By Lucinda Schmidt
Medical qualifications were no defence against the infectiousness of radio.
If he'd continued to practise medicine - probably as a paediatric specialist - Norman Swan believes he'd now be a disillusioned doctor with big regrets about not pursuing other interests.
Norman Swan threw in a $80,000 a year medical salary to pursue his dream.Credit: Sahlan Hayes
Instead, as the producer and presenter of Radio National's The Health Report for the past 25 years, Swan says he found a perfect role to combine his medical knowledge and his passion for informing the public about what's really happening.
Swan, who grew up in Scotland, was torn between medicine and drama school. "I came to the conclusion it would be much safer to be a second-rate doctor than a second-rate actor," he says. "But I also think medicine was a lazy choice in some ways because it was a vocational course where things were mapped out for you."
Still, halfway through his medical course he auditioned for London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art but "failed miserably". Instead, he left Britain to complete paediatrics in Sydney.
"I had a midlife crisis in my mid 20s," he says. "I didn't want to get to my 50s and wish I'd done something else."
Despite emigrating, the "midlife crisis" persisted. Swan went part-time at the hospital to pursue another passion - writing. When "the great novel, the great short story, the great film script" proved elusive, he turned to writing on something he knew about: health.
A few of his stories were published in newspapers but when he completed his tax return that year and had earnings from journalism of just $800, he resolved to return to full-time medical practice.
Fate, however, intervened. The week he decided to throw in journalism, ABC Radio advertised for a health reporter.
Swan got the nod and swapped his $80,000 a year medical salary for the $19,000 radio job (he continued working as a doctor one day a week for several years to make ends meet).
In April this year, Swan's health segment celebrated 25 years on air, making it the career achievement he is most proud of "although you don't win awards for that".
Another thing he is proud of is his three years as general manager of Radio National from 1990, when the station was under threat because of declining audiences and funding problems.
When Swan took over, Radio National played classical music at breakfast and internal politics dictated what was broadcast.
He introduced proper breakfast programming and hired as program hosts Geraldine Doogue, Phillip Adams and Wendy Harmer. Audiences lifted by 30 per cent.
"We turned it around," he recalls. "Unfortunately, I sacked about 50 people who will never forgive me but we had to refresh the station."
After almost 30 years as a health journalist, Swan says the biggest change is that information is much more readily available to the public - although much of it is unfiltered through the internet.
"People also don't hold doctors in awe like they used to and they're more prepared to challenge doctors, which is a very good thing."
As for the future, Swan says dramatic medical breakthroughs are unlikely, except perhaps for dementia, but improvements will come by incremental change. "We won't find the cure for cancer [for example] but cancer survival rates will slowly increase."
His biggest concern is that blockbuster drugs will be unaffordable for many. "Most new therapies are going to be horribly expensive. Without a properly funded public health system, we run the risk of the rich surviving and the poor dying."
The Health Report airs on Radio National on Mondays at 8.30am.
THE BIG QUESTIONS
Biggest break Getting the job at the ABC [as a health reporter in 1982]. It changed my life and gave me the job I was meant to do.
Biggest achievement I know it's trite but I'm desperately proud of my three children [aged 25, 23 and 21]. And helping Radio National survive in the early '90s [when he ran the station for three years]. I feel that's contributed to Australian cultural life.
Biggest regret That's why I'm doing what I do, so I don't have any regrets.
Best investment My medical degrees, in retrospect, were a very good investment. And time with friends.
Worst investment Telstra shares. I've held on to them. And Sons of Gwalia [a listed gold miner that collapsed in 2004].
Attitude to money Most people who know me accuse me of being very disorganised. My superannuation strategy is buying a lottery ticket.
Personal philosophy I want to live in a country where everyone can achieve their potential. Britain [where he lived until 1978] is still a bit class-bound. And, secondly, I'm Jewish and I believe in the Talmudic principle to do unto others as one would have done to oneself.