Dr. Jonathan Tomaszewski

Name: Dr. Jonathan Tomaszewski

Career stage: Registrar

Location: Melbourne

Position:

Medical Specialty: Radiation Oncology

What training program are you currently in?

I have just started training in radiation oncology in 2008.

What attracted you to this training program?

I have been interested in oncology for some time, having completed a Bachelor of Medical Science at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and an elective in clinical oncology (roughly the equivalent of radiation oncology) in the UK during my student years. My experiences in oncology as a resident were also very positive. The rapidly advancing technological side of radiation oncology is a big attraction for me, as are the excellent opportunities for research and the relatively controllable work hours.

What are some of the things that you did to help you decide and plan your career to get into this training program?

I feel like I stumbled upon radiation oncology to an extent during my student years. My experiences since then have affirmed my initial interest. I did end up reading a book about medical careers as a resident because I still wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do. Obviously I wish I had a bit more information from an earlier stage in my medical training – thus the idea for this website!

What advice do you have for students interested in your training program?

Don’t be shy about contacting people in the field who can give you some insight into what is really involved, both during training and as a consultant. Try to get some experience in the specialty by attending the clinics and radiotherapy planning to see if you enjoy the working environment. Join the My Medical Career radiation oncology community!

What do you do outside of medicine to relax?

I’m addicted to the acoustic guitar. I try to get some exercise by going for scenic bike rides, swimming and lifting the occasional dumbbell. I love eating great food and travelling, and I took a year off in 2007 to travel around the world.

»Visit the Radiation Oncology specialty page