A country doctor

Dr Dubreuil

After completing my studies at the Alain-Fournier high school in Bourges, I decided to study Medicine, as I had long wanted to. My father, a country doctor, who knew about everything and always worked hard, told me that to become a general practitioner, the best thing to do was to go to a small university so as not to get lost in a crowd of students. As the Cher Département was in the Academy of Paris, I should have gone to study in the capital. Fortunately, at that time, the national education system was more flexible and we could enrol in the University of our choice. I had absolutely no idea where I was going to do my studies and no particular University appealed to me. An excellent high school friend of mine, from Nièvre, said he had decided to enrol in Dijon to do Biology. So I decided to go to the capital of Burgundy too, to study Sciences and Medicine.

During my fifth year of studies, I received a dramatic phone call from my mother telling me that my father had a serious health problem. It was a sad irony for a country doctor, alone among his patients. My lecturers let me go home. The following night, I was at my father’s bedside. I assured him that I would take care of his patients and that the essential thing was for him to take the time to recover properly. It was tough, but we managed to pull through. This was my first real medical experience and really made me want to become a GP. My intention then was to remain in Burgundy, in the outer suburbs, and perhaps later specialize.

After the fifth year of studies, students from Dijon medical school had to go to Lyon for clinical practice and then to sit the final exams. I still remember the day when I went to Lyon, accompanied by my fiancée, to defend my thesis. Like all my friends, the huge assembly of teachers impressed me, but I managed to make quite a good impression nonetheless. The professors had all seen my work and began discussing it with me, referring to me as their colleague. We then discussed topics that were not directly related to the thesis. When I said to one of them that I was thinking of becoming a country doctor, he told me that he really regretted not having done so himself. He added:  “It is not easy being a country doctor: you will work alone and have to respond to emergencies by yourself. However, you will have the great satisfaction of seeing your patients recover”. This last phrase stuck in my mind. So, finally, I got my doctor’s degree!

I learned many things in Dijon. With practice, I became quite successful rather quickly.

It is in the friendly atmosphere of Burgundy that I found my one and only love. She has always been by my side, supporting me in all my choices and restoring my courage in the difficult moments encountered in my profession. She has brought me courage and a sense of duty. After we left the city, she adapted well to our new environment. I’ve always admired her very much.

Article by Maxime MARTIN SAINT-LEON