Surgo Meets... Dr Christine McAlpine : First Woman President, MedChir Society

Abstract

In this issue, we speak to Dr Christine McAlpine or “Christine Corbett” as she was known back in the days of Glasgow Medical School. Dr McAlpine broke through the ceiling and entered the history books as the first woman President elected to lead MedChir Society. Radiologists Brian Mucci and John Shand were on her committee while Sam Galbraith was her Honorary President (1945- 2014; https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-sam-galbraith-brain-surgeon-and-politician-1528621; https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/19/sam-galbraith).

1) Dr McAlpine, since it is graduation season, please tell us a little of your career after you qualified MBChB and why you chose the specialty you did.

Up to my retirement 3 months ago, I was a Consultant Geriatrician and Stroke Physician. I find Geriatric Medicine interesting and a nice mix when compared to a single-organ-based specialty. I became interested in Stroke Medicine when it became a specialty in the 1990s. I really enjoyed the mix of acute and rehabilitation aspects of managing patients in the Stroke service.

2) Can you share some of your career highlights?

I have always enjoyed being a doctor! Locally, I was for many years the clinical lead for the NHS GGC Stroke Managed Clinical Network, which was a varied and interesting role. I was, over the course of my career, the Geriatric Medicine Advisor to the Chief Medical Officer of Scotland and Chair of the British Geriatrics Society (Scotland). I had a long and fruitful collaboration with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Stroke Care Audit. I was co-Chair of the Scottish Care of Older People Audit until my retirement – and I am still on the committee to improve care of this group of people in Scotland. I was able to maintain an interest in research via the Scottish Stroke Research Network and had various roles in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. I have been fortunate to have had a very enjoyable career.

3) Tell us a little of your time as a student at Glasgow University, especially about your time in MedChir?

We celebrated the 45th reunion of our graduation just last week! I thoroughly enjoyed being a medical student in Glasgow and my time in MedChir. Take a look at the pristine MedChir membership book I found recently. The MedChir afforded me the opportunity to meet students from other year groups - it was good fun! I enjoyed working with Sam Galbraith and we were kept busy organising all the educational activities and lectures, at least once a month! Before each event, a couple of committee members would head to the Ubiquitous Chip with that evening’s speakers for dinner – those were the days! Outside of Medicine, I was part of the University of Glasgow Cecilian Society – still running today! – where I played the clarinet with the orchestra. As a “Western Infirmary” girl, I was sad to see it demolished, but I am very impressed with the new buildings appearing.

4) What would you say to your medical student self if you had the chance?

“Believe that you can do things” and “Read up on Imposter Syndrome”. I think women in particular are more prone to this.

5)What would you say to medical students today?

I would tell them something which was said to me as a student: “You are usually more content regretting the things you did, than the thing you didn’t do.”

Take any opportunity you are offered. I generally did that when I was a student and most times I was glad for the experiences they brought.

There were a few opportunities I didn’t take and I regretted later - for example I regret not taking the opportunity of intercalating to do a BSc. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do a science degree in the middle of my medical training. Now, with hindsight, it would have been a very good thing. But I think I have always been a ‘glass half full’ person, which I hope has stood me in good stead over the years!