Brendan Law, who graduates with first class honours Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, credits the success he enjoyed during his time at university to the incredible work ethic he witnessed in his parents while he was growing up.
Born just a couple of months after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Brendan grew up during troubled times.
However, his parents ensured that he and his brother never went without, working long days at the family business to ensure the boys didn’t have to endure the hardships they had experienced growing up.
Growing up in this environment meant that Brendan would never take anything for granted, nor would he allow any setbacks to derail his ambitions.
Brendan explains: “The two biggest inspirations in my life have always been my parents. Without them, I would not be the person I am today. After any setback in life, I always reflect back on what my parents have accomplished and that gives me the strength to push further so that what they have done for us will not have been for nothing. My mother is the most selfless person I know and I believe my desire to care and look after the wellbeing of others as a healthcare practitioner stems from her. She is the most hardworking and loving person I know. My father, the backbone of our family, has always worked hard so the rest of us could live our dreams and pursue our ambitions.”
The medical school graduate has certainly inherited his parents work ethic, achieving plenty of success during his time at the University. Brendan was awarded several prizes after finishing with top exam scores in his second, third, fourth and fifth years. He was also awarded a prize by ENT Scotland for a presentation he delivered on his elective research project in head and neck oncology.
Brendan continued: “I am grateful to everyone at the University as they have instilled in me a passion for research and academia and the opportunity to pursue these interests further. I have been given plenty of research opportunities by the University and have had multiple articles published relating to head and neck surgery and colorectal surgery in the UK. My passion for academia was strengthened by the opportunity provided during my Medical humanities block where I taught students at St Machar Academy in Aberdeen. This led to me later being involved with teaching junior medical students in Aberdeen and then teaching at an international surgical teaching series. All these opportunities have been hugely rewarding and allowed me to give back to the community.
“There is a degree of uncertainty about what the near future will bring as we graduate and enter the uncharted waters of a once-in-a-generation pandemic, but the University has prepared us well and I am ready to serve in our NHS.
“I will be taking up a training program in London as a junior doctor and am looking forward to the challenges that will bring. The research and teaching opportunities in clinical academia is a field I absolutely cannot wait to delve into, alongside my clinical duties, and I hope to take up a Masters in research methods or medical education - or both - at some point in my career.
“If nothing else, I hope to always help those in need and always do my very best as a doctor for my patients. A doctor that my parents, the University and the NHS will be proud of.”