Alisha Gabriel, 22, is just two years away from becoming a doctor and she has big plans in store for Bermuda.

Currently studying at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, Alisha will graduate in 2012 with a doctorate in medicine, a Bachelor in surgery and a Bachelor in obstetrics.

But when she is finished at the Royal College of Surgeons Alisha will still have four years left of school if she wants to become a specialist.

"After all these years studying medicine I am still trying to figure out what speciality I want to focus on," she said.

"I have been interested in paediatrics for a long time but I am also trying to decide if I want to continue to study adolescent medicine, anaesthesia or interventional radiology. In my mind though I think I am leaning towards adolescent and paediatric medicine."

Adolescent medicine focuses on patients in their adolescent years of childhood – around the time when most enter puberty. The practice of adolescent medicine integrates elements of psychology and medicine to address a wider range of issues than one could do in its own. Common medical problems in the adolescent age group include things like sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, pregnancy, acne, substance abuse and some mental illness.

"When I was younger I had a doctor that specialised in adolescent medicine and she was amazing," Alisha said. "It was easy for me to relate to her and she made me feel as though she understood me. Your teenage years can be very difficult and it is important for a patient to feel comfortable talking about some personal subjects like sexually transmitted diseases, sex in general or even something like an eating disorder that one might not feel comfortable talking to a parent about."

And according to Alisha, one of her reasons for studying medicine is to help people by assisting them in understanding their health issues and making them feel comfortable – just like her doctor did. She said she wants to create a safe and comfortable place for her future patients.

"One of my long-term goals is to open a practice here in Bermuda. A place for adolescents where they don't feel stigmatised because of an illness or other issues," she said. "I want my patients to be as comfortable as possible with me. I want them to know that whatever they are going through is completely normal and that I can relate because chances are I have experienced it also. It is so important to have a determination to learn, to be compassionate and to be able to empathise with a patient. "

Alisha said that people are constantly questioning her asking why and how she works so hard.

"I tell them 'once you get to help someone – I mean really help someone – it is impossible to stop. I am addicted."

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