Alumni stories: There will always be a need for your services

From dreams of being a doctor at sea through general medicine and neurology to dermatology, Mike Beck has found a way to fulfil his childhood dreams of travel, trusting in fate and the advice of his parents to guide his path.

“This is the story of my career. How did I get there? Well, my story certainly shows how the direction of one’s future alters with time. I suppose I have to go back to childhood.

From a very young age I had always intended to be a doctor. My parents would say to me that once qualified wherever I went in the world and whatever situation I found myself in, there would always be a need for my services. What a wonderful opportunity this was. I would fantasise about going to sea as a ship’s doctor and travelling the world.

Liverpool School of Medicine was a very happy time for me, and I did not dwell too much on my future. At the time, I saw myself as single and fancy free until my late thirties when I would settle down and have a family.

As I came to experience each discipline, I would subconsciously think about a career in one direction or another.

I had to come to terms with my poor manual dexterity meaning a career in surgical specialties was out of the question. My maternal grandfather had been a general practitioner and I would happily have followed this calling, but I was growing more and more into the idea of a hospital appointment. I had particularly enjoyed paediatrics and dermatology as an undergraduate but thought I would wait until I completed my house jobs before deciding on the future.

After many months in the city, I drove my car out into the rural environment of the Wirral. As I reached the end of a beautiful avenue of trees a hospital suddenly appeared in front of me – a road to Damascus moment. Immediately I knew I wanted to work there. I gave this explanation at my interview – they loved it and I got a plum job!

The junior staff there were a great community and I enjoyed the place so much I wanted to stay longer. The best chance of staying was to join the newly created General Practice rotation but did not get appointed. I applied to be a Casualty Officer and succeeded. It was sufficiently enjoyable for me to stay for twelve months but by this time I felt I needed to take my future livelihood more seriously.

Mike as an undergraduate student and travelling the world with his career

I decided I was best suited to a hospital-based future in General Medicine so looked for a job in the Liverpool area. The best opportunity lay at Sefton General in coronary care. I applied and heard nothing more which surprised me. I phoned and was informed I wasn’t shortlisted. I was later informed by the registrar who worked there that they had lost my application!

I pessimistically started to phone round local hospitals asking if they had any general medical jobs and when I phoned Walton Hospital I was told the only post they had was in Neurosurgery. It took me five minutes of thought to realise this would be a great opportunity to learn neurology so I immediately phoned back and applied and subsequently obtained the post.

It was an extraordinary stroke of good fortune.

I was allowed a day off to attend the local MRCP course, I had a senior colleague who constantly tested my medical knowledge and my neurological knowledge developed significantly. After six months I left, having passed my MRCP Part1 and with sufficient interest in Neurology to consider it as a likely future career.

Opportunities in Liverpool were limited at that time. Manchester was close to Liverpool and to my family in South Cheshire. I applied there for a medical post. There were two neurologists on the interview panel so I was able to put across my interest in their discipline. I was appointed and rotated through Hope Hospital and Salford Royal Hospital and then applied for a Registrar job at Park Hospital, Davyhulme (now Trafford General). While there I obtained MRCP part 2. The element of revision for the exam I most enjoyed was looking at pictures of rashes and making a diagnosis – so much so that I decided Dermatology was for me. It was a decision that I have never regretted.

Providentially a registrar position in Manchester became vacant so I applied and was successful and within four years and two promotions I found myself as a newly appointed consultant in the area where I was already living. Furthermore, I was now married with our second child on the way.

Dreams in my teens of travelling the world were to be achieved as I had found a discipline with a travelling educational group allowing me to venture to such places as New Zealand, Vietnam and Bhutan to name but a few.

I developed a special interest and accrued experience allowing me to travel to conferences to present our findings in Japan, Uruguay, the USA and many more. I retired at the age of 60 but still attend conferences and travel the world with fellow dermatologists - we are off to Jamaica and Panama next.

I am by nature a fatalist and much of my career pathway and indeed life has been driven by providence and I was so lucky to have been dealt such a good hand. This approach is not for everyone, and some may not be so fortunate.

But remember, wherever you think you are going might well not be where you end up!

I went through ship’s doctor, not caring, general practice, casualty, neurosurgery, general medicine, neurology before getting to dermatology.

You only have one life so enjoy it. Take your time. There will always be somewhere for your services. What wise parents I had!”

Mike Beck's wise parents

Discover more

• Explore career options including neurosurgery, neurology and dermatology in the medical specialty videos available through the Careers Support section of the student intranet (link).
• Interested in neurosciences or dermatology? Why not join NeuroSoc (link) or DermSoc (link) via Liverpool Guild of Students?
• Are you one of our School alumni and have a story to share? Or do you know someone you would like us to spotlight? Drop us a line at mednews@liverpool.ac.uk.
• Get insights and advice from School Alumni as they reminisce on their days at Liverpool and the careers they went on to create on our Alumni Stories webpage (link).