Dr Vinod Diwakar (MRCP MRCPCH)

Name : Dr Vinod Diwakar (MRCP MRCPCH)
Employer : Birmingham Children's Hospital
University : St George's Medical School
Subject : MBBS
Graduated : 1990

I knew I wanted to specialise in paediatrics when I did it at medical school. I was placed on a busy paediatric firm in Guildford in Surrey. After PRHO jobs in London, I started applying for SHO posts in paediatrics and moved for jobs at City Hospital in Birmingham and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. I struggled with my Royal College exams so at the end of three years as an SHO, I worked for two years as a clinical assistant in paediatric A&E. Having passed the exams, I obtained an SpR post in Wolverhampton and then rotated through various Birmingham hospitals before becoming a consultant three years ago.

Why this specialty?

When I was a third-year medical student, I spent time with a paediatrician, looking after an 18-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis. The consultant had looked after the boy for years and was a really important part of his life. Unfortunately, the boy died and seeing the paediatrician cry made me realise just how much people working in paediatrics care about their patients. Although there are subspecialties within paediatrics, I like general paediatrics as you can work across all organ systems and I enjoy the amount of acute medicine involved. It’s great working with children because no matter how ill they are, they are still extremely resilient.

Best and worst

It’s a common misconception that paediatrics is too tough – for example having to deal with very sick children and getting involved in child protection work. However, it’s these parts of the job that make it rewarding when you feel like you’ve made a real difference. It’s not a specialty you’d enjoy if you’re more interested in pathology than people, as a holistic family and social approach is as important as the science.

Working life

I’m hospital based so my time is mostly divided between clinical work and ward rounds. On-call hours are one day a week and one in every five weekends. One week in every five, I am consultant of the week, which means I am in charge of all inpatients and attend daily ward rounds.