Rory Stevens
Year: Third (At time of interview: January 2017)
Hometown: Bath, Somerset
Education: Osteopathy at Oxford Brookes University
Why did you choose Warwick?
I chose Warwick firstly because it's a graduate only course, and being part of a cohort of people of a similar age appealed to me. Secondly, the three main hospitals that our placements are at are all commutable from Leamington Spa. As I live with my girlfriend, this was important to me.
What work experience had you gained before coming here?
Following graduation as an Osteopath I moved to New Zealand for a year to practise (and enjoy the lifestyle!) It was while I was working in New Zealand that I decided I wanted to study medicine and luckily, due to a different health care system, I was quite easily able to get lots of experience. I shadowed some orthopaedic surgeons, urologists, rheumatologists, nuclear medicine doctors, GPs and volunteered on a care of the elderly ward.
How are you finding the MB ChB so far?
So far, I've found the MB ChB hard work but enjoyable. I prefer being on placement in the hospital than in the lecture theatre, so am enjoying this phase of the course the most. The workload is quite heavy, but manageable, meaning that you're able to maintain a good social life too.
What do you particularly like about your course?
I like that we get practical, clinical experience early on in the course, which makes you feel more confident when you begin placement. The fact that it's a big cohort of graduates also makes it enjoyable.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your course?
I like to get away from medicine (and the Midlands) when I can and head to the coast for a weekend surfing.
Do you have any idea at this stage what you'd like to specialise in?
This changes almost weekly depending on which specialty I've most recently spent time with! I try to keep an open mind but have surprised myself by really enjoying GP - something that didn't appeal to me at all previously.
Do you have any advice for people considering applying?
Make sure that you really want to do medicine as a career. Get as much work experience as you can, both for your CV and to see what the job actually involves.