Thread: i need to interview a doctor.

hello,my name is james puglisi. i have been given an assighnment in my 10th grade english class.i have to write a 6 page paper on what career i wish to pursue.i have chosen to become a doctor,im not sure what type of doctor i want to be but its the path for me. part of this assighnment is to interview someone in our chosen career pathway. i was going to go to the hospital where my step-mom works,she is a RN, and ask a doctor if i could arange an interview with him or her but i didn't want to interupt someone while they were at work.
today when i get home from school i will be posting a series of questions about the career of a doctor;however,im not sure whether to just post a list of questions and wait for it to be filled out or ask each question one at a time.

maddog67; Your assignment is to write a six page report on YOUR current choice for a career or profession. Having to interview a person really doesn't make sense. However. from your short post, it's apparent to me your Step Mother, may be the best person to test that desired goal. She is in your chosen field and a good many that for some reason are not qualified for Pre-Med training subjects, Medical School or all it takes to become a registered Physician (in any field) have become fine RN's. She probably knows more than anyone on a public any public forum, has an interest in you personally and to your already a known quantity. If you want to impress your teacher, after interviewing your mother, google 'requirements for entering a Medical School' and show how you may in fact qualify.

Briefly, it would be interesting to know, why you chose being a Doctor over all the fields most 14-16 year olds would choose.

well i guess teh seed which sprouted into my dream of becoming a doctor was planted by the death of my mother to cancer.she died in australia,she had some very fine doctors yet she still died.i gues i realy want to be someone who tries and succeds in helping people who are suffering from some kind of ailment or sickness,like cancer.i believe as a doctor i will be able to diagnose and recomend some kind of effective treatment that will hopefuly treat someone who is suffering from a form of cancer,hmm not to rush into it but i may just specialise in cancer,im not sure what type of doctor that is.thank you for the advice on asking my step mother,i realy apreciate it and i will interview her.im also a little nervous about giving blood again tomorow.

Oncology is the branch of Medicine dealing with Tumors/Cancer, so you want to be an Oncologist.

You motivation is certainly admirable and your mother would have been proud of you, as will your Dad, if you believe in Heaven, maybe she can hear you today. I suspect, no less pride will be displayed, whatever you do in life.

Your story reminds me of Dr. Robert Mallett, PhD (Doctorate in Physics) who at a young age lost his Dad, to a Heart Attack. He chose Physics and hoped to travel in time back before his Dad had died, some how saving him. He is now in his 60's, of course hasn't travel in time, but has accomplished a great many things. You might enjoy his story....

Mallett resolved to travel back in time to save his father. This idea became a lifelong obsession.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Mallett

As for helping other people, that's also a nice thing, but you don't need to be a Physician do do that. It really takes a great deal of time and money to become a doctor, the rewards are great, but then so are the disappointments. You wouldn't be able to save everyone.

Good luck with your interview, ask some good questions and offer that teacher an interesting paper. Oh yes, good luck with you blood donation, which will likely help some one again, your goal.

Hi maddog,

I'm not a doctor, but wanted to reinforce Jackson's nice comments. You are doing this for the right reasons, it seems. That's noble.

I had to do a similar interview when I was in school. Find people who worked in a profession I wanted to go into and interview them. It's a fun exercise.

Try to ask questions about what a typical day is like. Ask about what stresses them out, and what reminds them that they like what they do. Ask about what they would do differently if they could go back and fix any mistakes they made. Ask what advice they'd give to their own child if they were doing what you are doing. Ask how you can maximize your own chances to do well with this work.

Finally, be gratious. They are volunteering their time to help you. They are opening up and sharing something very personal to help you do well in school and learn more about the profession you've chosen. Thank them for their time, and tell them that you consider it a great honor to have had the opportunity to listen to their answers to these very important questions, and let them know that they've inspired you to try even harder. In sum, make sure you give back some positive thoughts, and don't just take them.

Good luck with it all. Sorry I'm not a doctor myself, or I'd gladly help you out. :-D


EDIT: Don't forget to record it! You're going to cover a lot of information, and you can only take notes so quickly. If you record the interview, you won't lose any of the gems which the doctor shares with you... You can listen to it multiple times and you won't lose anything from memory. Record it, record it, record it! Did I mention you should be sure to record it? (just ask if it's okay with them before you start... they will all probably say, "sure, no problem," but it would be impolite to do it without asking)

I would be sure to interview a doctor OTHER THAN your stepmom. She's a valuable source of information for you, but you are too familiar with her. In an assignment like this, it's really best to chat with a perfect stranger (although, maybe your stepmom could help you schedule the interview with someone whom SHE knows).