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There was a time in my life when I wanted to be a healthcare professional.

That was around the age of four or five. Haha. Well, I found it very fun to try nursing my dolls back to health with the toys that my parents bought me.

And then I grew up and learnt that you have to study very hard and get good grades to work in that industry. That was when my childhood ambition melted away.

But I’m still rather fascinated with the subject of medicine and the human body. I like reading medical thrillers and medical articles in magazines.

Maybe because I’m a semi-hypochondriac. Haha.

I have a very deep respect and liking for people in the medical profession. And I don’t mean just doctors or nurses, specifically. I mean anyone: physiotherapists, pharmacists, dieticians, medical social workers, diagnostic radiographers, psychologists, optometrists, dentists, and the list goes on.

Haha. Bet you never think about how the healthcare profession extends to all these other roles that seldom get highlighted in the media.

When I was in the hospital for the excision of a rare bone tumour, I was very fortunate to have a team of caring professionals dedicated to making me right again.

This team included people like the X-Ray guy, the physiotherapist, the anesthetist, the nurses, my surgeon, and even the client service representative of the hospital who went around making sure that all patients were well cared for.

The kindness and compassion they showed while they did their jobs went a long way in helping to ease my trauma of being bedridden in a hospital.

It takes a really strong and compassionate individual to devote himself or herself to a life of making other people’s lives better, and I salute the people who choose this path.

So, there’s this website called Health Careers that highlights the lives of these “everyday people” who have “extraordinary lives” and I want to share it with you.

It features interviews with people in the medical profession, blogs by nurses, information on medical careers, as well as scholarship offers from various health organisations for students interested in pursuing a medical career.

Eunice Wong, an occupational therapist.

There’s also a design contest going on right now. But I’ll talk about that later!

I really love the nurses’ blogs. One of the entries written by a nurse called David Khoo, about coping with death every day, moved me to tears. =(

More info on the different types of healthcare professions can be found at the site, so have a look!

Oh, and if you’re interested in possibly pursuing a medical education, these healthcare scholarships might interest you!

I also learnt from the website that you don’t actually need a degree to practice some of these professions. There are some medical careers you can pursue with just diplomas or ITE certificates. I know I have many young readers who will no doubt be going through career choices. Maybe this could be for you. ;)

Now, the contest. It’s a digital wallpaper contest for people between the ages of 13 and 20.

(No, you don’t have to want to be a healthcare professional to take part in this contest. It’s for everyone!)

Just create a wallpaper design revolving around the theme of health or healthcare professions and you could win Samsung MP3 players and book vouchers!

The closing date is March 15, 2009, so hurry up and register for the contest here and also read this page for more details on what’s required.

I picked one entry which I really like.

The text says, “The Lonely Wheelchair: Ever since he started visiting the psychotherapist… I’m no longer needed.”

It’s so poignant!! Happy and sad at the same time! What a brilliant piece.

If any of you feel you can do better, please DO it! Let me know if you take part okay? I’ll vote for you! ;)

Good luck!