PEDIATRICS
Do you follow the recommendations you give to your patients?
Not always!
The vast majority! But no one is bound to the impossible!
The vast majority of the time, yes.
What do you think is the most difficult medical practice?
Surgery
Impossible to choose, each one having its strengths and weaknesses including mine (pediatrics)
The most difficult is the one that forces me to work at night
In your opinion, what is the easiest medical practice?
Public health (except since the pandemic...!)
Impossible to choose, each one having its strengths and weaknesses including mine (pediatrics)
The easiest is the one that is in contact with children.
Would you be friends with your colleagues if you had met them outside of work?
Not all! But some real friends who share common passions.
I would say jokingly: are all your class your friends? Obviously not. So same thing in a large group of colleagues, some are good friends and others colleagues.
I do not think so, no.
What do you think is the most important factor for a successful residency in your specialty?
A self-love for children
Passion, interest.
Don't be afraid to work long hours and learn to tolerate parent stress
What do you think is the most important factor for a successful career in your specialty?
Patience and dedication.
Good social contact and motivation
Don't be afraid to work long hours and learn to tolerate parent stress
What is the best advice you have received?
Set boundaries and take regular breaks to reevaluate your life.
KISS (Keep it simple and stupid)
Stay humble and connect to the reality of what my patients are going through
What is the most common criticism you receive?
Stop being nice and be real...
“too thin” “I have to learn to say no”
The current lack of resources in the large health network.
How would your colleagues describe you?
Effective!
Dynamic, efficient
Very well organized and always in a good mood
If you had to specialize in something else, what would it be and why?
Gynecology, for the pregnancy and childbirth portion.
If I stay in ped, hematoonco-ped. If I go to adults: internal doctor or haemato-onco
Most likely a subspecialty of pediatrics to manage pathological medical conditions and fewer psychosocial situations.
Does your specialty take jokes well at work?
Yes.
Absolutely
Very good !
Do students/residents sometimes make you feel overwhelmed?
No. Never students and residents. Teaching is my favorite part of the clinic. But the thousands of other bonds: yes!!
No ! I am very comfortable that they are better than me on the pathophysiology of the renal tubules, but I know that on the how to question and what to do I have a head start. Everyone has their own strengths and points to work on!
Yes, especially in the face of complex medical situations, the lack of resources to help families and the death of a child.
If your specialty had to have a romantic relationship with another which one would it choose?
ENT
Pedopsy
Gynecology-obstetrics.
Is it still possible for a pediatrician to work in an office or private clinic?
Rarely.
Yes ! Everything is possible in ped!
Less and less. The role of the pediatrician is called upon to ensure the management of more complex cases which should be done in an intra-hospital environment most of the time. Primary care for children should be reserved for family physicians.
Can you be a pediatrician even if you're not super super fun?
Certainly... I can introduce you to some role models...
Absolutely. I am not a big joker but I am accessible and available
Why not ? Being a pediatrician does not mean being a summer camp instructor!
How many hours of work per week on average? What does your schedule look like?
50 hours. 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday-Friday and guards.
Very variable…Minimum 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., therefore 45 hours, but it easily goes up to more if you add the evenings worked, the guards, etc. 55h with all that
Minimum 40h / week and Monday to Friday most of the time with evening / night call duty during the week as well as on weekends at certain intervals.
What do you dislike most about your practice?
Paperwork, notes, forms, completing assessments, invoicing, ...
Paperwork and phones…I hate forms
To be too often confronted with insufficient resources to adequately help patients and their families.
Is it possible to practice in an office AND in a hospital? If so, in which region is it best suited?
In the region.
Yes. Not bad everywhere
Practice in offices and hospitals is fairly common throughout Quebec except perhaps in university centers (tertiary centers).
What are your best tricks to make children laugh (or add joy to their day if hospitalized for example)?
It's rare that I make them laugh, but I like to address them directly when I ask questions and involve them in the interview.
I'm not trying to laugh. I am available and I am interested in them
Jokes in the first degree and absurd humor (e.g. "Did you think to bring your ears with you because I would have to examine them? » )
To become cardioped, do you go through pediatrics first?
Yes.
YES
Yes, you must first go through the common core (3 years) before going to a subspecialty.