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F1 doctor, 24, Cheshire

Designated department – Plastic Surgery

Medicine is a bit of a family tradition for the Conroys. Katherine's mum is a nurse and her dad is an anaesthetist.

Part of Katherine's foundation year one will be spent on the plastics ward. As an F1 she will be responsible for assessing that patients are fit and well for surgery. There is a huge amount of paperwork and if she manages to keep things under control she may get the opportunity to observe and assist in surgery.

Katherine is expected to cover the night shift, where she will work, not just in plastics, but will be on call covering up to 280 surgical patients.

Outside of work, Katherine loves dancing and choreography. She is also into sport and working out at the gym. On top of all that she has to balance her relationship with weekends and night shifts on the cards.

Why did you want to get into medicine?

I decided to study medicine because it really fits my personality and what I'm into. I've always liked science and I've always been someone that watches medical documentaries. I used to work in a bar when I was studying and I loved the fact that I was meeting so many different characters. If I wasn't a doctor I'd be a barmaid in a country pub.

What are the best and worst things about being a junior doctor?

The best thing about being a junior doctor is the sense of achievement. We've all been working so hard for so many years so that this really does feel like an achievement. Also, the pay helps! The worst for me is that we don't get to follow a patient through every step of the way.

What would you like to see a cure for or be credited with for a cure within your career?

The best thing that could happen during my career is to find a way to run the NHS more smoothly.

What makes you laugh?

Elderly patients! They are the funniest as they come up with the best jokes – and they're quite rude! A lot of us doctors actually have a very dark sense of humour because we're used to talking about bowels, etc, it takes so much more to gross us out.