Wondering about pursuing a career in health sciences but finding it hard to choose a specific path? We had a chat with Philip Curtis, admissions and recruitment director at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), and Céleste Golden, the institution’s admissions officer, to gain some insights. RCSI specialises in a range of health science programmes, including medicine, advanced therapeutic technology, pharmacy, and physiotherapy.
Curtis suggests that for those aiming for a career in health sciences, options other than medicine could be less demanding concerning work-life equilibrium. These courses often lead to fewer postgraduate occupations but facilitate settling into a permanent career structure. Curtis further emphasises that considering the vocational aspect of health science studies, looking at career trajectories is worthwhile.
For example, studying medicine could lead to becoming a physician or surgeon, working in diverse settings such as a hospital, community or primary healthcare. Pharmacy might seem to have a limited scope of working behind the counter at your local drugstore, but the reality is far more expansive, with potential roles in the larger pharmaceutical sector or becoming a hospital pharmacist. Physiotherapists have the flexibility of working in hospitals, sports facilities, or community environments.
Curtis elaborates that RCSI’s advanced therapeutics course centres on healthcare yet doesn’t directly involve patient interaction; thus, it fits a variety of career goals. Curtis advises students to begin their preparations early on, ideally utilising their transition year to attend programmes such as mini-medicine and mini-pharmacy at RCSI.
Although the application deadline for medical courses has passed, students still have the flexibility to reorder their preferences. According to Curtis, each medical school’s curriculum and teaching approach can greatly vary, which is why he highlights the multicultural, research-focused environment at RCSI that promotes collaborative learning, making use of a simulation facility.
Golden notes that there are always chances for changes within the CAO Change of Mind framework. She suggests having meaningful discussions with reliable people and refraining from hasty decisions. Additional spaces on programmes have been offered, making decision-making based on last year’s points more difficult. Remember, there are numerous pathways to a medical profession, including graduate and mature entry options.