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MEDICINE - TIM MATTHEWS OM'90
What is your profession and current position?
Consultant in Trauma & Orthopaedics, Specialist Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon; University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
What is your biggest professional achievement?
I was awarded the Robert Jones Gold Medal by the British Orthopaedic Association and a Doctorate in Medicine for my research into Rotator Cuff pathology of the shoulder.
What has been your most challenging professional moment?
Finding myself in the midst of a major rail crash (Ladbroke Grove) both as a passenger but also as a surgeon in training. There was a duty to help, but being thrust out in the ‘field’ without any equipment or my normal sterile clinical surroundings, as well as dealing with my own shock and disbelief at being in a major transport disaster, required a rapid change of focus and expectation into how I could be useful.
Reconstructing a smashed up shoulder following a major road accident can be a huge challenge, but in my experience, providing I follow pre-planned steps and learned principles, the outcome is usually predictable. However, the biggest challenge I have on a daily basis is understanding people, my patients, colleagues, friends and family; what are they really saying, what are they really meaning, how do I respond appropriately to each unique interaction? Of late, that challenge has risen to an even more complex level with electronic communication and interaction on social media!
What inspires and motivates you at work?
The single thing that motivates me most at work is receiving heartfelt thanks from my patients and colleagues; it encourages me to do likewise.
How did Monkton get you ready for the world of work?
At Monkton there was ample opportunity to hold various positions of responsibility, even at an early stage, and unknown to me at the time, these provided a significant grounding into understanding and dealing with the diversity of complex personalities within my school environment, and beginning to appreciate how different people think.
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with pupils or OMs about getting into your profession?
I would encourage all pupils to embrace all the opportunities to hold positions of responsibility that Monkton provides as these learned and experienced 'soft skills' are likely to prove some of the most vital skills you will ever learn and will greatly assist you in any work and beyond. If you plan on a medical career, having the skill to listen to your patients is the most important one to have.