WHERE ARE THEY NOW Dr Oliver Galgut

I am just starting my first job as a doctor on the acute medical unit at Sandwell General Hospital, having graduated from Southampton Medical School this year. I am also trying to maintain my involvement with StreetDoctors and continue expanding my sailing skills (where shifts allow).

While at university I also practised martial arts, went sailing, and taught with the charity StreetDoctors. I took a year out to study for a master’s degree in trial design and have presented the results of this work nationally. In the future I hope to be an anaesthetist with some intensive care or pre-hospital care work, while maintaining an interest in research and teaching.

What were you like at school?

I joined Mill Hill at thirteen from a small prep school in Hampstead. At the time I was quite shy and introverted, and young for the school year. Because of this, it took me a while to properly settle into Mill Hill and I only started to really come out of my shell in Sixth Form. Throughout my time at school I was very academically inclined, particularly enjoying science, and I was not very sporty. My main extra-curricular activities were sailing and cadets, and I could usually be found either reading in School house, or with my little group of friends in Priestley or Atkinson.

The funniest thing that has happened to you recently?

I have just moved into a new flat in West Bromwich, and while furnishing it I was searching for a sofa. Then lo and behold, a sofa appeared on the outside fire escape. So, I cleaned it up a bit, dragged it into my flat, and it now has pride of place in my living room.

What has been the most positive thing you have taken from your school days into your adult life?

Lots of people complain in one way or another that secondary schooling kills children’s creativity, but I think Mill Hill managed to improve and develop my enquiring spirit. I have taken this into everything I’ve done since and it has never failed to be beneficial.

What is your proudest moment and why?

Most people in my position might say getting their degree or graduating, but for me it’s when I received the letter from the General Medical Council confirming that, yes, I was in fact going to be allowed to practice medicine come 1st August.

What’s your driving force?

I have always been fascinated by the world and always wanted to know “why?”. I have kept this with me and I always try to dig into everything I do to find out why things are the way they are. If you don’t find out why things are, why things were, or why things change then you will simply grasp impotently at the world, failing to gain any purchase for your hopes and dreams.

If you won £10 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?

£10 million is quite a sum but I’ll try to avoid accidentally bankrupting myself. I reckon I’d give some to the charity StreetDoctors, probably buy a small boat, sort out a house, and then put the rest under the bed – just in case.

Your favourite quote?

James Robertson Justice as Sir Lancelot Spratt in the film ‘Doctor in the House’: “The first rule of diagnosis … is eyes first and most, hands next and least, and tongue, not at all”

Most inspiring teacher at school and why?

Unsurprisingly, the teachers I found most inspiring were science teachers: Mr Turner and Mr Luke. I think they were both important counterpoints to my personality while at school and really helped round out the more extreme parts of my personality.

Which four famous people would you invite to a dinner party?

Dara Ó Briain, Brian Cox, Isaac Asimov, and Terry Pratchett

Favourite memory from your time at Mill Hill School?

I enjoyed being at school so there are lots of good memories and it’s pretty hard to choose a favourite memory, but if forced to pick one, it would be one of the adventures or shenanigans from my extra-curricular activities.

Worst memory from your time at Mill Hill School?

It was definitely the time in Fourth form I ran half the length of the rugby pitch and triumphantly planted the ball to score a try, only for someone from the other side to pick up the ball and start running back to my own try line. Then it dawned on me that I had stopped a solid 15 yards short of the try line –completely balls-ing up my first (and only) opportunity to show I was good at rugby! I still replay this moment in my mind when things aren’t going quite as well as I had hoped.

A piece of advice you would pass on to those leaving Mill Hill School?

I picked this up from a sailing instructor a few years ago and I think it applies to every part of your life: “If you’re going to crash, crash slowly”.