10 July 2006

Labour of love for Dundee doc

Completing a medical degree is cause enough for celebration but for Emma Fardon, who will graduate from the University of Dundee tomorrow (July 11), there are two extra special reasons to feel proud.

Not only did the 31-year-old successfully make it through the gruelling five year course but she also gave birth twice during her studies.

First son Dan arrived at the end of Emma’s third year and second son Josh was born last November during her final year.

So determined was she to finish her course and graduate at the same time as the rest of her class that she took just six weeks maternity leave after Josh was born before heading back to her books and a full time GP placement.

"It was quite tough at times," admitted Emma. "I worked until six days after my due date and then after Josh was born I was quite ill. I felt awful leaving him so soon but I took a year off after Dan was born so I really didn’t want to miss any more of my course."

"When I was completing my GP placement in Carnoustie my husband Tom was working nights and I was so tired. But I was kept going by the professionalism of the people I was working with."

Emma, who transferred from Edinburgh University in 2004 after her husband took up a research post in Dundee, added that there were times during her course when she struggled to combine work, study and motherhood.

The juggling act was made all the more difficult by the fact that she and her husband had no friends or family in Dundee to offer a helping hand.

"All my family live in England and although we have lots of really good friends here now we didn’t know anyone when we moved here," she said.

"There were times when it was particularly grim especially when I was working and trying to keep up to date with all my course work. But I didn’t want to use my pregnancy or the children as an excuse so I just had to get on with it."

"My husband is very good, and very hands on and I’ve had lots of support from the people I’ve worked with and patients too. I learned to prioritise and I made sure I never worked at the weekend during the day."

"It was hard though and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. I always worried that I wasn’t doing enough. People have said they don’t know how I managed but you just do, like any other working mother."

Now that all her hard work has paid off Emma is looking forward to celebrating her graduation with her boys.

"I feel quite proud now and it’s great to be able to relax without feeling guilty."

Notes to editors

Dr Fardon, who has a biochemistry degree from London University, a Master of Philosophy from Cambridge and a Batchelor of Medical Science from Edinburgh, will begin the next stage of her medical training at Ninewells Hospital later this year.

She will graduate tomorrow afternoon (2pm) at a ceremony in the Caird Hall, Dundee.

For media enquiries contact:

Hilary McNally
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk