Search

Career of a Plastic Surgeon : Interview with Dr. Francis Conroy

Ruchika Airon
Nov 1, 2017
5 min read

Dr. Francis is a Plastic Surgeon with seventeen years experience across UAE, UK, Ireland and North America.

In the past Dr. Francis worked with organisations such as: NHS, HSE, Royal College Of Surgeons & British Association Of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons

FULL NAME : FRANK CONROY LOCATION : DUBAI

DESIGNATION : PLASTIC,RECONSTRUCTIVE & COSMETIC SURGEON ORGANISATION: AMERICAN HOSPITAL DUBAI 

HAILS FROM : ENGLAND, UK

Dr. Conroy would be keen to mentor students. Look out for opportunities to interact with him on our blog.

Questions & Answers

ACADEMICS AND SKILLS

Q1. What did you have to study to get into this line of work and where did you attend college? Were/are there other ways of qualifying for this profession? (Please specify if your educational qualifications were necessary to get into this line of work).

Ans. In the UK you require exceptionally high grades to get into medical school and unlike in the US you typically enter directly from high school.

You require top GCSE grade (A/A*) and similar A-Levels (or equivalent). Previously science based subjects were insisted upon but I think these stipulations have been relaxed.

Straight from my A-Levels I went to medical school and studied for 5 years before becoming a new doctor. I then decided I wanted to become a surgeon so I studied for Basic Surgical Training for a further 2 years before being awarded the MRCS examination.

Having spent 6 months in a plastic surgery rotation I knew I wanted to be a plastic surgeon and so I undertook a research fellowship in LASERS to help get me accepted for Higher Specialist Training in Plastic, Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgery.

I spent a further 5 yrs rotating through plastic surgery training schemes before passing my FRCS(Plast) examination and the end of my formal training.

I then decided to undertake a further International Fellowship in breast surgery in Vancouver for 12 months before heading back to the UK to start as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon (2013).

So it took me 13yrs from leaving medical school to becoming a fully trained plastic surgeon – and I did it quickly!

Q2. Academically, what subjects should a student be good at to be successful in this job(during school and higher education)

Ans. I think science based subjects tend to place you in a better position, although they are no longer a pre-requisite.

Q3. What skills should a student aspiring for this profession, try to develop during high school and possibly at an undergrad level, to be good at it and possibly break the entry barriers for entrance exams and interviews they need to clear to get into a good college?

Ans. You have to be a high achiever academically speaking. That said, there are much more valuable skills that a good doctor needs, as a doctor you see fellow human beings at their most vulnerable and desperate – so being able to show humility and empathy are a great advantage.

In medicine you will be working in teams so try and demonstrate how you work well in a team. Being a problem solver is a great advantage and being able to think laterally.

Having the ability to speak confidently to people who you do not know or have just met is vital too.

Q4. Would you like to give any tips or reminders to students aspiring for such a profession ?

Ans. Try and be confident, pleasant and humble. I have met lots of highly intelligent doctors who are gifted surgeons and academics but struggle to speak to patients and cannot strike up a rapport with their patients.

A good doctor is not only technically skilled but should possess the ability to communicate effectively with his/her patients. Emotional intelligence is a key talent.

Q5. Which colleges/institutes/medicine schools would you recommend in your home country and globally for pursuing this profession?

Ans. All of the medical schools are good in the UK but some teach differently. I never saw a patient until my 3rd year as the course was split between the ‘pre-clinical’ and ‘clinical’ years. Most medical schools run courses that are more integrated now.

ABOUT THE PROFESSION

Q6. What are the day to day responsibilities of a professional in this field?

Ans. My day is split between seeing any patients that are on the ward following their surgery, seeing new and follow-up patients in my clinic and performing surgery.

I am often on-call so I will be called down to the ER to see any emergencies – lacerations, burns, hand fractures etc.

Q7. What does it really mean to be working in this role?

Ans. I am extremely lucky in that I love my job! I get to meet a wide range of people from different backgrounds, I get to find out about them and look into their lives – something which is a huge privilege.

I also get to make both physical and psychological changes to my patients when performing surgery.

Q8. What are the perks of being in this kind of a role?

Ans. The perks are that my job gives me immense satisfaction, I meet interesting people with stories to tell on a daily basis. I get to make a real change to people’s lives – and I get paid for doing this!

PERSONAL CHOICES

Q9. How did you choose this profession?

Ans. I always wanted to be a surgeon but I thought I would be an orthopaedic surgeon. During my training I did a 6month plastic surgery rotation and loved it and so decided to pursue a career in the specialty instead.

Q10. What do you love about your job and what do you dislike?

Ans. Please see above for what I love.

What I don’t like is the fact that I had to sacrifice so much family time to get where I am today. 

Q11. Where did you start and where have you reached today? (Position/organisation you started off with and where you are working now).

Ans. I started as a very junior doctor after coming out of medical school, I have travelled all over the world during my training, became one of the youngest Consultant Plastic Surgeons in the UK and now find myself in my dream job in the UAE as the Head of the Plastic Surgery Department at the most prestigious hospitals in the Gulf region – hard work and determination does pay off.

MYTH Vs REALITY

Q12. Is there any myth you’d like to break about your profession that over-glamourises or de-glamourises it?

Ans. My job as a plastic surgeon is not as glamorous as people would think. Only a small amount of my work is facelifts, breast augmentation and botox!

More often, I can be found reconstructing parts of the body, cleaning up traumatic wounds and assisting other surgeons with their cases.

And I definitely do not drive a Ferrari!

Tell us what you thought about the interview above. Was it helpful in getting to know more about this profession? Would you have liked to know more details? Would you like to ask any questions to Dr. Conroy. Let us know by writing in the comments section at the end of the page!

________________________________________