What inspired you to pursue a medical career?
During high school, I initially thought I would choose an engineering field. Then, when it came time to select electives, I was watching the series Grey’s Anatomy, which completely captivated me. I started attending biology and chemistry electives. The university entrance exam also went well, and I was admitted to Semmelweis University. At first, I was a bit uncertain whether this was the right university, but over time, I grew more and more fond of what we were learning.
Where did you go to high school?
I’m from Hajdúböszörmény, where I graduated from high school. I attended an eight-grade secondary school. After successfully passing the university entrance exam, I moved to Budapest and lived in a dormitory.
When and how did you decide to specialize in gynecology, and why did you choose this field?
Initially, I wanted to be a pediatrician, and I felt that way until the third year. At that point, I started working as a pediatric nurse in the emergency department at Heim Pál Children’s Hospital, which I really enjoyed. We also did adult emergency courses, and that’s when I first encountered adult medicine. It made me realize that I was also interested in this area. I started enjoying working with adults, which made me uncertain about pediatrics.
At university, we had to choose a mandatory clinical practice, and I ended up choosing the gynecology clinic. There, I could work with both newborns and adults, so I decided to give it a try. When I first participated in a delivery, I completely fell in love with obstetrics and gynecology. I knew immediately that this was what I wanted to do.
I did my clinical practice and all my clinical work at the Semmelweis University Baross Street Clinic, and I wrote my thesis there. I was so enchanted by obstetrics and gynecology that I never regretted my choice. Although I continued to work at Heim Pál Children’s Hospital afterwards and still really love the community there, I feel that obstetrics and gynecology was the right decision for me.
How did you join the Maternity residency program?
The truth is that finding a residency position in Budapest is extremely difficult due to the high number of graduates and the many applicants from outside the city. I didn’t know that Maternity offered residency opportunities, but my TDK supervisor at the time informed me that they had a residency program. She suggested I give it a try because it could be a great opportunity, so I sent in my resume. Meanwhile, I participated in several job interviews and was even considering returning to Debrecen.
In the end, I received a call from Maternity saying they liked my resume and asked when I could come for an interview. I attended two interviews: one with the clinic director and one with Professor Ács. I was very nervous since I hadn’t met them personally before; all I knew was that Professor Ács was the director of the Semmelweis University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Dr. Hupuczi was the director of Maternity Private Clinic. Both interviews were exciting, and by September, I had started working as a resident.
Do you like working here?
Yes, I particularly do. During our university rotations, we had the opportunity to observe the workings of other hospitals, which provided us with a lot of learning and experience. This makes it even more valuable to appreciate the opportunities and the environment we have here.
As a resident, what are your responsibilities, and what does a typical day look like for you?
There are six of us residents. On days when we assist in the operating room, one or two residents are present there. On these days, we need to be in the operating room at the start of surgeries and assist the doctors throughout the day. The others handle ward duties. For example, during rounds, patients regularly meet with residents. We also maintain contact with other hospitals, call ambulances if necessary, administer blood, and perform ultrasounds and other examinations.
If the fourth resident is also on duty, they assist colleagues with administrative tasks, conduct research, and compile statistics. This is a great help to those who spend the entire day in the operating room.
Of the six residents, two are already specialist trainees, and we also have a ward doctor who works as a general physician at the institute. They perform similar tasks to the residents but spend all their days at the clinic.
When will you become a specialist?
After obtaining the general medical degree, the first two years of residency involve completing mandatory rotations in various institutions and fields. As a resident and specialist trainee, there are tasks and competencies that we can perform independently, and these are assessed through various examinations. Currently, I am a second-year resident, and the next step in my training is to become a specialist trainee, which is tied to an exam. After that, I will be able to perform more tasks independently and eventually have my own practice under specialist supervision.
At the end of the five-year residency program, we take a comprehensive board exam, and from that point on, we can work as specialists without supervision.
What are your plans for the period when you will be a specialist?
That’s a difficult question. What is certain is that my interest in obstetrics and gynecology is very strong. I am particularly drawn to obstetrics and I truly enjoy it. Not only the manual work but also prenatal care and continuous patient interaction are important to me. At the same time, I would like to continue working in the operating room in the long term.
What challenges do you face on a daily basis?
There are many situations that I personally did not anticipate and that deeply affect or challenge me. Often, quick decision-making is required, which can be difficult and demands a lot of knowledge. Making the best decision in a matter of moments is truly a challenge. However, we work in a very supportive environment here, which helps us learn and adapt.
On the other hand, as a resident and specialist trainee, I need to excel in multiple areas simultaneously. I must be knowledgeable in everything and stay up-to-date with the latest information and research. I need to understand surgery, anesthesia, and obstetrics and gynecology all at once. This can be challenging at first, but it provides a diverse set of skills that are very valuable both for my current role and future work. It will take a lot of time to gather all this knowledge.
What is teamwork like with the doctors and other residents?
I believe that the relationship among residents is very good, and we manage work-related stress effectively while coordinating our time well. We get along not only at work but also at conferences and in our personal lives, which is very positive. I feel that the specialists also appreciate our presence and the assistance we provide in various areas. This is mutual, as they support and teach us in many ways. Overall, an excellent work environment has developed, with a good dynamic between the specialists and residents/specialist trainees.
How much free time do you have, and how do you spend it?
The rotations and on-call shifts require a lot of time and energy, especially if one wants to develop and learn. Adding conference participation, reviewing articles, and advancing in research means extra work. However, I believe that we, as young professionals, also strive to ensure we have some free time and not let work consume our entire lives.
Experienced doctors often emphasize the importance of working hard and giving our best, but they also stress that it’s necessary to take breaks when we reach the point of exhaustion. Since this is not a “9-to-5” job, we need to learn to balance work and rest while we are still young.
Although work is currently our primary focus, creating a stable personal life is essential. If I spent all my free time on work, I would eventually lose my enthusiasm. It’s important for me to take time for myself—such as going for a run or working out—to recharge. I have five workout sessions as a fixed part of my weekly routine, whether in the morning or evening.
Spending time with friends is also significant for me; my close friends are not in the medical field, so when we are together, the environment and topics are completely different, which helps me relax.
Of course, I also make time for my family, although it can be challenging since they live in Hajdúböszörmény. Fortunately, they are very flexible. If I’m on call during the weekend, they sometimes visit, so we can spend at least a few hours together. This is all very important to me.
Thank you for the conversation, and we wish you much success!
