Many doctors have ASD. I am one and we can be very successful.

Hi, 

Thank you for your detailed response! I have tried to apply for 2 years now and not managed to get above average in exams. I get given extra time but the exam conditions are not suitable and leads me to panic attacks every time I sit this exam. 

Its a shame that in this time, there are still not equal opportunities for people with disabilities and mental health issues. Surely there is something more that can be done. Unfortunately I don't want to do anything else than study medicine, so I'm not sure where I stand now. 

Thanks again for your help and time to write such a detailed answer. 

Robyn 

I would contact the disability department of your prefered university to talk through your concerns and ways they can support you. Universities put reasonable adjustments in place for autistic students, which can include specialist study skills support, exemption from group presentations etc. In medical school, some of the assessments focus on 'core competency' skills and there's limit support you can receive with these as they are skills you will need when in practice. If you speak to, or email a Disability Adviser, they will be able to let you know how the course can be adapted so that you can make an informed choice about whether this degree is suitable for your needs.

P.S. It might perhaps be well worth accessing the following website:

• Private Consultation
• Get Your Free Book
• Contact Us
• Meet The Team

Especially:

http://www.dukesmedicalapplications.com/2017/08/applying-medical-school-disability/

.

And maybe also as a bit of aspirational/inspirational interest in respect of your main goal to be a trauma surgeon:

Chicago Med is examining Asperger’s Syndrome in some depth through the story of a brilliant surgeon, Dr. Isidore Latham. It’s rare to see a real exploration of what it means to be an adult who has AS and to see how others respond to someone who has it.

For those unaware, Dr. Isidore Latham is an outstanding surgeon who is the ambivalent mentor to a Chicago Med main character, Dr. Rhodes. Dr. Latham’s AS is immediately obvious to those “in the know.” He is brilliant, very detail focused, logical, and completely task oriented. He’s also inflexible and completely impersonal. He shows no facial expressiveness, social understanding or awareness of subjective nuance. His interactions are generally blunt and tactless.

The hospital staff relates to Dr. Latham mostly with hostility in response to his aloofness and what’s perceived as his rudeness and criticisms of their work. This is typical of how AS individuals can be seen. In an environment that functions as a team, Dr. Latham’s not a team player.

And further on:

The advantages of Dr. Latham’s AS thinking is highlighted as well. In one episode, the ER is overwhelmed by victims of a massive accident, and there must be life and death decisions about which patients will get the limited number of doctors and resources. While the rest of the staff is fairly overwhelmed by the emotional nature of the situation, Dr. Latham is able to logically select those patients most likely to survive and to benefit from treatment. Dr. Rhodes comments that he admires Dr. Latham’s capacity to make such difficult choices with logical clarity.

At:

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/aspergers-nld/2017/03/chicago-meds-talented-surgeon-has-aspergers-syndrome/

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Have a good one,

and many many more

D.T.

RMC 1995 said:

This is my first time on here so I'm not sure how it works, but I'm assuming I write something and then others reply ??? 

Yup ~ as you can see your assumption is justified,

RMC 1995 said:

So I wanted to see what you lot think of being autistic and applying for medical school... because lets face it, applying for medical school is hard enough without being autistic.

Well, I know that the autistic narrow range of interests is rather suited to disciplined-specialised careers in science, medicine and so on and so fourth. So basically if you have the aptitude for developing the medical skill sets ~ go for it, and even if you don't ~ find out as much and discover where your abilities apply. Some for instance start in medicine but end in psychology and vice-versa, or whatever else.

RMC 1995 said:

How are we expected to get our true capabilities across, when they stick us in situations that don't fit who we are to test how clever we are. I get so stressed out with the smallest things, so sticking me in a room with a load of different people, with a test that I have to complete in a certain time is NOT a good idea. Also, I have the worst attention span, so I need some time out every so often.

Well ~ you would not be by any means the first person with autistic sensibilities to enter and work in the medical profession, so again if you have the aptitude for it ~ go for it.

There is also a fair amount of support that can be obtained regarding your needs, as which is backed up by the 2010 Equality Act involving 'Reasonable Adjustments' ~ such as rest breaks during exams, and taking them individually rather than collectively with everyone else perhaps.

RMC 1995 said:

Ultimately .... for though's who don't know, you have to sit an entrance exam for medical school and if your not amazing at this test you don't even get an interview. So does anyone have any advice ? I was thinking of starting a campaign maybe ???

There is no ultimately . . . about the entrance exam! The ultimately bit comes after passing the finals and getting the hours in medical practice. Focus on preparing for and doing the entrance exam, i.e. study and take it form there.

If you pass the exam straight off ~ nice one. If not it might be worth having another go, and if so ~ again you would not be the very first doctor, surgeon or specialist etc that has done it that way either. Money of course for some can be a problem in this respect, but if you have what it takes ~ work for it involving all the determination required.

Perhaps get in touch with the Open University.