that someone studies especially thoroughly. Applications for geriatric physiotherapy
specializations may be sent to the School of Physiotherapy.

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4 You are going to watch a video in which a practising doctor discusses five qualities which he believes are
essential for becoming an excellent doctor. They are listed below. Make notes for each of them to explain why
they are considered important and compare them with a colleague.10

1 Empathy
2 Desire to help
3 Passion for teaching
4 Passion for growth
5 Performing well under pressure

5 The following expressions have been taken from a text which presents a career profile of a paediatrician.
Match them with their definitions below.

be rostered entail (v) delve into hold the bleeps combat (v)
rota bay mandatory daunting ward
resus call obstetric theatre

1 to take action to reduce or prevent (something bad or undesirable)

_______________________
2 a list showing when each of a number of people has to do a particular job
_______________________
3 to be placed/assigned on a list/plan showing turns of duty or leave in a group or organisation
_______________________
4 to be ready to respond to a pager
_______________________
5 a room in a hospital, usually allocated to a particular type of patient
_______________________
6 an operating room where childbirths are carried out
_______________________
7 emergency call
_______________________
8 compulsory
_______________________
9 an area/room/compartment etc. with a specified function
_______________________
10 to examine carefully in order to discover more information
_______________________
11 seemingly difficult to deal with, intimidating
_______________________
12 to involve as necessary or inevitable part
_______________________

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6 In the rest of the unit you will be focusing on various medical specialties. Before you deal with them in more
detail, practise their pronunciation and spelling. Read the following and transcribe the words back.

/ˌdʒenrəl ˈpræktɪs/ /əbˈstetrɪks/ /ˌɡaɪnəˈkɒlədʒi/

/ˌpiːdiˈætrɪks/ /ˈsɜː(r)dʒɪk(ə)l ˈspeʃ(ə)lti/ /ˈkɑːdiəʊ θɔːˈræsɪk ˈsɜː(r)dʒəri/
/ˈnjʊərəʊsɜːdʒəri/ /ˌəʊtəʊ ˌraɪnəʊ lærɪŋˈɡɒlədʒi/ /pəˈθɒlədʒi/
/saɪˈkaɪətri/ /ˌpʌblɪk helθ ˈmed(ə)s(ə)n/ /ˌreɪdiˈɒlədʒi/
/ˌriːprəˈdʌktɪv ˈmed(ə)s(ə)n/ /ˈdentɪstri/ /ˈmedɪk(ə)l ɒŋˈkɒlədʒi/
/ˌɒfθælˈmɒlədʒi/ /ˈpæliətɪv ˈmed(ə)s(ə)n/ /əˈniːsθətɪks/
/ɪˈmɜːdʒənsi ˈmed(ə)s(ə)n/

7 Depending on your study programme, read one of the profiles of the professionals listed below. You will find
the texts in the SUPPLEMENTS section. Note how the text is structured and what information individual
paragraphs contain.1, 7

Kene Maduemem, MD, a paediatrician

Manoj Kumar, a senior dental officer
Jack Pearson, a trainee clinical scientist (embryology)

8 Using the same structure as in the text in exercise 6, prepare a 2 min talk where you will describe your
professional self five years after graduation. For information and vocabulary on various specialties, go to the
supplement to this exercise (in the Supplements section), where you can choose one which might appeal
to you.1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11

LANGUAGE PRACTICE

1 Complete the gaps in the sentences with the most suitable option (A–D).

1 In the medical school you are expected to _______ from content-driven to time-driven way of studying.
This means you will _______ to studying what is most high-yield based on what you have time to do.
A exchange B replace C substitute D shift
A rectify B adjust C rework D balance

2 You may feel that one lecturer _______ your learning needs while the other does not.
A corresponds B conforms C is compatible D matches

3 Make sure you _______ out to fellow-students if you don't understand the way the lecturer explained
a particular _______.
A speak B reach C check D draw
A cognition B reception C perception D concept

4 Be _______ that there will be new demands in multiple domains.

A aware B familiar C familial D sensitive

5 Challenges at medical school may _______ you to question whether you are intelligent enough to
_______ the curriculum.
A cause B effect C make D affect
A handle B run C supervise D charge

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6 You may get so busy that you feel you are losing _______ with your family. This all can _______
an emotional toll on you.
A sight B touch C contacts D sense
A bring B take C have D pass

7 The stress can lead you to question even who you are and if you are on the right _______ in life.
A journey B passage C path D walk

8 Organize your studying by layering. Learn the major, _______ concepts first.
A over-bearing B over-reaching C over-arching D over-achieving

9 Cumulative review _______ cramming is important.

A even so B best ever C never ever D rather than

10 There is no major secret to learning _______ time and repetition.

A other than B different from C as well as D otherwise

11 Take care with highlighting. It can easily become _______.

A dateless B mindless C regardless D faceless

12 Pre-reading should _______ a basic skimming of the material and take about 10-15 minutes.
A involve B engage C input D enclose

13 Your best friend is not _______ your best study partner.

A necessarily B importantly C mainly D needlessly

14 _______ track of when you get hungry and what you need to eat to give yourself an energy _______.
A Have B Keep C Make D Maintain
A boost B fit C impulse D boom

15 Note your caffeine _______.

A input B intake C income D inlet

16 _______ reviewing the hardest questions first a priority.

A Do B Have C Make D Put

17 Do not change your test answers _______ you misread the question.
A if not B unless C until D only if

18 Prepare for test _______ before and during the exam. What strategies or routines help you stay calm
the night before?
A mistrust B anxiety C suspicion D doubt

19 Keep the exam in _______. Even if you fail, it's not the end of the world.
A focus B horizon C perspective D outlook

20 In post-test analysis, note why you got both correct and incorrect answers and adjust your future study
plans _______.
A respectively B accordingly C nevertheless D equally

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21 In the test room choose your seat carefully to avoid _______ such as the clock ticking too loudly or
watching the progress of others.
A preoccupations B distractions C abstractions D disorders

22 Be _______ strict and flexible.

A both B either C neither D as

23 Every week, schedule a few hours for _______ with the rest of the study group.
A catching up B coming up to C drawing near D timing up

24 After you have reviewed everything, _______ yourself with a break.

A give B reward C award D deserve

25 Know your _______ flags when it comes to procrastinating and losing focus.
A orange B flashing C bright D red

26 You must never _______ to thoughts telling you that you are not bright enough to study medicine.
A give up B give in C give out D give over

27 I have _______ to my current role as a senior dental officer through continuing professional
development (CPD).
A progressed B promoted C extended D enhanced

28 Mistakes are part of life, so it is necessary to _______ imperfection and uncertainty.

A embrace B recover C resume D approve

29 As the time pressure and stress levels _______, you need to be _______ and weather it out.
A raise B arise C rise D grow up
A tall B resilient C durable D elastic

30 At medical school, you'll need to _______ information at a very rapid _______.

A proceed B propose C promote D process
A step B pace C clip D way

31 When you are unsure about an answer to a test question, information in another one may help _______
your memory and you will suddenly remember.
A fire B peek C trigger D joke

32 It is crucial that you spend the time _______ to study most efficiently.
A assorted B allocated C distributed D amounted

33 Success for medical students _______ on how well they manage their time and use it effectively.
A triggers B bears C hangs D hinges

34 A good doctor listens to his or her patient carefully and tries to _______ the treatment with their values
and wishes.
A join B attach C align D place

35 Seeing my patients happy gives me a great _______ of achievement.

A function B sense C passion D impression

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36 It´s wonderful to see that you are _______ a difference in the lives of your patients.
A giving B bringing C doing D making

37 At first, I thought I would work in a lab but then I realized a career with patient contact would _______
me better.
A fill B match C suit D accompany

38 _______ bad news, i.e. telling the patient that the treatment has not been successful, is the most challenging
part of the job.
A Putting B Breaking C Laying D Setting

39 I'm currently _______ rotation around multiple hospital departments.

A in B at C on D by

40 People often think we grow babies in test tubes in the lab, but _______ are no test tubes involved!
A here B they C now D there

2 Complete the gaps with words derived from the words in brackets.

1 Reproductive medicine deals with _______________ and _______________ of a variety of reproductive

conditions. (PREVENT, ASSESS)

2 Embryologists are involved in the _______________ and _______________ of eggs.

(COLLECT, FERTILE)

3 Embryologists work with _______________, _______________ and many other healthcare professionals.
(OBSTETRICS, GYNAECOLOGY)

4 Dentists should have high levels of manual _______________ to carry out _______________ and
_______________ procedures. (DEXTER, SURGERY, DENTIST)

5 Dentists should be able to lead their teams effectively, so _______________ and _______________ skills are
essential for them. (MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION)

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

sb – somebody, sth – something, v – verb

beep pípnutí (telefonu či jiného elektronického
12-hour shift dvanáctihodinová směna zařízení)
to act accordingly jednat ve shodě s něčím, podle care péče
něčeho holistic ~ celostní péče; intensive ~ intenzivní
to adjust to přizpůsobit se, zvyknout si péče
~ to a medical school zvyknout si na lékařskou to provide sb with ~ poskytnout někomu péči
fakultu career kariéra
to align sth with sth srovnat, zharmonizovat něco secure ~ kariéra s jistotou stálého místa
s něčím to catch up on studying dohnat stadium
to apply to zde: platit pro, týkat se clutter nepořádek, zmatek, změť
awareness of sth/sb povědomí o někom/něčem mental ~ duševní nepořádek/chaos
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commitment závazek, povinnost, angažovanost judgment zde: úsudek, odborný názor, stanovisko
company firma, společnost to keep sth in perspective dívat se na něco s
pharmaceutical ~ farmaceutická firma nadhledem, udržovat si odstup
compassion soucit knowledge (sg., pl.) znalost
courage odvaha to update ~ aktualizovat, obnovovat znalosti
to delve into sth ponořit se do něčeho, zahloubat se do to leave one's comfort zone opustit svoji komfortní
něčeho zónu
dentistry, dental medicine zubní lékařství letter dopis
to deserve zasloužit si acceptance ~ zde: dopis informující o přijetí na
determination odhodlání univerzitu
to determine rozhodnout, určit life život
determined rozhodný ~ circumstances životní okolnosti; ~-long
dexterity zručnost learning celoživotní učení / vzdělávání (se); ~-
manual ~ manuální zručnost threatening život ohrožující
to diagnose diagnostikovat to be on right / wrong path in ~ být na správné /
diagnosis (sg.), diagnoses (pl.) diagnóza špatné životní cestě
disease nemoc to lose touch with ztratit kontakt s
disorder porucha to make sb redundant, to be made redundant
embryologist embryolog propustit z práce z důvodu nadbytečnosti, být
embryology embryologie propuštěn z důvodu nadbytečnosti
emergency / resus call přivolání lékaře na to make sth a priority udělat z něčeho prioritu
pohotovost, k urgentnímu případu to make a difference zanechat pozitivní stopu,
empathy empatie, schopnost vcítit se dosáhnout něčeho, mít (pro něco) význam
to entail zahrnovat, obnášet to meet up with friends setkávat se s přáteli
exam zkouška mortality úmrtnost
to cram for an ~ šprtat se na zkoušku ~ under five úmrtnost u dětí mladších pěti let
extraction extrakce, vytržení zubu to combat ~ bojovat s úmrtností
to undertake an ~ provádět extrakci non-judgmental nevynášející hodnotící soudy
to follow in one's parents' footsteps jít ve stopách obstetric theatre porodní sál
rodičů obstetrician porodník
handover zde: předání péče, pacientů mezi lékaři overarching concept obecný, zastřešující koncept
heart attack infarkt to overcome sth překonat něco
to hinge on záviset na něčem pace tempo
to hold / respond to the bleeps být na pracovním at a rapid / slow ~ rychlým / pomalým tempem
telefonu (“pípáku”) paediatrician pediatr
to humble sb, to be humbled by sth zahanbit někoho, pager pager; malé osobní telekomunikační zařízení,
být zahanben někým/něčím které umožňuje přijímat krátké textové nebo
inevitable nevyhnutelný číselné zprávy
information informace pain bolest
to discover ~ objevovat informace; to give ~ chest ~ bolest na hrudi
předávat informace; to present ~ předkládat, ~ medicine algeziologie
prezentovat informace; to process ~ zpracovávat patient pacient
informace cancer ~ pacient trpící rakovinou; critically ill ~
innovation inovace kriticky nemocný pacient; grateful ~ vděčný
cutting-edge scientific ~s špičkové vědecké pacient; polite ~ zdvořilý pacient
inovace care of ~s péče o pacienty
intimidating zastrašující to break bad news to a ~ sdělit pacientovi
job práce, pracovní místo špatnou zprávu; to care for ~s pečovat o pacienty;
rewarding ~ vděčná práce; práce, která přináší to refer a ~ for a further treatment odeslat
vnitřní uspokojení
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pacienta na další vyšetření; to serve ~s sloužit to reward oneself odměnit se

pacientům rota rozpis služeb, pracovních povinností
~ contact kontakt s pacientem to be rostered být dán na rozpis služeb
~'s samples vzorky pacienta; ~'s symptoms specialty (UK), speciality (US) specializace, obor
symptomy pacienta; ~'s values hodnoty pacienta skill dovednost
~ with a disorder pacient trpící poruchou administrative ~ administrativní dovednost;
pressure tlak communication ~ komunikační dovednost;
under ~ pod tlakem managerial ~ manažerská dovednost
privilege privilegium small talk small talk, nezávazná společenská
procedure výkon, zákrok, procedura konverzace na neformální témata
dental ~ stomatologický výkon, zákrok; invasive to stand out as zde: vynikat
~ invazivní zákrok; surgical ~ chirurgický zákrok to study for a medical degree / to study at the Faculty
to carry out a ~ provést zákrok of Medicine studovat na lékařské fakultě
profile profil surgical procedure chirurgický výkon, zákrok
professional ~ profesní profil to carry out a ~ provést chirurgický zákrok
to put oneself in someone else's shoes vcítit se do sympathy soucit
někoho to take a (great/heavy) emotional toll on sb vybrat si
quality zde: osobní (charakterová) vlastnost na někom (vysokou) emocionální daň
to reach out to sb podat někomu pomocnou ruku to take steps to učinit kroky k
red flag varovný signál, doslova: červená vlajka temptation pokušení
registrar lékař, který pracuje v nemocnici a doplňuje si to give in to a ~ podlehnout pokušení
vzdělání ke své specializaci (britské reálie) time čas, doba
research výzkum ~ time určený, přidělený čas
biological ~ biologický výzkum treatment léčba
~ into sth výzkum něčeho to trigger one's memory probudit něčí paměť
to carry out ~ provádět výzkum vulnerable to zranitelný vůči
resilient houževnatý, odolný pilný ward nemocniční oddělení
resuscitation resuscitace to cover a ~ mít na starosti oddělení
to revise (UK) / review (US) for an exam učit se na workload pracovní zátěž
zkoušku study ~ studijní zátěž

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SUPPLEMENTS

Section B, Exercise 7

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Trainee clinical scientist (embryology)

Name
Jack Pearson

Job title
Clinical scientist (currently in training)

Entry route
Science degree “I´m currently on rotation around multiple hospital
departments including genetics, histology and
cytology.”

How I got into the role
During my degree I knew that reproductive science
was my passion. There’s nothing more remarkable
than the thought of a single sperm fertilising an egg
and the tiny chance of it producing us as unique
individuals!
After university I did some volunteer work and
research in andrology (the study of male
reproductive problems) but I decided a career with
patient contact would suit me better so I applied for
the NHS Science Training (Master’s) Programme.
The best bits and challenges
Communicating with patients is my favourite aspect
of the job and I love that I get to use my scientific
skills and knowledge to provide the best quality care
for them.
I’ve yet to do it myself, but I know that breaking bad
news – when treatment has been unsuccessful - will
be the most challenging thing.

What I do
I’ve always wanted to help people in my work and fertility is a particularly sensitive and compassionate field.
I’m currently on rotation around multiple hospital departments including genetics, histology and cytology to
see how other departments work.
But in my embryology role I perform fertilisation checks and contact the patients to let them know how their
embryos are progressing. I perform egg collections from women who’ve been on hormone treatment and
prepare sperm samples from men, as well as assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF and ICSI, and
embryo transfers for couples whose embryos are ready to be implanted.
People often think we grow babies in test tubes the lab, but there are no test tubes involved!
Life outside work
I’m a keen runner and gym member and both are essential for me to unwind and make me feel happy and
alert. I’m the chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Healthcare Scientist Trainee Network and help organise
events for trainees in the region and make the most of the weekends, visiting friends all over the country.

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Section B, Exercise 8
Medical specialties
Medical specialties cover many of the conditions for
which people are admitted to hospital. They are
concerned with the science and practice of the
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.
Medical oncology is solely concerned with treating
cancer. There is a great deal of contact with patients
and their relatives. Medical oncologists are physicians
who specialise in the non-surgical treatment of cancer.
Their role is to discuss the treatment options with
patients and their families, supervise the therapy and
manage any complications that arise.
Medical ophthalmology is the management of
conditions of the eye and visual system. You will be
involved in the care of eye conditions in patients of all
ages, from premature babies to elderly people. Some
people may have eye conditions as part of a systemic
disease such as diabetes.
Palliative medicine supports patients with life-
threatening, advanced progressive illnesses that can't
be cured by conventional medicine. Doctors working
in palliative medicine help to manage a patient’s
symptoms and provide psychological, social and
spiritual support.
Surgical specialties
Surgeons specialise in operating on particular parts of
the body to address specific injuries, diseases or
degenerative conditions. Advances in anaesthesia have
enabled surgeons to perform longer and more complex
operations, whilst innovation in areas such as keyhole
surgery means that less-invasive surgical techniques
are also being developed. As with medical specialties,
there is a range of specialties within surgery, including
those listed below.
Cardiothoracic surgery deals with the diagnosis and
management of surgical conditions of the heart, lungs
and oesophagus. A small aspect of the specialty is the
transplantation of both heart and lungs.
Neurosurgery deals with the nervous system. It
includes operative and non-operative procedures,
intensive-care management and rehabilitation of
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patients with disorders affecting the brain and skull,
spine and nervous system.
Otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat (ENT)
surgery) has more separate surgical procedures than
most other surgical disciplines put together. There are
a large number of conditions for which surgery of the
ear, nose and throat will be required. The procedures
range from removing tonsils to the treatment of head
and neck cancer.
They also include surgery for snoring problems, the
removal of nasal polyps and surgery to correct nasal
deformities caused by injuries. An ENT surgeon may
also treat infants with hearing problems and older
people who may be losing their hearing.
Other specialties
Anaesthetics is experiencing huge advances in science
and techniques, making longer and more complex
surgical procedures possible. More procedures are also
being completed using regional anaesthesia instead of
general anaesthesia. As an anaesthetist, you will be an
essential member of the team providing expert care to
patients before, during and after surgery.
Anaesthetists also lead teams in the specialist areas of
pain medicine and the intensive care management of
critically ill patients.
Emergency medicine is the only hospital-based
specialty where a complete range of illness and injury
is managed. Doctors specialising in emergency
medicine are generalists but specialise in resuscitation.
A number of doctors also develop their own sub-
specialty interests, such as trauma. It is an area that
attracts those who enjoy immediate decision-making.
General practice is the first point of contact with the
healthcare system for most people. It is the ‘gateway’
to it and GPs decide whether a patient needs to be
referred for further treatment or investigation. Most of
your work will be carried out during consultations in
the surgery and on home visits. No other specialty
offers such a wide remit and range of conditions to
treat.
Increasingly, you’ll be working in teams with other
professionals, such as psychiatrists or public health
 UNIT 1 WHY MEDICINE
specialists, helping patients take responsibility for
their own health.
There are now more opportunities for GPs to specialise
in particular conditions, such as diabetes, asthma or
dermatology, and to become more involved in hospital
work, for example as a clinical assistant. General
practice gives you the opportunity to help to prevent
illness, not just treat it.
Obstetrics and gynaecology is the specialty that
covers the care of pregnant women, unborn children
and the management of diseases specific to women. As
well as being involved in clinical procedures, you will
have opportunities to work closely in the community.
This specialty allows you to work using both medical
and surgical techniques.
In obstetrics, you will look after women who are going
through one of the most important events in their life –
having a baby. In gynaecology, you could treat women
with gynaecological cancer or those having difficulty
getting pregnant.
Paediatrics offers a varied career ranging from high
technology neonatal and paediatric intensive care, to
the management of a disabled child. You may be
responsible for organising preventative services in the
community or treating a child with cancer. It’s a
holistic specialty, in which you focus on the child
within a family and work to minimise the adverse
effect of disease, enabling them to live as normal a life
as possible.
Pathology specialises in the detection of disease
through a variety of investigative techniques, such as
blood tests and biopsy. Your work can be vital in
finding an accurate and early diagnosis and improving
prospects for treatment. You’ll also play an important
role in identifying the sources of disease and reducing
the risks of further spread.
Psychiatry specialises in the care of patients with
mental illness. Psychiatrists usually specialise in a
particular branch of psychiatry. These include
specialties that cater for different age groups, such as
child and adolescent psychiatry, general (adult)
psychiatry or old age psychiatry. Specialties within
psychiatry include learning disability, forensic
psychiatry, medical psychotherapy, rehabilitation and
social psychiatry, substance misuse, neuropsychiatry
and eating disorders.
English for Medics and Dentists © CJV LF MU 2020, Dvořáčková V., Klapilová J.
Intended solely for classroom use and teacher instruction
14
Public health medicine deals with the medical aspects
of public health practice and aims to improve the
health of the community. Public health physicians tend
to be concerned with the wider population’s health
needs rather than those of individual patients. As a
public health specialist, you could be carrying out
research into the health of your local population and
devise programmes to tackle problems, or develop and
deliver health programmes with other organisations,
such as local councils. You will look at areas such as
health inequalities, helping to close the gap between
the least and most healthy communities.
Radiology specialises in the detection of disease and
every radiological investigation is a diagnostic
challenge. You might carry out simple investigative
techniques or make decisions that are extremely
complicated, such as those based on inconclusive
images from a scan. The interpretation of any image
presents a medical and intellectual challenge.
Radiologists work closely with other clinical
colleagues, such as the team of staff that looks after the
care of a cancer patient, as well as being responsible
for the management of the imaging departments.
Interventional radiologists carry out a range of
minimal invasive procedures on patients, such as
inserting stents.
Dental medicine is a branch of medicine that consists
of the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment
of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral
cavity. Dentists mainly work in high street dental
practices, but may also work in community-based
settings, in hospitals and university settings. You’ll
need the skills and confidence to diagnose and treat
problems and provide good advice to patients, as well
as having high levels of manual dexterity to carry out
intricate surgical and dental procedures. You will have
excellent knowledge of human anatomy and oral
diseases, as well as good clinical skills. It’s also
important for you to be able to lead your team
effectively, so you’ll need good managerial and
administrative skills.
Reproductive medicine is a branch
of medicine concerning the male and
female reproductive systems. It encompasses a variety
of reproductive conditions, their prevention and
assessment, as well as their subsequent treatment and
prognosis. Embryologists deal with infertility
 UNIT 1 WHY MEDICINE

treatments including assisted conception procedures,
such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic
sperm injection (ICSI). Embryologists are involved in
the collection and fertilisation of eggs from patients.
Embryos are cultured, graded and selected for embryo
transfer. Techniques associated with cryopreservation
will be carried out to store patients’ samples.
Embryologists most often work in a team that includes
other healthcare science staff working in the life
sciences (pathology, genetics, reproductive
science), obstetricians and gynaecologists, doctors
specialising in genitourinary medicine,
specialist nurses and counsellors

REFERENCES

1 Careers in medicine (2018). NHS, Health Education in England.

2 http://www.savvypremed.com/savvy-pre-med/2020/2/23/the-art-of-small-talk-40-questions-for-the-pre-med-
conversationalist
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentistry
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_medicine
5 https://www.england.nhs.uk/6cs/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2015/03/introducing-the-6cs.pdf
6 https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/why-study-medicine/why-i-chose-medicine
7 https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/life-sciences/reproductive-
science-and-andrology
8 https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/life-sciences/reproductive-
science-and-andrology/real-life-story-jack-pearson
9 https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/life-sciences
10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-7KZbhajU4
11 https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Careers%20in%20the%20dental%20team%
20-%20March%202019.pdf
12 dictionary.cambridge.org
13 lexico.com
14 macmillandictionary.com
15 oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Pictures
Google Images

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Intended solely for classroom use and teacher instruction
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