editor Medical graduates who are just starting out in their profession have up-to-date knowledge of the latest technology and techniques at their fingertips. They also have an internship that has given them some practical experience, and they will go on to spend an immense amount of time in hospitals and clinics, often under extreme pressure due to staff shortages, practicing their profession and gaining a wealth of experience as they go. They experience life and the medical challenges that come with it.
There comes a time when this wealth of knowledge can be shared for the good of the medical fraternity and, ultimately, the patients. Some professionals offer their services to communities and clinics for underserved groups of people, while others mentor interns and young doctors in their working environments.
Some medical professionals may have a passion for a specific area of medicine and will opt to go into research where they can lend their skills to the advancement of medical science. Others get involved on boards of professionals where their expertise adds value to decision-making in terms of medical best practices, the formation of policies, and training curriculums.
How medical professionals can make a contribution
Mentorship
Often, medical institutions recognize the value in implementing formal mentorship programs, but this is not always the case. Senior professionals who are willing to share their skills may offer to mentor junior doctors and interns, passing on not only their medical knowledge, but also setting examples in professional and ethical conduct and imparting wisdom in terms of decision-making strategies and medical best practices.
When it comes to important career decisions in terms of specialization, younger doctors gain considerable insight from experienced professionals, and many a career decision is based on the expert advice gained from a senior practitioner.
Research
Senior professionals who lend their expertise to research teams can make a positive contribution in terms of practical knowledge that many researchers don’t necessarily have. This ensures that the research remains relevant, saving time and costs in the long term. They may act in an advisory role or head up a team of researchers, but will often roll up their sleeves and get involved in the research process themselves.
Read: 7 Ways to Integrate Mental Health Support into Disability Care
Medical journals and papers
Specialists who have become experts in their fields of medical science pass on their knowledge in the form of articles in journals or the delivery of papers at conferences.
Professional councils and boards
Medical councils are made up of experienced professionals who have gained expertise and respect in their fields. This qualifies them to contribute to activities such as policy decision-making, advocating for healthcare reforms, resource allocation, setting of licensing and education standards, and providing guidelines for ethical and standard practice.
Professionals who sit on these councils make an invaluable contribution to the medical fraternity. It takes time and energy as they usually travel widely, produce papers and reports, attend conferences, and spend hours in meetings discussing policies and setting standards.
Education
As science and technology advance, so also must the education of medical professionals. Changes to curriculums are ongoing, and again, a senior professional has so much to offer in terms of practical experience and knowledge.
Medical experts contribute to the design of curriculums, keeping them up to date and relevant. They can be found teaching at universities or lecturing at seminars. They sit on accreditation boards and assist with the assessment of students and interns.
Leadership, passion and energy
Of course, it takes more than just skill for professionals to take it that one step further. It requires a passion for their chosen field and an awareness of the value they can contribute toward improvements in this area. It can take months or even years for the results to show, and for this reason, there has to be dedication to see them through and almost unlimited energy reserves.
Dr. Bradley Bakotic is a fine example of a medical professional who, in addition to his work as a physician, has immersed himself in the advancement of his various fields of specialization. Dr. Bakotic addresses audiences at international conferences and educational gatherings, produces articles for medical journals, mentors fellow professionals, and serves on various editorial boards. He also founded an NGO that provided medical textbooks and headed up a company that offers diagnostics and therapy for lower extremity issues.
There are so many interesting career options in the field of medicine, and it is thanks to the senior professionals that our students and interns can find their way around the different disciplines and make informed career decisions. Thanks to them, the curriculums stay on track, and the necessary research is called for and managed. These dedicated professionals are certainly worth their weight in gold.
