ktgss alumnus sharing on careers planning medicine dr. lau kai kee (1998) 3 june 2008

KTGSS Alumnus Sharingon Careers Planning

Medicine

Dr. Lau Kai Kee (1998)

3 June 2008

So you want to be a doctor…?

Want to help people? Social status? Prospect? Money?

Road to be a doctor

A Level in Biology / Math stream MBBS / MBChB 5 years Houseman 1 year Resident / Medical Officer (6-9 years) Specialist

HKALE grade

Data of 2007

HKU MBBS Prog. Code: 6456 CUHK Medical Studies, Prog Code: 4501 MBBS 25th/50th/75th percentile AAA/AAB/AAB LLB 25th/50th/75th percentile ABC/BBB/BBC BEng(Civ) 25th/50th/75th percentile ABB/BBC/BCC BBA(Law) 25th/50th/75th percentile AAB/AAC/AB

Data from Dr Jacobus Ng, HKU

Employment opportunities

Hospital Authority (85-90%) Private hospitals Private practice University Department of Health

Postgraduate Specialist training

MBBS / MBChB: 5 years Full registration (HK Medical Council): 1 year Specialist trainings: 6 - 9 years Other trainings: variable

Bottom line: lots of studying even after graduation (Continuous Medical Education)

Life of a doctor (public hospital)

6:45am Wake up 7:50am Arrive at hospital 8:00-12pm Start ward round (20 inpatients) +- outpatient 10:30am Investigation Procedures / surgery +- 1:00pm Lunch (usually less than 1 hr) 2:00pm Outpatient clinic (40 patients) / surgery 5:30pm Second ward round (newly admitted patients,

investigation results) 6:00-6:30pm Home / Continue on call duties

“ 派糖冇我份　捱苦有我份”01/07/2007

Doctors demonstration 26/6/2007

Working hours

HA targets at 65 hours per week 1-2 calls per week (~30 hrs per call) Usual work hours in other disciplines: 44 hours

per week Total no of hours in one month: 168

i.e At least 39% of your life at work (usually more), not including your time for studying / exam preparation

Salary

Resident / Medical Officer: $33,355 + allowance

15% gratuity Maximum: about $110,000

Prospects & Promotional opportunities Promotion in public hospitals: Very slim “公 院 升 遷 不 揀 「 網 外 人 ”」 --Apple

Daily 10/8/2007

Very few doctors will / can actually change their job

Social status

Doctors are targets of criticism rather than targets of appraisal (except during SARS epidemic)

Other ways to become a doctor

OverseasPremed generally required (another few

years)Need to pass licentiate examination (LMCHK)

in HK before eligible to practice

Other Careers in Health Care

Chinese Medical Practitioner Dentist Veterinary doctor Allied Health (Physiotherapists,

Occupational therapists) Nurses

Summary

Long trainings, Life long studying Devotions to work / long working hours Salary: Not the best pay Prospects and promotions: slim Social status: not as before

So you want to be a doctor…?

Want to help people? Social status? Prospect? Money?

Good luck for your exam on 11th June 2008

franco04@graduate.hku.hk