Paul Glynne (MRCP, PhD)

Name : Paul Glynne (MRCP, PhD)
Employer : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
University : University College London
Subject : MBBS
Graduated : 1992

As a medical student I wanted to be a surgeon, but my view changed following my PRHO-year rotation in medicine. I thrived in the dynamic and busy environment of the emergency department and recognised that I wanted to work in general medicine with critically-ill patients. I wanted to be the kind of physician who had the skills to deal with anything. At that time a clear route into acute medicine and critical care wasn’t in place, so I set myself goals and was tenacious in finding ‘first-class’ tickets to where I wanted to go. A pivotal point was gaining a prestigious rotation as a registrar at the Hammersmith, a leading academic unit. Through securing a Wellcome Trust Fellowship, I was able to pursue a PhD there, which is something I’m proud to have achieved. However, although I really enjoyed research I was keen to get back to working with acute patients rather than staying in the lab.

My current role

As lead clinician for acute medicine I run the acute admissions service and have the opportunity to develop our service in innovative ways, making full use of the facilities offered by the new University College Hospital. I enjoy the mix of organisational and clinical work, and typically work a week of acute medicine, a week of intensive care and then have a week to sit down and catch up with paperwork, teaching and working with and attempting to influence NHS managers! My aim is to make sure that patients are seen and treated rapidly by the right specialists.

Work and life

I have found managing work and life challenging because my work has always been a vocation. I now have a young family and make the most of the time off I take. A lot of energy is needed for this job and you need to be quick thinking and decisive. You have to manage any patient, however sick, who comes in through the door, but the variety of medicine and pace make it enormously satisfying.