Civilian doctor specialises in diving medicine

Doctor Elina Haikonen has experience of various employers in the field of healthcare. She was introduced to the Defence Forces years ago when working as a private practitioner at the Navy’s health centre in Pansio. Since the last couple of years, she has held a permanent post in the very same health centre.

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Haikonen’s tasks include conscripts’ healthcare and occupational healthcare. Occasionally, she also participates in military exercises. The number of conscripts in the unit is appr. 400 and of personnel appr. 1,000.

Work in the Defence Forces has turned out to be varied, and the working community superb.

This has been exactly what medical practitioners ought to do. I see and treat patients and if need be, refer them to further treatment.

Orthopaedics, internal medicine, substance abuse counselling

Working with conscripts is mostly dealing with orthopeadic traumas or injuries and acute internal diseases. As a former addiction specialist, Haikonen thinks that she also has the means to influence the conscripts and their attitudes from early on.

The working community is extremely important. It provides flexibility and support. Haikonen praises her colleagues and superiors alike; she feels she is being heard.

– We sort out things right away and deal with feedback in a constructive spirit. All ideas are welcome and tested, and the good ones are taken further, Haikonen says.

She also thinks highly of the steady personnel and its commitment to the working community, which makes day-to-day work much easier.

– We have low personnel turnover here. When everybody knows what to do, cooperation is seamless.

Specialising in areas of personal interest

In the Defence Forces, doctors can specialise and acquire new competences in the areas they find interesting, as long as they feel up it.

– I am currently doing an extensive course on occupational health, and working on gaining special competence in diving medicine.

The job boasts many other benefits that add to occupational well-being. These include a possibility to use 2-3 working hours per week for physical training, gyms and circuit training facilities at work, an exercise card, different recreational and cultural activities and events, a good canteen and a soldiers’ home canteen.

Haikonen has not done voluntary military service for women, but her national defence will is obvious in everything she does.

– I work for the well-being of my patients and the whole society. When I do my part and take good care of my patients, they will take good care of our society.

Based on her personal experience, Haikonen can recommend a job in the Defence Forces to all doctors.

– I have practised medicine in other places, too. Here everything just clicked into place.