by the University of Queensland GPSN Club
Why GP is the ultimate Choose Your Own Adventure career
There’s a persistent myth that GP is the backup plan for those who couldn’t hack it. In reality, it’s the opposite. If you want to be the architect of your own career, GP is the most radical choice you can make. Here is how to build a career that actually matches your vibe.
Build a portfolio, not just a practice
You don’t have to pick one organ system for 40 years. The portfolio career is the secret weapon of the modern GP. Spend Monday in a busy ED, Wednesday in an obstetric theatre, and Friday in clinical research. It’s the perfect path for the easily bored and constantly curious.
You gotta love the bad
Every path has its grind: whether it’s 80-hour weeks or years of unaccredited SHO jobs. The trick isn’t finding 100% sunshine – it’s choosing a path where the bad days still feel worth the effort. If the hospital treadmill doesn’t sound like it, GP might be your fit.
Find your match mentor
Look for someone whose whole life mirrors your ideals. Maybe it’s a GP registrar who does private theatre assisting after hours, or a Fellow who balances family time with practice ownership. When you find someone with a life you genuinely like, get their number, and don’t be shy to ask them to share their pathway.
Prioritise your why
Whether your why is global health, income, or just freedom to travel, GP is the ultimate hack. Your skills are a portable currency. Use rural locums to fund your next big trip or pivot your own practice toward the medicine that actually gets you out of bed. GP is fun and flexible to your lifestyle.
Yes, you can (actually) make money
GPs aren’t the poor cousins of medicine. While your hospital mates are stuck in unbanded registrar years, a Fellowed GP has massive potential. Whether you want to grind to smash a mortgage or work three days a week for a side hustle, the lifestyle ratio is unmatched.
