Lucille Abrahams believes in the importance of teamwork and interdisciplinary learning in shaping a medical career, whatever specialty you are considering going into, and is a great advocate for general practice and the opportunities it gives to be a part of your patients’ life history.
“At the time of joining Liverpool School of Medicine there was only 20% female students! The curriculum separated the pre-clinical two years from the clinical.
The anatomy was very detailed and dissection of formalin-soaked bodies and having to pass a weekly viva voce on the part of the body dissected was a baptism by fire. Surgery wasn't for me! During the next three years we worked together as a firm from our group in dissecting, which was great at establishing the teamwork which is important whatever speciality is chosen.
I did part of my elective with Professor Wetherall who was warm and approachable. I felt that Haematology was a speciality that would fulfil all my needs: work life balance, intellectual stimulation and continuity of care for patients.
The parts of the curriculum that stayed with me was a weekend spent on ambulance duty where I saw life in the raw, Dickensian poverty and the warmth and care of the ambulance men who would have to go into any situation.
I went to London to do my house jobs and then haematology at Middlesex Hospital. I had eight years away from medicine to have my family and then went into general practice.
This offers so many opportunities of personal development and is one of the few generalist specialities left so you have opportunities to gain knowledge in every area.
Being in the same practice still, after over 30 years, I have connections and have born witness to family events from birth to death through three generations.
It is a humbling privilege.
I am still doing sessions in my old practice in a multi-ethnic area with deprivation.
As a Senior Lecturer at Imperial College, I taught courses, in every year and across different aspects of practice encouraging students on the rewards of being a GP. I became a trainer and an appraiser and so have been involved in the careers of many doctors.
I believe it is important to introduce students early in their studies to teamwork, interdisciplinary learning, and general practice, which has the added benefit of being involved in the life history of patients over many years."
Discover more
- Looking to your future medical career? Take alook through the exclusive catalogue of medical specialty videos on the Careers Support section of the student intranet (link).
- Interested in General Practice? Check out Liverpool GP Society on the Liverpool Guild of Students website (link).
- 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).