(Physician Associate Studies MSc, 2020)
The beauty of being a Physician Associate is that we can rotate amongst specialities throughout our career, providing us with the ability to grasp new practical skills and knowledge from a vast range of specialties.
What sparked your interest in becoming a Physician Associate?
I gained interest in the course after attending a postgraduate open day and speaking to an experienced Physician Associate and Lecturer at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London. After hearing about the wide array of specialties Physician Associates could work within and the generalised medical knowledge they were able to maintain, I was positive that it was the course for me.
What does a ‘typical’ working day look like for you?
A typical working day commences at 9am with a morning clinic packed with patients presenting with a variety of issues. My clinic includes patients from new-borns to the elderly, presenting with both acute and chronic problems. The am clinic normally ends at 12pm, with an hour for administrative work (referrals and documentation i.e., fit-notes, etc.) and an hour’s lunch break. At 2pm my clinic restarts with another set of contrasting patients and the day ends at 5:30pm. No two days are the same with every day including more weird and wonderful cases and medical conditions.
What is your specialist area and why did you choose this pathway in your career?
My specialist area lies within General Practice currently. The reason why I chose to work here primarily, was due to breadth. By this I refer to the breadth of medical conditions and knowledge I can continue to learn and develop upon from my degree course at QMUL. The beauty of being a Physician Associate however is the fact that we can rotate amongst specialities throughout our career, for example A&E, Neurology, Dermatology etc. This provides us with the ability to grasp new practical skills and knowledge from a vast range of specialties. I work full time at a GP surgery in London but also work as a locum at 5-6 practices in central London during some of my free time.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love the great work life balance the role provides and the copious medical specialties and surgeries / hospitals we can work within all over the country.
You have a first degree in Biomedical Science. How did your degree help you during your Physician Associate studies?
My previous degree in Biomedical Science enabled me to have a very strong foundation in key topics such as medical physiology, cell biology, cancer biology and immunology to state a few, which was fundamental to thrive within the modules of the intensive Physician Associate course.
If you had the option to go back and repeat your Masters experience, would you do anything differently?
I wouldn’t change a thing. The whole experience of the degree was challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Which aspects of your degree have remained relevant throughout your career and in your current role?
Pretty much everything we covered throughout the degree has and will continue to remain relevant within my current role and career. This includes the hundreds of medical conditions we learnt throughout the course as well as key clinical skills such as venepuncture, cannulation, peak flow etc.
What do you think is unique about Barts and the London compared to other Medical Schools?
The community at Barts and the London (QMUL) are so friendly and caring, be that the lecturers at the medical school as well as the students.
What was special about your time at Barts and the London? Can you give one or two examples of some of your most memorable moments?
The experience of studying at a medical school with such a rich history was incredibly special. Key areas I enjoyed being based at were the Garrod Building, Senior Common Room and Whitechapel Library. A memorable moment I have would be having lunch at the Griff Inn and playing snooker with friends as well as relaxing at the medical school café in between lectures.
Which campus were you mostly based in throughout your course? Did you have to do any placements as part of your course?
I was based at the medical school campus in Whitechapel campus throughout the course of my two-year Physician Associate degree. I had to undertake many placements at several GP surgeries and hospitals throughout London such as Homerton, Whipps Cross and Royal London to name a few.
If you would like to get in touch with Rooben or engage them in your work, please contact the Alumni Engagement team at alumni@qmul.ac.uk.