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In the spotlight… Max Pemberton
F1 Dr Anna Rebowska has prepared ten questions to ask Max Pemberton, whose column in the Daily Telegraph and book Trust Me I’m a Junior Doctor have made him a medical celebrity
You’re not a typical psychiatrist, so what is a day in the life of Max Pemberton like? Well, I’m not sure there is such a thing as a ‘typical psychiatrist’ – that’s what I love about the profession – it attracts all types of people from all different backgrounds. I work full time in the NHS, so have to fit in my writing around this commitment. I work 9-5pm and then do on-calls, including nights in emergency medicine. I usually get home, go to the gym and then sit down to write. I usually write until very late at night – I don’t get much sleep. I’m in the very fortunate position of being offered more writing work than I can ever possibly do, so I have to be selective and my main priorities have to be my column in the Daily Telegraph and Reader’s Digest. I never go on holiday and use my annual leave to sit in the library and catch-up on writing. Not a particularly glamorous life, I know!
What advice would you give to foundation doctors considering a career in psychiatry? Do it. It’s a great career. You need to demonstrate an interest in psychiatry so have a look on the Royal College of Psychiatrists website and see what essay prizes are available – prizes are always impressive – and go to talks, conferences and seminars that the college regularly holds and use any study leave you have to attend these. Talk to the psychiatrists who work in your hospital – ask if you can attend a few of their teaching sessions. Do some reading and if you’re feeling really swotty, subscribe to the British Journal of Psychiatry. A good psychiatric trainee has to be interested in people, in their lives, in trying to understand what’s important to them and how they feel and why. You must be good at listening and picking up on subtle cues that people give you. Empathy and reflexivity are very important. You must also want to be an advocate for people who are voiceless, disenfranchised, marginalised, and feel passionately about defending their rights. As a psychiatrist, you’re in a unique position to do this with authority.
Do you ever regret choosing to specialise in psychiatry? No, never. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
What are the best and worst aspects of your job? I love talking to people, hearing their stories and trying to help them. Sometimes, they just need someone to listen to and help them reframe their
problems, rather than tablets. It’s an amazing feeling when someone has been at their lowest ebb, desperate and afraid and because of your intervention
they feel better. I love having the time to really talk to people and develop longstanding relationships with many of my patients. The worst part is when you come up against stigma towards people with mental illness,
SPOTLIGHT
NEW DOCTOR | VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 2 | 2011 | UNITED KINGDOM
www.mps.org.uk
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