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Women in Leadership Profiles
Name: Dr Laura Cochran
Role: Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Company: NHS
A bit about Laura: My name is Laura, I am 39 and I live in Somerset. I love wildlife, the outdoors, swimming, cooking and socialising. I work part time and have 3 children aged 4, 6 and 8. I am not an extrovert, and not someone who shouts loudly. I have learned you don’t need to be those things to become a leader; and in fact will be more effective if you are not.
What is it like working in your company? Working in the NHS is something I’m very proud of. It’s a long road to get to leadership level as a doctor, and not for everyone. Many doctors have a fulfilling career without becoming leaders. It is tough working in a system which doesn’t have enough resources to provide what we’d like to for our patients, but becoming a leader means having a voice for the patient group you work with and an opportunity to shape what the future might look like for them.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I chose medicine because it combined people and science, and because I am a caring compassionate person who is driven to help people by nature. I specialised in Palliative Medicine (care of those with a life limiting condition) because it is a specialty which allows you to look at the person as a whole and to provide detailed care which makes an enormous difference to these people and their families.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? 10 As at GSCE, 2 As and a B at A level plus work experience in a hospital and GP practice, MBBS degree (medicine), 3 MRCP examinations (Membership of the Royal College of Physicians) and Palliative Medicine examination.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? Meeting people from all walks of life and making a positive difference to the quality of their lives and those of their families.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
- I had to step off the traditional career path when we relocated from London to Somerset part way through my specialist training, and find an alternative way to complete it.
- Returning to work after each year of maternity leave was hard as you lose confidence with time away from the job.
- Working part time. The days at home with the kids are also ‘work’ so it’s not an easy juggle. It sounds idyllic but in reality is hard as you are often trying to achieve the same amount of work but in less time.
- Experiencing redundancy. I worked in a hospice which had to close meaning mass redundancies. This is a very stressful thing to go through when you have invested energy and passion into a team, which are then disbanded
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? Traditionally, men have dominated leadership roles in medicine and we need more women to offer a different perspective. Women and men are different and have different strengths. This is something to embrace, and working together will lead to better outcomes for our systems and our patients.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? If you are considering medicine, look at the job of a senior doctor rather than basing it on a junior doctor’s role, as they are entirely different. Be aware that there is a traditional route to completing medical training but there are also alternative routes you can explore. For any career I would suggest strongly that you get to know yourself, your weaknesses and strengths and find a career that suits you rather than trying to change yourself to fit a mould. You will save yourself years of angst if you do this!
