The ES Alumni Podcast
The ES Alumni Podcast
From Student to Specialist: Dr. Andreas Mavrides on Medical Practice, Philanthropy, and Career Balance
What does it take to transition from a promising student to a successful obstetrician, gynaecologist, and fertility specialist? Join us on Alumni Voices as we sit down with Andreas Mavrides, a distinguished alumnus of the English School in Nicosia, to uncover the answer. Andreas recounts his journey, highlighting the enduring bonds formed during his school years and how his education laid the foundation for his career and philanthropic endeavours. Through his stories, we gain insights into the values of genuine friendship, honesty, and hard work that have guided him both personally and professionally.
Starting a medical practice in Cyprus after 15 years with the NHS in the UK presents its own set of challenges. Andreas discusses the cultural differences in medical practice management and emphasises the importance of having a clear vision and maintaining high standards of quality. Listeners will learn about the critical role organisation and persistence play in overcoming difficulties, such as finding skilled professionals and establishing proper protocols. Andreas's commitment to quality control and upholding standards as his practice grows offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to set up their own business or practice.
Balancing multiple roles is no easy feat, but Andreas shares his strategies for achieving both professional success and personal fulfilment. From implementing a scholarship program for aspiring students to managing the demands of being a practitioner, philanthropist, businessman, husband, and father, Andreas underscores the importance of good communication, proper planning, and reliable professional partners. He also offers advice on managing emotions and maintaining mental health, providing a roadmap for aspiring professionals to thrive in their careers while giving back to their communities. Tune in to be inspired by Andreas's journey and to gain practical insights that can help you succeed in your own life's endeavours.
www.alumni@englishschool.ac.cy and www.esobga.org
Hello listeners and welcome to Alumni Voices, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating journeys of graduates from the English School, nicosia. Join us as we explore the diverse careers, unique experiences and personal stories of our esteemed alumni. Each episode offers insights and inspiration, connecting you with a vibrant community of achievers who have made their mark around the world. So tune into Alumni Voices and discover how the English school has shaped the lives and successes of its graduates. And today we have the privilege of sitting down with Andreas Mavridis. Welcome. Would you prefer Dr or Andreas?
Speaker 2:or Mr Mavridis Andreas. Yes, yes, it's fine. It's fine. Thank you for inviting.
Speaker 1:No problem, Thanks for joining us. So Andreas is a distinguished obstetrician and a gynecologist, a fertility specialist, advanced laparoscopic surgeon, astute businessman, and from the early beginnings of our very own English school, Nicosia, to graduating class of 1989, the early beginnings of our very own English school, Nicker Theatre, graduating class of 1989. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of London, Master of Medicine, Assisted Reproduction from University of Nottingham to Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Reproductive Unit Hammersmith Hospital, Special Registrar at the reproductive unit Hammersmith Hospital, special registrar at the London Deanery and a senior registrar at St George's Hospital in London. And in 2009, he established a thriving medical practice here in Cyprus dedicated to state-of-the-art fertility treatment, maternity and women's health. Andreas embodies the spirit of innovation and compassion, but that's not all. He's also giving back to the institution that shaped his path by generously providing scholarships for aspiring students.
Speaker 1:Join us for this podcast as we delve into Andreas Mavridis' inspiring journey. In part one, we uncover the secrets to his success and the driving force behind his dedication to healthcare, and in part two, we explore his philanthropic motivations behind the school donations and his aspirations for the deserving recipients. Andreas, thank you for your time today and I hope we're not keeping you from delivering any babies. I would not like to be on the receiving end of any. The wrath of any mother to be, Anyway. So you're now the owner of a thriving fertility and maternity clinic in two locations in Cyprus and proud father of four. Anyway, so you're now the owner of a thriving fertility and maternity clinic in two locations in Cyprus and proud father of four.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 1:Okay, and I'm guessing a very beautifully and supportive wife in that mix, of course, okay. So without further ado, let's jump in and head down memory lane. Can you share some of your favorite memories of your time at school, both negative and positive?
Speaker 2:Yes, Basically the school as we had it's been, as it is now, the school, the meaning, the mentality, the community. The number one thing I think with the English school is we have a very strong community that stays there throughout. English school is we have a very strong community that stays there throughout. You don't appreciate it at the time and looking back you realize how strong that bond is. So I can't pick. I can think of a few moments good moments, not so good moments, various funny moments, not so good moments, various funny moments and it's all those little things that you think back and jog your memory and you have this good feeling of the community.
Speaker 2:And then, as it is in Cyprus, we're a small community and we know most of the people, each other, and growing up you realize that people don't change. They're there, you see them. You see that people don't change, they're there, you see them, you see them how they develop. But you realize that the characters and the personalities don't change and they've been like that and it's an amazing feeling to see how these bonds stay on.
Speaker 2:You go away, you do your thing, you do your own thing, you study, you train, you spend lots of years abroad many of us do. And then you come back and you keep, and all the stories keep coming back to those years being a teenager, so there are no specific moments, but I do remember this tightness, the little break times, the jokes we told each other, the interactions of teachers, the younger students, the older students at times. So it was a strong community. At the time we didn't have okay, but we all know that things were different we didn't have the social media, we didn't have that accessible interaction all the time. So all we had is each other. All we had was the stories and you had to make the most out of it. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Do you think that's going to? You've got young children now. Do you think that their friendships are going to be as strong as yours were with? I mean? Their world is completely different to ours when we're at school, with the social media and the bonds that you make with people. Do you think it would be different when they are our age?
Speaker 2:I think about that a lot actually, and, um, I wonder the digital world and all these social media and the way they interact, um, I think we're growing up. It's the new development, okay, so it's part of of our life. Um, we try to teach them and explain to them, uh, that the fresh friendships should be deeper and, uh, I always explain all these things that I said that people don't change and it it's deep down. Whoever, whatever one is, and how they behave, that's how, who they are, and we try to teach them the juice of life, the true meaning of life, which is not very complicated, it's just a few basic things, you know genuine friendships, honesty and hard work, and this is what it's about.
Speaker 2:So I think, all in all, I think there will be, because I see them now have different ages, the kids at school, and I see this bond and the community development in a different version, but it's still there. So I think that the concept is there. The same way, in our days, things were different to 20 years before, 30 years before, but we don't realize it and that's how I think that's part of the evolution of life. It's just nowadays all these changes. The digital world is very recent and we're trying to accept it and as parents and more grownups, we have more difficulty understanding how it incorporates with us. So the kids have grown into this, but I think deep down, the community is there. It's still the same.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, that's great. Okay, so how do you feel it's shaped your future, your time at the ES school? Did you have a goal when you were there?
Speaker 2:Yes, I did have a goal as far as the future was concerned. As I said, at the time, we didn't have a lot of. We had a lot of free time, though we didn't have all our time occupied. We didn't have a social schedule outlined all the time. Right right, you finished school, you went home, you had to do your studies, whatever you had to do. I was more of a science person, so it wasn't much. You know lots and lots of hours as far as I'm concerned, but I remember I used to be bored a lot. Oh, really, yes, the free time, and that's how it was. Uh, we were designed to be bored and I remember and I asked my friends and my schoolmates, uh, that it was the same thing.
Speaker 2:Summer was quite long. The break times, the Easter, christmas holidays, they were long holidays. You didn't have many things to do. You didn't have a regular family schedule you know, all the time family holiday. So things were much simpler. You had more time. So all we had was our thoughts. Yeah right, you're thinking the future, thinking about oh, I'm finishing, I'm graduating in three, four years, I've got my national service another two years. That was then. And then you start thinking what you will be doing more or less, but did have a plan. Okay, my father was a a doctor gynecologist who grew up in the clinic. In that environment I couldn't think of anything else. I never consciously thought of deciding what to do or not not to do so and I couldn't think of anything else to be done.
Speaker 2:So it was part of of growing up in my yes, actually followed yes, and then, uh, when I went for studies, I thought, is this what I actually want? And then I couldn't think of anything else and okay, so, and, and, and, most of us did have plans, maybe not as clear or clear direction, and that's what we did. So I did have the plans. Now, whether the school has helped me, the school, the school builds character, it builds, it gives you structure and it gives you the tools on the way to tackle things in life and how to tackle, how to, how to study, how to organize yourself. So it's very important for any establishment, for that matter, the school. At the moment, there has to be organization, has to be structure. At the time you don't appreciate it, but, but it's only afterwards, as with most things, it's only looking back, that you appreciate the advice you get. The support from teachers was great, as we said, the community, their support from students, usually the older students. So this is what the school does, um, uh, does for you.
Speaker 1:Wow, Um, could you share some you already spoke before about? Uh, you went into gynecology because that was your father's business as well, et cetera. So it was more of a following his path or a natural path, rather than saying, oh, this is something that really interests me and I want to explore more, so it was a okay. So can you share some insights into your approach to running your own medical practice? I mean, I guess there are two paths you can work for somebody else or you can go out by yourself.
Speaker 1:Where was the decision changing point for you on that?
Speaker 2:on that. Okay, and um in uh. In the uk I used to. I worked for the nhs, so there was some of uh. There was a good structure. You had to follow protocols. You had to um, follow the hierarchy the consultants, the junior doctors, the more junior doctors so you had a plan and I I like that. I'm a structured person and thinker. In Cyprus the mentality is not so much, it's a cultural thing. We're a little bit more relaxed about things. We don't follow specific protocols, we don't have specific guidelines, so it's a matter of setting up your own environment. Now so, coming back from the UK, because I spent about 15 years in the UK studies and training, I thought to myself I have to create my own environment. So that's what I did. So, yeah, I couldn't negotiate not setting up a practice the way I wanted, and that's what I did, wow.
Speaker 1:So the challenges you faced along the way of setting up the practice. You said there wasn't, there's not a lot of structure here at the time or it's not culturally a typical thing to follow structures and stuff. Did you come up against many barriers as you were setting up your business or did you find it Again?
Speaker 2:yes and no barriers, as you were setting up your business or did you find it Again? Yes and no. Yes, we did have. The main issue was to find other professionals, the paramedical professionals, For example. Simple things the contractor, the way you want the layout. You have to explain why you do that. You don't have specific consultants. Things are changing now, but at the time, 15 years ago or so, it was different. You have to explain exactly why you want specific things in the layouts. That's a simple example. And then is to embed the mentality that you want, Because when you're setting up these sort of practices, it's not a one-man show.
Speaker 2:Yes, you lead the team, so you have the medical part, which, after all, that's the easy part. You know. Once you know it, the medical part, you know exactly what to do, when to do it. It's one of the difficult parts is to transfer and transmit this sort of expectation and the level of care you want to provide to every single professional. So would that be other doctors, the midwives, the nurses, the assistants, the embryologists, who are the laboratory people? So you have to set everything up. You know picking up the equipment you don't have a lot of clinics here to go and have a look around and see firsthand.
Speaker 2:You have to do your research through the web now, through the different companies. You have to research every single choice, and I think we did a very good job. After all, it pays off. But the other thing is you have to be really, really organized and you have to be clear on what you want, what targets you have. Set up all the protocols, both for the management of the business and the setup, but also, more importantly, the medical aspect. I mean even the anesthetists we're using. I'm cooperating with anesthetists that are trained in maternity and obstetric, because it's a subspecialty in the UN.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, okay.
Speaker 2:So that's what they're saying. You cannot compromise anything. So if you look for the quality, you'll find it, and then you get rewarded, because people you know patients and the clients, so to speak, or potential mothers, people who want to get pregnant or they want to have an operation they will appreciate the quality and the level of medicine that you put into it. So, yeah, the beginning is difficult. As long as you have a clear vision, exactly what you want to do it will be done, and that would be one of my advice to people.
Speaker 2:Once you get the vision straight. If you don't know what you want, it's difficult to do it. So, as long as you know exactly what you want, you have this clearly in your mind. Then the logistics okay, you can have easy logistics, you can have more difficult logistics, but you'll reach your target.
Speaker 1:That's a really good piece of advice to pass on to any sort of graduate or prospective business student. That we have at the moment getting your vision straight first, and it appears that you have oversight of all of the business, so it's like you've got your own master of businesses on top of your sort of medical side as well, because of your oversight.
Speaker 1:Is that driven by your vision? It's like well, this is my vision, so I need to go and learn how to do this, so, therefore, I can make it the best that I want it to be.
Speaker 2:Yes, exactly, and that's how it starts. When you start and set up, you're the one person there managing everybody. So when you're smaller, you can deal with all these things. And when you keep growing, then the individuals that you have as employees, they become small departments and they grow. So it's important to set up whatever you have to set up in the beginning and you put your visions, as we said, straight, and then again, you don't compromise on the quality. If you want it, you have to be a little bit stubborn about it. You say that's how I want it, because I want the quality and the outcome.
Speaker 2:Even the receptionist. You know the way they answer the phone calls or how they book appointments. You know these kind of things. So it's the little things, and you build up this and then, as you go along of course course you can't do everything every single time you guide, um, the, the key people, and then each department grows and and you've implanted the idea and the and the way of thinking. So now we're at the stage where, even if I have to employ somebody, uh, it can't be done and the requirements are the same as I used to have them 15 years ago when it started. So you create a system that keeps on going, but you have to keep checking on that quality, the quality controls.
Speaker 1:I was going to say quality control. That's amazing that you start that right from the very beginning and create that basically as a footprint and then like you say, if you start that right from the very beginning and create that as a footprint, and then, like you say, if you inject that right from the beginning, as the business grows, each person comes on board.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:They embody that Amazing. Ok, so in regards to the Andreas Mavridis scholarships, please tell me a little bit about this. What motivated you to give back and what are your expectations of the scholarships once the students have accepted them?
Speaker 2:The scholarship to start off with, I never thought of. I didn't start thinking about the scholarship, you know. I thought, OK, I felt this need. I don't know why I felt this need to learn, Help the school, give something back to the school, Because after quite a few years you come back, you establish yourself, you do well, touch wood and you feel you owe the school. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is, but I feel it's part of growing up, and in the 80s things were a bit different and I found the school that it gave me this structure, this organization, this discipline, and it also guided and believed in me, so to speak, and that's how I had this need of helping out the school.
Speaker 2:And I've tried through various ways and I did. I got involved with the Parents Association as well and then I thought, okay, let's take it a step further. And let's help students maybe one student maybe and I had a chat with the school and see how we can best do it. And that's what we did with the school, and see how we can best do it and that's what we did. So I have this need in myself Not need, it's just this urge of helping somebody and the plan is to further grow this scholarship.
Speaker 2:And it should be to somebody who would appreciate the support Interesting.
Speaker 1:I was listening to a podcast about an Indian guru who said that our lives are separated into quarters and the third quarter being 50 plus um is the time when you naturally want to give back as a human being, when you look at human beings over the whole of our life. But since we've been around um, that is the time when you want to give back. So it's almost like it's, it's built in us. It's not something that we go searching for, like you said, and it's interesting that you've sort of said you don't know where it came from. It's just you get to that. I don't know how old you are. I'm assuming we're similar sort of age.
Speaker 2:Yes, that third quarter when I reach it, when I get there. I'll keep that in mind.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're not quite there, Maybe you're just a little premature, that's it. I'm saying we because I'm obviously there, but yeah, and it is. It just becomes a natural thing and the more and more people that I talk to of my generation getting to this point, it's like oh, this need to sort of say thank you back to the school. So at the moment the scholarships are working. This year is the first year.
Speaker 2:Yes, I think from coming September.
Speaker 1:This September, and then there's going to be one each year.
Speaker 2:Yes, the scholarship is basically a year two student, so a year one student will get assessed. The school will decide in discussion with us. They have to have academic excellence and also need the. They don't have to be the number one in the class. There are some criteria that will help with the school. And they have to maintain it and it's going to be for every year until they graduate. Wow, okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But they have to perform Right. They have to have the ethos in order to maintain the scholarship.
Speaker 1:To maintain it each year until they graduate. The scholarship towards the piece, basically Amazing. Do you have any say in who gets awarded?
Speaker 2:No, I prefer not to do it. You know, to start off with, I want to be completely impartial. I want the school to decide. At some point we may discuss a way of people applying for it for students but it's something we'll discuss with the school. But I really I emphasize that from the beginning. Right, I don't want to, at this stage, be the one to decide or be part of the decision. Okay, it has to be. I think it's better this way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess you've got personal bias there as well, haven't you?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Somebody that's coming to the medical field or you know that kind of thing. Yeah, okay, great, as we're talking, go back to the um, the business, your business, um. How do you balance your role as a practitioner, philanthropist, businessman, husband and father? Because there's a lot of plates you spin in there and your children are teenagers as well, and so that's the time when they are craving your attention but don't want you around. You know, there must be so many things that you're balancing right now.
Speaker 2:It's a very good question.
Speaker 2:I've been asked this quite a few times, doctor, how can you, you know when do you go home? Again, it boils down, I'm afraid, to being organized. Have more and more, you know. Deal with the logistics, because it's not just medicine. Yes, the medicine is there. If you don't control the things that you can schedule, then you're all over the place and you hear a lot of stories, and that's where you get a lot of negative feelings or publicity of somebody being a doctor. Oh, you're never home, you don't have time to do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes.
Speaker 2:From the beginning as I went through the life of a doctor, or my father being a doctor, the family being a doctor, and those times, as I said, things were different. My father was a doctor, the family being a doctor, and at those times, as I said, things were different. My father was a different personality. So I used the social part as a guide of what not to do myself, but that's how it was then. It was post-war, people were insecure, so I had it in my mind. I mean, from a young age I remember that, yes, I want to spend time with my future family. I want to structure my work and organize my work. I want to have partners, medical partners so we cover each other and that's the right thing to do in any case. So it's all about organization, finding the right professionals to work with. You know other doctors of equal caliber that you can trust and cover you when needed.
Speaker 2:And then and also good communication with patients. You know, explain, look, I'll be away for five days, my colleague is covering you can meet him and people do like that. It was a belief quite a few years ago. Still, some people falsely believe that people will get really upset. Patients will get really upset if you're away and they're afraid to organize their time and get some time off.
Speaker 2:But if you look after yourself, look after your family, then you are a better professional. That's how I see it. And yes, so it's not easy. Okay, you do have your days, but as long as you have some specific days and activities with the family, when they grow up they really appreciate it. And yes, if you do your holidays, your family holidays, and you spend quality time, so it's not just the time you spend with the family, it's that, it's how you spend quality time. So it's not just the time you spend with the family, it's how you spend the quality. You might spend one hour with the family, you chat and you engage with them. Or you could be for five hours at home and have no communication. It's even worse.
Speaker 2:So it's the quality of it, that's what they appreciate. As they grow older they say that to me. My daughter wants to be a doctor. She's been accepted, actually, to UK University.
Speaker 1:Congratulations.
Speaker 2:Thank you, wow. So, and one thing when she was doing her voluntary work and the clinical experience in various hospitals, a lot of doctors said, oh, why do you want to be a doctor? You're never home. One thing when she was doing her voluntary work and the clinical experience in various hospitals, a lot of doctors said, oh, why do you have to be a doctor? You're never home. And she was wondering why people were saying that and I felt proud of that. I didn't say anything. I felt well, that's a success for me If my daughter feels that I've never experienced the lack of my father being around and out of everything. I think that's the most difficult thing.
Speaker 2:I don't know why people are saying that you know they appreciate the hard work, but as long as you have some holiday time, so it's a matter of being organized. Have structure, organize your social work and just to strike the right balance.
Speaker 1:I'm conscious of you. In my mind's eye, I can see you as a student, sort of 16, 17, with this mature mindset that you've already been thinking through all these things and making a clear strategy about what your father did and what you were not going to do and how you were going to do it. It sounds like a very mature head on those very young shoulders.
Speaker 2:I wasn't. I was okay, I was pretty mature. Okay, until a certain age, halfway I mean lower school, a bit immature, a bit sort of rebellious in the first few years, and then you know silly things, nothing serious, but and then you realize as you grow up, during school, it's what I always said you're getting organized. So, yes, I thought a lot about the future and I remember I couldn't wait to go and study. Why not? Because of going to study. It's just you're, you're really anticipating the next step in life. I'm sure it's. It's the same thing now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I remember the feeling as soon as I went to London, you know, for studies, I felt so, you know, so liberated or so different. Okay, you left from Cyprus, you went to London, big city, but then again you felt all this power inside you, yeah and yes, and you carry that momentum as you go along, city. But then again you felt all this power inside you, yeah and uh, yes and that's uh, and you carry that momentum as you go along. But again, I can't stress enough the organization and the, the structure and everything, and a lot of people I mean even established business. You see, a lot of business might fail because of the lack of organization or or not perform as well, and and the punctuality. You know, all these things are little things, but they're important. I think they're the backbone of any healthy either business or way of working.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Big takeaway there Less time on social media and more time planning your life. Yes, for any high school graduates that are listening to this. Okay, so to wrap up this segment, looking ahead, what are your goals or aspirations for the future, both professionally and personally?
Speaker 2:The goals. Okay, I've set up the food, as you said, developed it. I want to expand more. There's a lot of international patients that they want to come to Cyprus because they do a lot of fertility work. We're getting into the digital world. These days, you have to be super efficient, super responsive with everything. So it's a matter of developing and keeping up with the times and with the technology and the way of service. So, yes, it's further delivering, fine-tuning the services, keep improving the success rates, for example, fertility will keep on climbing with the pregnancy rates and the success rates, for example, fertility will keep on climbing with the pregnancy rates and the new techniques. There's lots and lots of stuff that's staggering developments.
Speaker 1:Yes, in that field, Okay, so what advice would you give to aspiring graduates considering a career in medicine?
Speaker 2:Okay, I know everybody says, oh, it's so tough, it's so difficult. By the way, I'm a very optimistic type of person. I make things look easy. That's how I am. I see always the positive side of things. Yes, it is tough.
Speaker 2:The road to either success or anything that you really want to achieve is tough. There's no easy way in life. The sooner people realize that, the better it is. That's my advice to students. That's my advice, not just for medicine, but for anything. Not just for medicine, but for anything. It's a difficult road. It's a tough road.
Speaker 2:That doesn't mean that you shouldn't follow it. It's full of mistakes, but it's good. That's how you learn. You only learn from your mistakes. You don't learn from doing everything right. You only learn from your mistakes. I'm saying my advice is make the journey exciting.
Speaker 2:Don't think of the time that it takes. It takes a long time for anything to do Medicine. It takes five years or six years on courses To do the course. It's an exciting course. Yes, it's hard. You have to be methodical. You have to be again organized. You have to study regularly. You don't leave any gaps and you're fine Afterwards.
Speaker 2:The training part. You're working, you're part of the system. You're working, but you're a trainee in anything you do. If you're going to become an accountant or you're going to train in anything, you're a trainee at some point in life. You don't graduate in any course and you become a professional. Okay, you're a graduate, you're a trainee, you're the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, in a good way, and then you work your way up. So it's unavoidable, you need. You need about 10, 15 years in any profession to become an autonomous professional or a service provider in the field. So that's how I see medicine as well. I don't see it any different from anything else. Yes, you deal with life and death situations, you deal with healthcare, but there's no room for mistakes, of course. But that's the nature of the job and you get used to it. So make it an exciting journey.
Speaker 1:Make the mistakes, okay, not crucial mistakes mistakes as in um yes under supervision these, these sort of things and mistakes in decisions about, um, career moves.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you just go for it and then you self-correct afterwards In that sense, I mean you go for it, make it an exciting journey and then it does pay off and become a great professional individual to offer back to society. And that's where you become a service provider. You're providing a service to the community. That's how I see it. You use the community with various systems, that being education, universities. Afterwards training gives you the tools and it's your debt towards community to give back as a professional. I think that's how the cycle of life is.
Speaker 2:And specifically for medicine because you need quite a bit of dedication for that part, I always say it's it's the best and the worst profession. It's the if you like it and you really fill it up with passion and do it with passion, as I think you should do everything but specifically for medicine, it's the best job in the world. I really believe that if you don't like it because you have the hours of the training and the dedication, it's the worst profession because you feel trapped in an environment that you don't really like. You shouldn't do medicine because you're good at science, at maths, or because somebody told you or because your father was a doctor, not just because they told you you should be a doctor.
Speaker 2:You have to feel it. You have to feel that you really want to it. It has to be inside you. Okay, it's not easy. The question is okay, how do you feel that? Or how do you know that? Expose yourself to the profession, go and do some work experience or just an observation early in school. You know year 14, year 15. I get people coming at the clinic from year 13, 14, 15 years and you find things to do. They don't have to be in the operating room.
Speaker 2:They can do simple tasks, just be around the environment, just get a taste of that. And it could be done for other professionals as well, but specifically for medicine, you have to feel it. Some people really want it, some people it's the opposite. They don't want it. They know they don't want it, so you shouldn't push them. So that's the advice I give. So go and make it an exciting journey and people and you shouldn't listen to the noise around you, the social noise we call it sometimes. So somebody said I think Bill Gates said that before you win, people say why do you work so hard? Why do you need to work so hard? After you win, people say oh, you're so lucky.
Speaker 1:That's very true, actually, when you think about it.
Speaker 2:You work hard for a reason and I remember when I was doing my training in London, it was tough, you know, long hours. All my friends were back home, they were working, they were earning, they were, you know, going out. I didn't have that. You feel you're lagging behind, but I knew what the end target is. You know you're going to become a professional, you're going to become independent. It's going to be different. So, as long as you have those clear targets and also it's all about the life balance as well you have to respect your family, your friends and your work. It's these three things, the pillars of life. So if you strike the right balance with those and treat all of these three parts with respect, it's a guaranteed winner.
Speaker 1:Yeah, nice, I did see something recently. We're talking about how the parameters from those three areas they move, depending on where you are in your life and the way that you're progressing, and obviously you've got more time with work and study when you're younger, and then the family comes in.
Speaker 1:So these, these three pillars are constantly changing in size as you sort of get older, and then the idea is that they're all balanced at some point, right, and that's your kind of goal. Um, amazing, okay. So while we're talking about giving advice, um, would you, having you mentioned earlier that your daughter's been just accepted, to medical school are you?
Speaker 2:hoping all of your children are going to follow you, or is it a natural progression? My daughter, specifically, from the age of 10, she was saying I want to become a doctor. Now my concern, as a father and a doctor, knowing, being in the profession, growing up in the profession, growing up in the profession, my concern was that I don't want any of my children to become doctors because I am a doctor or because you know your parent is a role model, not just because of that. So and I made it very clear I was trying over the years, from young, I said look, it's what we said. It's the best and the worst. You really have to like it. And she persevered. I thought she was very clear what she wanted. I said okay, what if you don't get accepted or you don't get an offer, I'll take a year out and I'll try again. It's very common accept. So you don't get an offer, I'll take a year out and I'll try again. It's very common. So that's all. She's clear about that. Now my advice to other children no, I've never said go and become doctors. They see, they are exposed to the environment, they know the positives, the negatives. We've explained all these things and it's more important to me for them to do something that they really like.
Speaker 2:Whatever you do, if you do it with, if you put your passion in it and your heart in it, you do well. Whatever it is, from the simplest task to the most complicated task, you have to really want it. If you do it just, whatever it is, from the simplest task to the most complicated task, you have to really want it. If you do it just because you have to do it yes, there are a lot of things that you have to do in the logistics and in the process. Yes, we're not saying that everything is all rosy. You have the tough decisions, the tough things and the things you don't want to do. Nobody wants to work a week of nights or the weekends, but it has to be done. So I'm talking about the overall profession. You have to like it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like we say, it's like almost a calling, isn't it? When you come across so many medical professionals, you look at the hours they put in and the time that they put in and the stuff they have to deal with. It's got to be a calling. It has to be a calling.
Speaker 2:And the hours afterward when you finish your shift. You know when you work for the NHS, you work in shifts and when you finish your shift you need quite a few hours to switch off. You keep thinking of each case and what happened, so it's quite a task to be able to switch off as well. I mean, the beginning is tough. Yeah, you have to train yourself into trying to switch off and leave work at work and your quality time is your quality time. As I said, it makes you a better professional. Being able to clarify, you have to be able to switch into this.
Speaker 1:Actually, that leads me into a question I was going to ask earlier. What advice would you give to somebody on how to separate your emotions? Because the field that you're in is an incredibly emotional field and things go right and things also go wrong, like in any medical field. And things go right and things also go wrong, like in any medical field. How does a prospective person who wants to go into the medical trade medical industry not get emotionally attached?
Speaker 2:How do you draw that line From all of the things we mentioned? I think this is one of the most difficult parts the emotional part. It's difficult not to get on that level of emotion and get the emotions involved. Um, you empathize, you show empathy. It's part of the pillars of being a doctor, of course, uh, it's very tough to switch off completely.
Speaker 2:In time, with time and experience, uh, it gets easier, right, um and uh, but it's a it's, it's unavoidable not to uh, not to have some sort of involvement. You know emotional mix-up. Yes, if you have a hard day or a really complicated situation at work, yes, you might need a few hours. You can you were not machines you can completely switch off, um, yes, the the vast majority of the routine. Um, yes, it's, it becomes uh easier and you have to, yeah, otherwise you go mad. You know if you think of everything all the time, absolutely, yeah. So it is tough. It comes with time. And the other thing is good to talk about these things, right, it's important to share right how you're feeling and what you're going through I mean mental health and all these issues, and there are systems in place at the moment and mechanisms to deal with.
Speaker 2:You know training doctors, but it's things you should talk with colleagues and the way we're discussing this now would be nice if it was more common discussion between doctors and talking about each one themselves. And you don't do it because in the hospitals you talk about the cases, the medicine, all that stuff. So it's good to discuss this and get advice from the more seniors and the students. It's good to ask these things and they do. Actually, they're more aware. We talk about the new generation and we always think the previous generation is always better than the new generation, more mature. But it's not like that. They're very switched on these days and they have a clear understanding. They might not understand, they might not be as street smart, so to speak, but they have a deeper understanding of other things because they have access to all information. And they do ask these things. Not my children only, I mean. I see other young people who have work experience. They do ask these questions. They get surprised. I never thought they would ask me. It isn't as good as they do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's an incredible level of self-awareness for young people nowadays isn't it. Things that my kids say things to me, I was like, wow, I would never even realize that you could articulate that, let alone pose a question to me about this. It's fascinating how deep it goes with this self-awareness, so maybe that's not as big an issue as it used to be for our generation, where you just got on with it and move on, right, so anyway, okay.
Speaker 1:Well, in wrapping up, I'm just going to come back to a couple of questions about the scholarship program, if that's all right with you. So what's your ideal outcome for a student that follows this scholarship program all the way through to graduation and then onto university? What does that student look like for you? What does success look like for you?
Speaker 2:To be honest, I don't have a clear expectation. I don't have a set expectation. I'm not expecting anything specifically. As I said, I'm looking I'm regarding this as an offering or something back to the school via a student, but, yes, I would like that person to have a clear plan. It might not be from the beginning, of course, but succeed in life, succeed in life, and by success we don't mean uh to build a big company or the to to strike the right balance, right and uh, and hopefully the ultimate outcome would be to give back one day to the school and complete the cycle of uh, of the community and to society in general. So nothing specific, but I would like this mentality and I would like them in the future to say, okay, I had some help from somebody, okay, and this is what we should nurture and culture within the school and the alumni.
Speaker 1:Nice, okay. Nurture and culture within the school and the alumni here Nice, okay. So in terms of the alumni as well, how do you see that in terms of the alumni giving back, and do you have any advice for any other alumni who want to get involved in a scholarship.
Speaker 2:Okay, the alumni is also known as the All Boys and Girls Association. It used to be the all boys association and then, when they had girls, become the SOPCA. But, yes, the alumni. Up until now it wasn't very well networked. It's something we were discussing with the school the past few years and I'm glad now that it's taking shape and it's being networked and thank you for organizing all that and I think it's very important. It's good to further strengthen the network, get the connections through. There are a lot more. It's a very big community and, as I said, we're in Cyprus, which is a small population, and that makes it even easier to network.
Speaker 2:A lot of people we don't know about are members of the alumni and hopefully we'll get them officially members of this association. With the digital technology these days, it will make things easier, as long as we do it properly and then get them on board and think of ways of doing not exactly the same thing, but similar things. So, if it happens quite a bit and you have lots of other scholarships, awards at whichever level, and even having a talk, giving a talk to the students, it's also and we do that as well actually Go to the school and have. You know, whatever profession everybody's in, so you enrich the community. So the message is yes, get on board, let's discuss ways of doing it and as long as it's a good organization with the school to be coordinated in the right way, I think it can further grow and it will be a good thing for the school as well and the community overall.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, amazing. Well, so in all the conversations that you and I have had, you've reiterated about this sense of community that the English school has, and it's incredible to see I was meeting with the Asopka team yesterday and even talking to them the community's there and they're the generation before us. So, yeah, you're right and I look forward to getting more involved with the school as time goes on. So thank you again for your time and thank you with the school as time goes on. So thank you again for your time and thank you, listeners, for your time too. So if you are listening to this and you are an English school alumni and you would like to share your story, please reach out to me on alumni at englishschoolaccy. And if you would like Andreas' professional assistance, you can find him at ICES clinic. Okay, Thanks very much. Thank you very much, Victoria. Thank you.