Fiona's story

Early career

Fiona grew up in Inverness without a medical background in her family. She attended the first Doctor at Work scheme, which gave her invaluable hands-on experience in theatres and on wards. This opportunity helped confirm that medicine was her calling, provided experience to discuss at interviews, and gave her confidence that she would enjoy medical school.

Career journey

After graduating from medical school, Fiona completed her foundation years in Aberdeen and Inverness, an experience she describes as "generally good but definitely disrupted by the pandemic," which made her first year as a doctor particularly memorable. Her career since then has been remarkably diverse, including working as the only doctor in the Emergency Department in Stornoway and serving as a teaching fellow, running simulations and sessions for medical students.

Current role

Fiona is currently completing her GP training within NHS Highland. As she nears the end of her training, she is exploring the many diverse paths available to GPs, including opportunities to work in Emergency Departments, as a prison doctor, in GP practices, or in numerous other specialised roles that combine different aspects of medicine.

(as at December 2025)

Key reflections

Fiona values the collaborative nature of medicine and loves working within hospital and GP practice teams. She reflects that "medicine is definitely a team sport" and feels very grateful to work with excellent colleagues. The variety in her career has kept her engaged and excited about the future possibilities in medicine.