When I was first screened for autism, in 2022, my interviewer was shocked to find out that I was studying medicine. He assumed that surely, I would struggle in a degree where communication is such a pinnacle of everything I do.
Since I can remember, like many people with autism, I have been watching and listening to how other people communicate, growing like a wallflower waiting for my turn. In 2021, during my first communication skills session, this came to fruition. I sat in a room of 400 people, all of whom were learning how to communicate in a way that they were not used to, for the first time. For me, this came naturally and has been one of my favourite parts of medical school since.
Which is why I was surprised to be questioned on it.
To me, autism is the reason I became a medic, and love doing it. It has enabled me to become completely encased and focussed on aspects of medicine. Learning through curiosity rather than repetition. The hyper empathy allows me to feel what a patient is feeling and open with patience and respect. I can change communication to whatever is needed and understand the important of intricacies that may otherwise be forgotten. It’s allowed me to connect to those who struggle to communicate as I know just how hard that can be. I understand patient reactions when others may call them over reactions.
It, of course, hasn’t come without its limitations – wearing ppe in a hot ward after two hours of ward rounds is overstimulating even for the most neurotypical of people and sometimes, without clear instructions, placement can feel confusing. The world, including that inside of a hospital, wasn’t built around those with neurodivergences instead we have been expected to mould around it. It is still so crucially important for reasonable adjustments to be made whenever necessary and possible.
I will, however, keep celebrating my autism as a medic. If it takes 1000 people to form a hospital then you better hope one thinks like we do. I will continue to go into placement everyday feeling proud to notice things others do not; proud to fuel my curiosity; proud to care and most of all proud to be autistic.
Elliot Baxter, 3rd year medical student
