Dr. John Chiasson Doctors Nova Scotia President June 2011-June 2012

Impacting peoples' lives

Being a doctor is one of the most challenging and rewarding careers a person could pursue. As a doctor you have the ability to directly impact peoples’ lives in a variety of ways, from providing medical advice to helping a person though a difficult personal experience.

Deciding to become a doctor is a big decision. If you choose a career in medicine there’s a lot of hard work and studying that follows. Some of my colleagues always knew they wanted to become a doctor but that wasn’t the case for me. I was sitting in a general science class at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish when my friend and I decided to write the MCAT. The rest is history.

Since graduating from Dalhousie Medical School in 1979, I’ve spent the last 31 years as a fee-for-service full-scope family doctor. One of the best things about being a family doctor is the ability to treat and care for patients in a variety of settings. As a full-service general practitioner, my days include seeing patients my clinic, completing house calls, and providing on-call emergency care in my local emergency room. Guided by my strong interest in mental health, I also work with five general practitioners to provide emergency pyscatric care on evenings and weekends.

Although becoming a doctor takes many years of post-secondary education and long days in the office, I’m always grateful to be able to serve my community and help improve the lives of those around me.

As you consider your career, think about your priorities and goals in life and determine how they marry with the challenging and rewarding role of being a doctor.

Good luck,

John Chiasson, BSc, MD
President
Doctors Nova Scotia