Careers

Dr Susie Flexer

Dr Susie Flexer

Dr Susie Flexer is another trainee from the UK. She explains what it is like completing part of her training at North Shore Hospital and proves you can have a life outside of work....

Within General Surgery, I have great Registrars and I enjoy the sense of teamwork - North Shore Hospital has really friendly staff.  I enjoy ECC admitting duties (Emergency Care Centre) and the opportunity to see acute patients, the initial management of them interests me.  I like the opportunities to go to theatre (when I have the chance) and I enjoy the nice views of Lake Pupuke!

I find General Surgery challenging and interesting.  I like approaching every patient individually, assessing that person, finding the problem, and fixing it.

The top 3 things I particularly like about working at North Shore in General Surgery are;

• 1. The Location - North Shore Hospital is easy to get to - it is close to Takapuna pubs, restaurants, and beaches. Auckland City is close and there are also great transport links.
• 2. The Diversity of patients that we see - there is a good ethnic mix.
• 3. We have excellent staff at North Shore Hospital. Everyone is so nice and supportive. The Nurses are great, especially on the 8^th Floor (General Surgery).

To date my training consists of the Foundation Training (non surgical training) in the UK.  I have done one year of foundation training and am going back to the UK later this year for my 2^nd year.

Whilst in New Zealand, I spend my spare time making sure that I always plan fun things to do and to look forward to: get out of the city and have holidays.  I enjoy partying, running, tramping, exploring the wilderness and sailing.  Also make sure that you talk to people if you have work stress so that it doesn't build up! At work, my colleagues have put together a 7's Rugby League team that I enjoy being a part of.

Any advice that I would offer any Junior Doctor wanting to move in to General Surgery would be to try to show interest; go to as much theatre as possible - get involved with audits.  Start research projects early on in your career.  Get on to an ASSET course for basic surgical skills.