Alumni stories: being your own boss
School Alumnus Keith Wilkinson tells all in a brand-new book covering his career as an anaesthetist from medical school through specialty training and into his consultant position on the Isle of Man.
“Have you ever thought how astonishing it is that you can remain safe, pain free and most of all, alive, even during the deadliest of medical procedures?”
And so begins If In Doubt: An Anaesthetist’s Story, offering a rare and raw glimpse into the profession, the skills required, mistakes made, ethical issues, and the day to day challenges and rewards.
Beatles fan Keith Wilkinson fittingly chose Liverpool to study medicine and caught the train from County Durham to begin his studies in October 1977, four days after his twenty-first birthday.
As he recounts in Chapter Two of his book, taking his seat amongst colleagues for a welcome lecture by Professor of Anatomy Professor Harris was a proud moment for him - swiftly tarnished by a couple of students, who ‘sounded just like The Beatles’, whispering and giggling at the back!
Keith remembers his time at Liverpool fondly and talks in detail of his experiences as a student in the book.
What has stuck with me the most after all these years is the friendships, sharing challenges together, the fun, the setbacks and the incredible moment after five years when I qualified!
University didn’t come without its challenges. “I passed in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Pharmacology but failed Pathology. It was a shock but a wakeup call. I realised I had underestimated the study required and got stuck in!
Keith first took an interest in anaesthetics during a clinical placement. “One of the consultants felt I should consider it - and I did!” Thus began a career that spanned almost forty years, many of which spent in a small hospital on the Isle of Man, where he was required to know every aspect of anaesthesia.
The biggest highlights were all the patients I hope I helped and their relatives.
"Whether in ICU, at the hospice, or in my voluntary cleft lip and palate work, in Ecuador and the Philippines. Undoubtedly, the biggest lowlight has been my retirement. After two years I so miss clinical practice!”
Keith is a keen advocate of his specialty to today’s student doctors.
Anaesthetics is to me the best career. No letters, no clinics, no ward rounds, you are your 'own' boss.
"The work is challenging but so vital and rewarding, giving you the opportunity to work in all areas - ICU, obstetrics, medical wards, surgical wards, X-ray, A&E, paediatrics and the list goes on!”
Discover more
- If In Doubt: An Anaesthetist’s Story by Keith Wilkinson is available to loan from the Harold Cohen Library (link).
- It is available to purchase from Amazon (link) and other book stores, with all royalties donated to the NSPCC.
- Keith is also the author of Manx Murders, a collection of true crime cases from the Isle of Man over the last 150 years, also available from Amazon (link).
- Get insights and advice from School Alumni as they reminisce on their days at Liverpool and the careers they went on to create on our Alumni Stories webpage (link).