Working Life: It’s a total cliché, but I love my job

8.30am

Today, I’m at CHI Connolly in Dublin, where I do a general adolescent clinic every Thursday. It’s a total cliché, but I love my job. 

I see adolescents with a range of presentations, including new-onset eating disorders, unexplained fatigue or pain, headaches, and menstrual disorders.

Every patient is different. I love spending time with children and their families and helping them figure out how to improve their health and get the most out of this important stage of their life.

12.30pm

Lunchtime is normally a toasted sandwich at my desk, where I chat with colleagues or do clinic paperwork.

1pm

If I have inpatients, I drive to Temple Street and see them. I often attend multidisciplinary team meetings for inpatients with eating disorders, so the family has a very clear plan before the weekend. 

If there are no inpatients, then it’s an afternoon of online meetings. 

For example, planning for the move to the new children’s hospital, collaborating with colleagues, or running through the educational programme for International Adolescent Health Week, taking place this week.

5.30pm

I drive home to Dollymount.

6pm

Dinner can be a bit chaotic, playing ‘what’s your favourite thing from today’ (bonus laughs if it’s rude), clearing the table of toys, and making sure the dogs don’t eat the food when we’re distracted. 

Then, it’s out to the park for a ‘scoot’ and a walk to tire us all out before bedtime.

8pm

Bedtime stories and supper. I try to find the right balance of cuddles and distraction. Depending on my energy levels after that, it’s either a shower and bed, some TV, or exercise.

• International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW) runs this week. Join by wearing lime green (the official colour), planning events to celebrate adolescent health and well-being, sharing educational social media posts about adolescent health issues using #IAHW2024 #buildingresilience #fromsurvivingtothriving