“I have learnt a lot in the 9 years that I have been a doctor. I have learnt that hard work gets you everywhere, support is essential and that deciding on an area to specialise in can be difficult. I have also recently realised that finding a supportive and inspirational mentor can make a huge difference to your career pathway and work satisfaction.

‘House’, ‘Scrubs’ and ‘Greys Anatomy’ may make the non-medical viewer believe that all doctors can confidently make clinical life-or-death decisions independently and that all doctors have known what speciality they want to do from a young age. Though many doctors may have this independence and confidence, many others rely on their ‘team’ or mentor to assist in decision making throughout their career.

I was lucky enough to find my mentor early in my career and I have benefited in countless ways from having a mentor. I had spent many years deciding what specialty to pursue within medicine, (which I found to be quite a challenging process!) and a few years ago I chose to train in General Practice. Within a few months of training I realised that although I loved GP training I also wanted to be involved in educating doctors. I approached a medical educator (A doctor who trains other doctors) to discuss the best way to pursue this and she was so inspiring, enthusiastic and supportive she soon became my mentor. Motivated by her support I soon became working as a medical educator as well as a GP, had started my Masters in Medical Education and was the chair of the national GP Registrars medical education group. I absolutely loved the direction I had pursued, and really enjoyed the mixture of part time GP work and part time education work.

I soon realised that my passion was to support doctors through their career pathway, so I have now also trained as a career counsellor and provide career counselling services for doctors. I completed a Graduate Certificate of Career Development along with my Masters of Medical Education to improve my knowledge in the area. Career counsellors for doctors are not common, and before I decided to pursue this avenue, I wasn’t aware of anyone who did this. However I had a dream, a passion and the confidence to pursue this avenue, all of these traits which my mentor had been fostering in me for years prior. I love what I do and have been able to create this pathway for myself because I have been supported and encouraged by my mentor to follow my dreams.

Mentors are people who you trust, respect and who inspire you. They are people who you can debrief to, share your fears and uncertainties with and who will support you throughout your career. I would encourage you all to think about whether you have a mentor or not – if yes, then make the most of the wisdom at your disposal. If you don’t have a mentor, be on the hunt for one as they can be invaluable – look for someone who you respect and who inspires you.

The doctors on House, Scrubs and Greys Anatomy do make life or death decisions independently but House often consults his mentors, Cuddy and Wilson, Meredith Grey often seeks advice from her mentor Richard and JD openly respects, admires and is inspired by Perry Cox. It is not essential to have one, but mentors are like a cup of coffee – you don’t realise how much you want and need one until you have one!”

Ashe Coxon is a General Practitioner, Medical Educator and Career Counsellor. She is currently completing a Masters of Medical Education and works as a GP. She is also a certified career counsellor after completing a Graduate Certificate in Career Development. Her passion is career counselling and planning for doctors which has led me to develop her business, Medical Career Planning. Ashe can be contacted via email at info@medicalcareerplanning.com.au.