We’re well into 2026 and at this point, many people are reviewing their resolutions and goals for the year to track progress. For medics, some of those goals look vastly different to our peers outside of work. Medicine tends to attract ambitious, high-achieving people, and presents a linear path of achievements. Pass the exams to get into medical school, graduate and get into your chosen specialty, then enjoy your success as a consultant. It sounds simple. Hence being ‘successful’ felt much easier earlier in life, and earlier in this career. Somewhere along the way life becomes complicated by expectations of audits and publications, portfolio building and post-grad exams. The competition for these has grown to unprecedented levels, and as achievements become more difficult to attain, so the check points to track your progress become fewer and further between. I realised that still, we were not all on the same level when it came to opportunity, awareness of expectations and freedom to make bold career choices. Emails go unanswered, study leave gets rejected, the study budget itself is nonexistent. Suddenly the career you aspired to seems much further away and much less attainable. Every career has its own challenges, yes, but when discussing this with non-medic peers, the confusion is almost immediate: ‘Aren’t you already a doctor?.. What else do you need to do?’ It feels silly to complain that you are not where you want to be in life, when you are somewhere in the career you have worked towards for a significant portion of your life. This part of your career is a necessary stepping stone to learn and make progress, but how do you explain that the next stone keeps moving further away. Simultaneously, life goes on. There are relationships to build, finances to organise, homes to buy, and a personality to try not to lose. Medicine has a way of making itself the centre of attention. There is always another career milestone to reach, meaning personal milestones end up taking a backseat. The sunken cost fallacy pushes medics to continue at 100mph because if you slow down or take a break, the path gets that much longer or the opportunity will be lost. The real and imagined pressures of making any sort of progress often lead to burnout. Familiarity with the job can breed disrespect for yourself. Frequent, long, unsociable hours are “just part of the job”, rather than a detriment to your wellbeing. Constantly breaking bad news and managing complex diagnoses is “not a big deal”, rather than an occasionally traumatic aspect of the job. In the race to reach the next part of training, you forget how far you have come since starting work. You may have quite literally saved multiple lives, delivered babies, and talked people through the best and worst days of their lives. The knowledge, experience and self-confidence you gain is only recognised in the ‘Experience’ part of your CV or in that one interview question you spend weeks preparing for. But if the interview never comes, or you haven’t enough points to apply, when do you acknowledge your progress? With specialty applications well underway in this current climate, I’ve found that this is a good checkpoint to review not only my career but my life as a whole. Call it frontal lobe development or just growing up, but my epiphany at 25 was that I need to be a more well rounded person. I may have accidentally made medicine my entire personality and it was coming to my own detriment. I love my job and find it incredibly fascinating, but was finding myself much less so. Becoming a doctor was not my only goal in life but somehow overshadowed the rest. While my chosen specialty is not the most competitive to enter, the potential toll of the job on personal wellbeing over the course of a career is not to be underestimated. The culture of medicine can make it feel as though your worth is measured by how much of yourself you are willing to sacrifice for it, and I cannot allow myself to believe this. I work hard at becoming a good doctor, and I must work at least equally hard at becoming a good person. So I asked myself some questions: What expectations do I hold for others but fall short of, myself? Do I live out my faith as I want to? Am I learning about other important areas of my adult life; relationships, finances, wellbeing; as much as I am my job? I approached my 2026 goal-setting with these questions in mind, considering aspects such as health, finances and personal development (which I like to call ✨enrichment✨) and considering how I can be more intentional about investing in them. Here’s what that looked like in practice: Scheduling time for things outside medicine (not just fitting them in “if there’s time”) Actively learning about finances and long-term stability Having honest conversations with seniors about life beyond medicine I stopped defining success solely by how I felt my career was progressing, and more by my contentment with my life as a whole. Since F1 have often asked registrars to share their thoughts on contentment in life. As with many things, the experiences of those more senior can be invaluable to change perspective and even to avoid mistakes. I know that if I’m not intentional about it, work may easily become the only metric by which I measure my life. My career may last another 40 years, but my life may last much, much longer. I have to be happy with how I live it. Written by Dr Cynthia Sumah

This International Women’s Month, we’re celebrating the women within the Melanin Medics community who are not only part of medicine, but actively shaping it. We asked two leaders within Melanin Medics the same set of questions, reflecting on joy, purpose, community, and paving the way forward! Dr Olamide Oguntimehin, Founder, Melanin Medics Dr Oyinda Adeniyi, Director of Communications, Melanin Medics What is something about medicine that brings you the most joy or fulfilment? Olamide: “Seeing patients get better, knowing that you’ve made a difference, and knowing that you’ve helped. Even when their families are appreciative, that’s something that means a lot to me. And also the community you find in medicine. Seeing people that I’ve helped in their own journeys excel really brings me so much joy.” Oyinda: “The idea that small actions, like prescribing, putting together a management plan, or discussing a patient case, can have such a big impact on a patient’s quality of life. What feels trivial can actually be transformative. Every single day can be impactful when you look at it like that.” What does it mean to you to see Black women continuing to shape and lead within medicine? Olamide: “I think it’s really powerful. It’s easy to forget how far women have had to come in medicine, let alone Black women. To see them excel despite obstacles and lack of support in certain spaces is really powerful. I look to the next generation hoping they won’t go through the same challenges I’ve been through, just as my mentors hoped the same for me.” Oyinda: “Being the first doctor in my family, and the first female doctor, means legacy. It impacts how I work. I want to do everything with a spirit of excellence. Not because I have to be excellent, but because I get to be.” What makes you most proud when you look at the Melanin Medics community today? Olamide: “Seeing the friendships that are formed. People coming to events not knowing each other and leaving as friends or study buddies. It’s amazing to see how far-reaching the community is and the impact it has on people’s lives and their professional careers.” Oyinda: “Seeing people come to events, find mentors, and even get into medical school because of the opportunities Melanin Medics has given them. And also seeing transformation in team members. People growing in leadership, thinking differently, and learning to innovate together. That’s something really special.” What continues to motivate you in your journey in medicine? “Medicine is an avenue for serving, for justice in health provision, and for healing. It motivates me because you can do good every single day. And you can use your medical degree as a springboard to do more good, through outreach, leadership, or other opportunities.” What advice would you give to women aspiring to work in healthcare? “Find mentors. Find people who will lift you as they climb. Find people who remind you that there is light and joy coming, and that it’s not all doom and gloom. And find a community that can support you when you feel like you can’t do it. People who can pour into you when you need it.” Looking Ahead! These reflections remind us that medicine is more than a career. It is impact, community, legacy, and service. Within Melanin Medics, it is also a space where Black women are supported to grow, lead, and create change. Join the Conversation! As we wrap up International Women’s Month: Who are the women in medicine that inspire you? How will you use your journey to uplift others?

As healthcare professionals and students, it is so easy to neglect caring for ourselves while caring for other people. After all, we have a duty of care to our patients and the community around us. Yet, if we are honest, many of us struggle to rest without guilt. Medicine can quietly teach us that being constantly busy is a badge of honour. Over time, we may begin to feel that slowing down means we are doing something wrong. But rest is not a weakness. It is one of the ways we protect the very heart that led us into this profession. This matters more than we often admit, especially given the well-recognised link between inadequate rest and burnout in healthcare professionals. However, in this month of love, it is important to reiterate that we must love ourselves first to be able to love others effectively. You cannot pour from an empty cup! So, here are some tips and tricks to ensure that we show ourselves some love: 1. Start the day right One way I am learning to love myself more is by ensuring that I start my day in a way that serves me well, so that serving others becomes slightly easier. For me, that means having a wake-up routine to look forward to. This involves having a shower with my favourite playlist playing, then having breakfast and journalling before heading off. Whilst this does mean I wake up slightly earlier than I need to, it helps me feel much more refreshed before starting my day. Perhaps you are a morning gym person! Organising your day so that you can head to the gym before starting your shift or lectures could completely change your outlook for the rest of the day. 2. Take your time away seriously Book that annual leave. Go on holiday. See your time off as sacred time to spend with family or loved ones, or, if you need to, by yourself. If rewarding yourself after a long period of work means bed-rotting for a couple of hours before doing something else, do it! If you find comfort in reorganising your whole bedroom on your time off, do it with a great playlist and enjoy that time away. Even on a daily basis, being able to properly rest when you are away from work gives you the opportunity to refill your cup. 3. Find a community and take part There are so many communities out there that can give you a routine and something to look forward to in the week beyond on-call weekends or 9–5 placement days. Whether this is faith spaces, book clubs, run clubs, sports teams, or more, there is a third space out there for everyone. At Melanin Medics, we also run social events for medics to network, relax, and make friends. We had the Summer Social last year, and we have our International Women’s Day brunch coming up in March. 4. Learn your own love language Love languages are a psychological concept that has become much more popular in everyday conversation. The five commonly described love languages are Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service, and Receiving Gifts. Whilst it is important to understand other people’s love languages, learning your own can help you love yourself more intentionally. For example, if you know that your love language is quality time, take yourself out on a solo date. If it is receiving gifts, when you get that pay cheque at the end of the month or when you pass that exam, celebrate yourself with something meaningful. I love doing this. This way, you are showing yourself love in the way you receive it best. There are many other ways to show yourself love and care this month. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on how you currently care for yourself and where you could be more intentional. We would love to hear from you!  What is one way you are choosing to practise self-love during this season of training or work?  Share your reflections in the comments or connect with the Melanin Medics community to continue the conversation. If this post resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague who might need the reminder too! Happy Love Month!

The Medical Students Network is a supportive community that allows black medical students to connect with peers, stay informed of the resources, events and programmes that Melanin Medics provide to equip them with the knowledge and support needed to succeed in their medical career For Medical Students Join hundreds of black medical students across the UK in our network A supportive community for UK based medical students of black heritage studying at a UK or European medical school. JOIN NOW Equipping you with the knowledge and support needed to succeed in your medical career Join the community Connect with other black medical students from across the country at our networking events. Stay up-to-date with the latest opportunities. Grow profesionally Receive career support from professionals through our educational events, workshops, webinars and conferences. Meet mentors and role-models. Give back Pay it forward to the next generation of black medical students by mentoring and volunteering on our programmes and at our outreach events. FIND OUT MORE What's going on? We offer a range of programmes, events and services tailored to the unique needs of medical students. These resources include access to expert mentorship, scholarship opportunities, and networking events that enable medical students to connect with established professionals in their field. FIND OUT MORE Upcoming Event: Medicine Reimagined Find out more Virtual Research Conference 2026 Find out more Specialty Insight Webinar Series Find out more What is the Medical Students Network? The Medical Students Network is a supportive community that allows black medical students to connect with peers, stay informed of the resources, events and programmes that Melanin Medics provide to equip them with the knowledge and support needed to succeed in their medical career Who can join the Medical Students Network? UK based medical students of black heritage studying at a UK medical school. UK based medical students of black heritage studying at a European medical school. What are the benefits of joining the network? Access the largest intergenerational network of black medical students and doctors Volunteering opportunities and leadership development Discounted access to local, national and online events Participate in research opportunities Portfolio building opportunities Access and support to apply for grants and bursaries Exclusive discounts, resources and events What is the cost to join the network? The network is FREE to join. You are more than welcome to make a donation to our charity. Join the Medical Students Network JOIN NOW

The Aspiring Doctors Network is a supportive community for black aspiring doctors. We offer a range of programmes, events and services tailored to the unique needs of aspiring doctors. These resources include access to expert mentorship, scholarship opportunities, and networking events that enable aspiring doctors to connect with established professionals in their field. For Aspiring Doctors Join hundreds of black aspiring doctors in our network For UK based GCSE students (Year 10 & 11), A-Level students, university students of black heritage or parents of UK based black aspiring doctors. JOIN NOW Helping you to successfully apply to medical school and fulfil your dream Medicine application support Benefit from our free medicine application resources including personal statement and interview support. Guidance from mentors Receive advice and guidance from mentors and role models with lived experience applying to medical school successfully. Connecting with others Connect with like-minded peers with similar aspirations. Learn from each other and build your support network. FIND OUT MORE What's on offer? We offer a range of programmes, events and services tailored to the unique needs of aspiring doctors. These resources include access to expert mentorship, scholarship opportunities, and networking events that enable aspiring doctors to connect with established professionals in their field. FIND OUT MORE APPLICATIONS OPEN: Join the Envision Med Programme Find out more Envision Research Summer School 2025 - APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN! Find out more 8 Years of Melanin Medics Find out more What is the Aspiring Doctors Network? The Aspiring Doctors Network is a digital community that allows black aspiring doctors to stay informed of the resources, programmes and services that Melanin Medics provide to support them in achieving their career aspirations. Who can join the network? UK based GCSE Students (Year 10 & 11), A-Level Students or University Students of black heritage who aspire to become doctors Parents of UK based aspiring doctors of black heritage What are the benefits of joining the network? Access the largest intergenerational network of black medical students and doctors Application building opportunities Discounted access to local, national and online events Access and support to apply for grants and bursaries Exclusive discounts, resources and events What is the cost to join the network? The network is FREE to join. You are more than welcome to make a donation to our charity. What support do Melanin Medics provide to aspiring doctors? Personal Statement Reviews: Receive tailored feedback on your Medical Personal Statement for FREE Mentoring: Be mentored by a medical student or doctor on the Envision Med Programme Interview Preparation: Take part in a FREE Mock Interview to prepare you for your medical school interview Events: Attend our events and workshops to help you build a strong application Advice: Contact our team of volunteers for any advice you require on the application process Guides & Resources: Use our step by step guides to help you with your Medicine Application Join the Aspiring Medics Network JOIN NOW

Thinking about opportunities beyond the NHS? Not sure where your medical degree could take you? This event is for you. Events Upcoming Event: Medicine Reimagined 11/05/26, 11:00 Thinking about opportunities beyond the NHS? Not sure where your medical degree could take you? This event is for you. In a time when medicine can feel uncertain, with questions around job security, training pathways, and the future of the profession, it’s easy to feel unsure about what comes next. This event is here to show you that your medical degree opens far more doors than you might think. Join us this summer for an interactive careers experience exploring non-traditional pathways in medicine. Through short talks and candid Q&As, speakers will share their journeys, challenges, and practical advice. The event will end with networking giving you space to connect, ask questions, and plan your next steps. Open to medical students and doctors at all stages, whether you’re just curious, exploring or ready for change, there’s something here for you! Register Now Previous Next