Question: I would like to become a computer scientist, doctor, and a physician, do you think these all sort of tie into one job, or not.

William Smith answered on 1 Feb 2021:

Yes, I think they certainly could. Computer-assisted diagnosis is a rapidly growing area. This is where AI and machine learning is used to analyse a patient’s symptoms or images such as MRI or X-rays and then the system suggests possible explanations. Another example: think about all the epidemiological modelling done for coronavirus to work out how fast it’s spreading, when we need to lockdown etc. This is all done by computer simulation. Then think about the new vaccines and treatments. A lot of this was done developed automatically by computers. So, there is huge crossover.

I think the harder question is what you should study! Either you study medicine first and then try to pick up skills relating to computer science along the way. Or you study computer science and specialise in medical applications. Both are feasible but studying medicine (or something related) first would give you the most direct route into the areas you’re interested in.