Dr Rachel Williams

Paediatric Endocrinologist and Clinical Director of Studies in Medicine

Dr Rachel Williams

Were the sciences well taught at your school?
Yes, they were taught extremely well but I had the benefit of a private education (partially funded by an academic scholarship for sciences).

What was it about science that first interested you, or was it always clear that that was the way your brain worked?
I think it was just the way my brain worked – I loved maths and chemistry in particular, biology less so. I was never interested in engineering which my school was very keen that I pursue as at the time there was a big push to encourage women into engineering. I remember having to be quite assertive to say no to that, and, in the end took a gap year after my A Levels which is when I had the time and space to consider what I wanted to do rather than what the adults in my life wanted me to do based on their agenda rather than mine!

Did you ever feel discouraged from studying science because you were female? Have you been the only woman in certain classes/departments, and has that ever been difficult?
No, quite the opposite – I also think that in med school women are well represented. That is not the case however in the more senior positions within medicine.

How would you advise young women considering scientific careers?
Really take the time to consider what you want to do, rather than being pressured into doing things that others advise you to do. At the end of the day, it’s your life and it’s up to you to choose what you do with it!

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