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Biography
Clare Marx has practised as an orthopaedic surgeon at Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust for more than 20 years. She studied medicine at University College London, qualifying in 1977. In 1990 she was appointed consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Mary's Hospital and St Charles' Hospital, London, with a specialist interest in early surgical education. In 1993 she moved to Ipswich Hospital, becoming clinical director of the combined accident and emergency, trauma and orthopaedics, and rheumatology directorate. She is currently associate medical director at the trust with a special remit for revalidation and appraisal. She was elected to the Royal College of Surgeons Council in England in 2009 and took up the position of president of the college in July 2014
Why did you decide to become a doctor?
I have been told that as a child I was inquisitive. At the age of five I was taken to an emergency department with a cut on my finger. Instead of sitting still I went around everybody in the waiting room asking them what was wrong. Although I came from a non-medical family, I definitely felt more comfortable on the science side at school. I originally took an interest in engineering, but I knew it was not quite right for me. I wanted to spend my time making a difference to people, and a career in medicine could help me achieve this.
Why did you choose to specialise in orthopaedic surgery?
The doctors I met early on in my career helped to shape my direction. During my medical training I did work experience with a charismatic surgeon and subsequently...