What It Takes to Be a Doctor

An Insider's Guide

Author: Dr Ranjana Srivastava

Paperback

An essential guide for anyone contemplating a career as a doctor, by one of Australia's finest practitioners.

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Summary

An essential guide for anyone contemplating a career as a doctor, by one of Australia's finest practitioners.

Description

'Deciding to study medicine is a momentous decision, and Ranjana Srivastava has created a long overdue and indispensable guide peppered with invaluable advice and insights – a must-read.' Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, Adolescent Psychologist

An essential guide for anyone contemplating a career as a doctor, by one of Australia's finest practitioners – and writers.

2018 finalist book for The Australian Career Book Award – supported by the Royal Society of Arts in Australia and New Zealand.

What is the life of a doctor really like? Is there an end to studying? Are money and prestige guaranteed? Can a fulfilling medical career and a satisfying family life co-exist and what support can a parent or partner give? Which doctors are the happiest? What is the most important question to ask yourself before studying medicine?

An insider’s calm and considered answers could determine whether you choose to pursue this high-stakes career.

Becoming a doctor is a tremendous privilege and a serious responsibility. With her trademark warmth and storytelling ability, Ranjana Srivastava delves into the reality of being a doctor in the modern era of medicine. Through lived experience as a frontline clinician, prolific writer, and mother, she celebrates the highlights of being a doctor but doesn't flinch from the disappointments. Her compelling stories illustrate the hidden facets of a life in medicine – from the burden of prolonged medical training and the regret of mismatched expectations to the humility of caring and the joy of making a difference, this book contains illuminating observations, reflection and advice that should be required reading for anyone contemplating a career as a doctor.

About the Author

Dr Ranjana Srivastava is a practising Australian oncologist, award-winning author and Fulbright scholar. Educated in India, the UK, the United States and Australia, she is the recipient of the Monash University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award, the JFK Merit Award from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to doctor-patient communication. Ranjana’s writing has been published worldwide, including in Time magazine and The Week, and in prominent medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet and JAMA. Her columns in the Guardian on the intersection of medicine and humanity have been twice nominated as a finalist for the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism. In 2024, Beehive News named her the top international health columnist out of a field of 15,000 journalists. Her acclaimed non-fiction books include Tell Me the Truth (shortlisted, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards), Dying For a Chat (winner, the Human Rights Literature Prize) and What It Takes to Be a Doctor (finalist, The Australian Career Book Award).