In this episode, WEM Founder Mark Hannaford is joined by WEM Conference Speaker, HEMS Doctor and former Paramedic Mike Christian. Mike tells us how he took the leap from working as a Paramedic in Canada, and fuelled by curiosity, decided to go back to University to train as a Doctor. Following his graduation, his interest in infectious diseases and the emerging SARS outbreak led him to further Critical Care Training and an Infectious Diseases Fellowship. This launched him down a path that has included time in the Canadian Military and as part of the London Air Ambulance team as a HEMS Physician. Alongside Mark, Mike considers some of the best lessons he took from his earlier training and has kept with him even today - from building rapport with patients, to being resourceful in front-line environments and the power of asking good questions. Mike also offers some advice to those wishing to pursue similarly unique careers paths to his own; from taking risks and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to utilising your 'imposter syndrome' to drive you to be a better clinician. He reminds us that our work is a mix of our success, but also our failures - and highlights his own 'rejection CV' and the closed doors that have led him to even more interesting places. *** Walton, M., Murray, E. and Christian, M. D. (2020) ‘Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic’, European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care. doi: 10.1177/2048872620922795 bit.ly/TheSilentPandemic Watch 'The Silent Pandemic' WEM Academy Live session featuring Mike here https://www.wem.academy/videos/wem-academy-live-sessions/the-silent-mental-health-pandemic/

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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