A Career in Haematology
Haematology is a fascinating and fast-moving field encompassing many specialist areas including laboratory diagnostics, benign haematology conditions such as haemoglobinopathy, haemophilia and bleeding conditions, thrombosis and immune haematology, Paediatric haematology and malignant haematology such as leukaemias, lymphoma, myeloma. Stem cell transplantation and immunological therapies such as CAR-T cell therapy are important aspects as well as transfusion medicine. Another key aspect is the very considerable liaison aspects of haematology with delivery of advice to all hospital specialties.
Haematologists are almost unique in being able to undertake the whole patient journey, from assessing a new patient, performing their diagnostic tests, interpreting the pathology (blood film and marrow aspirate) and request and interpret cutting edge diagnostics including immunophenotyping, cytogenetics and sequencing, treating them and managing the complications. Many haematological conditions are chronic conditions allowing a close therapeutic relationship with patients and their families. This holistic care delivery leads to a highly rewarding career.
The working environment spans outpatient clinics, day units and inpatient care as well as laboratory involvement. Many Consultants are able to develop their specialist interest.
The drive to develop new treatment modalities leads to considerable opportunities for research. If you want to work in a rapidly changing specialty, underpinned by extensive research, with multidisciplinary teamwork firmly established at its heart coupled with the ability to undertake diagnostic work in a laboratory setting, then haematology is potentially for you.
What Personal Qualities are Required?
- Excellent compassionate communication skills help in dealing with sensitive issues with empathy and in conveying complex issues to patients in an understandable way.
- Ability to liaise with other specialties and laboratories - good interpersonal skills are essential due to the considerable liaison aspects of the role.
- An interest in teaching
- A strong visual memory helps with the laboratory morphology skills aspect.
- Excellent organisational skills and commitment to specialty. These skills will help you deal with a specialty which has high volumes of work at times
- An enquiring mind - there are still many unanswered questions in Haematology, rapid developments in therapeutics and plenty of research opportunities.
- Reliability, self-motivation, punctuality, flexibility and drive to deliver high quality care within a multi-disciplinary team.
Page Last Updated 18th November 2020