Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

F2 doctor, 24, Oxford

Designated department – Acute Medicine

Jon, 24, is the son of a medical salesman and a nurse. He has always wanted to work in medicine and is a bit of a trailblazer in his family as he's the first boy to go to university.

Now into the second year of the foundation programme, Jon finds himself on rotation in acute emergency admissions.

This is the area where serious medical cases are admitted following admission to A&E. The ward is fast-paced and Jon will have to make life-and-death decisions, assist the crash teams, deal with cardiac arrests and take the judgement call on when to shout for help or to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in.

The pace is relentless – acute medicine has a high burn-out rate amongst junior doctors and this will all be invaluable experience for Jon whose dream is to train as a surgeon.

Outside of work, Jon is Mr Extra-curricular, with a packed social life which includes being captain of rugby team, The Medics, and playing drums in rock band, Aces And 8s.

Why did you want to get into medicine?

I like the fact that with medicine things can be unpredictable and change from day to day.

What's the best and worst thing about being a junior doctor?

The toughest things about being a junior doctor are the anti-social hours and the long shifts. Sometimes you feel like you are the lowest denominator on the ward. One of the best things about being a junior doctor is that we get 40% off our local pizza!

How do you cope with the day-to-day stresses of work?

There are good days and bad days – it's important to talk it through when things are getting to you. Sometimes you need to try to be disconnected otherwise it becomes overwhelming. You need to learn to leave your emotions at the door.

Which on-screen character are you most like?

I'd like to be like Turk from Scrubs. I think that he's got that balance – he does his job really well but still manages to have a laugh.

Have you had any babies named after you?

I nearly had a baby named after me but as it was a girl – they called her Joanna.