I decided to write this specific blog post after I received a message on social media. The message was not meant to be vindictive but it was about my interest in Neurosurgery and how I should consider if this is really the career for me as it is a lot of work and being a female, it wouldn’t fit with a family life as well. Now, this is not the first time I’ve heard something along these lines, whenever I tell people I am considering Neurosurgery as a career and am quite certain that I want to be a Surgeon in general, I always get the “are you sure” “do you know how hard it is” “don’t you want a family” questions. I thought it would be important to speak about, especially as being a black female from Dagenham which already made getting into Med School a bigger deal than normal. Whilst it is true that careers in certain fields have longer hours and take a longer time to train for compared to a career as a GP let’s say, you should not let this limit your mind-set and become the only reason why you go for a certain career. Medical school is long and hard, hence you should find something you’re passionate about and pursue. You should also not allow your sex or ethnicity to stop you from going for those certain careers. Having a mum in healthcare allowed me to see the reality of working long hours and the effect that it would have on family life as being a Band 8A nurse, there are days where she does get home as late as 11pm. However, my dad made this work which shows that it is all about the support system you have around you. Nonetheless, it is important to keep an open mind set, especially as I am only a 3rdyear medical student. This can be done by going to a variety of different talks/conferences for example I am attending a Neurology and Neurosurgery conference at the RSM but also a talk on Colorectal Cancer two weeks after at university. You can also get some shadowing and experience in the different fields you are interested in and throughout your clinical years, you will be exposed to a variety of areas of medicine on placement. It is good to have something in mind but at the same time your mind may change throughout medical school and your time as a junior doctor so look around! In conclusion, I just wanted to remind people that you can do anything! Getting into medical school is such a big achievement within itself, hence you should not let anybody tell you that you can’t do it. Yes, the work load may be intense and you may have to make some sacrifices but in all honesty what is new there? From the 1styear of medical school you began working harder, studying harder and making more sacrifices than the rest of the student population hence this should not be seen as a big deterrent but a reminder of how privileged you are to be studying such an amazing degree. Written By Lizkerry Odeh

What do you think of when someone asks you to ‘reflect’? Sometimes it can appear as a vague and abstract concept. Some people think it is a waste of time to relive a situation, especially the negative ones, that they have already experienced, and others absolutely love it. But in reality, what is it? Reflection is simply defined as ‘serious thought or consideration’ (Oxford Dictionary1). We reflect on situations to give us some insight as to why certain things have happened in the way that they did. It is from there we can adapt our reactions. Whilst we may not be able to completely rationalise occurrences based on our memories (which are prone to change), by reflecting soon after an event, we can see what we did well and where we can improve. A common misconception is that the products of our reflections will be purely negative, but not every experience is a bad one. If something goes well, considering whythis happened is also an important skill. By drawing out these points, we can continue with our successful behaviours and cultivate new approaches to our areas of weakness. Being able to reflect is important at all stages of the medical journey. Whether you are a prospective medical student, currently in medical school or practising in the medical field, reflection is a essential part of your personal and professional development. Without reflection, it is unlikely that we can make meaningful improvements to the way we react to certain things. Maybe you had an interview that you didn’t think went particularly well, or you had a really inspiring and insightful encounter with a patient on your placement. Maybe you didn’t do so well on a mock exam, or maybe you achieved your highest grade ever. Regardless of what happened, there is always some way to identify the good and bad aspects to guide you on how you respond. The GMC encourages us to be ‘reflective practitioners’. Reflective practice has been defined as “the process whereby an individual thinks analytically about anything relating to their professional practice with the intention of gaining insight and using the lessons learned to maintain good practice or make improvements where possible” (The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and COPMeD2). By completing a reflective exercise, we can have considerable impact on not only our own practice and skills, but also greatly improve the care that our patients receive. So how can we reflect? It doesn’t always have to be a big thing. Reflection can come in different forms – sometimes you can just take a quick second before you go to bed or while making dinner and ask yourself ‘why did this happen?’. Or you may choose to formally write it down and spend a little longer unpicking the situation. It’s up to you. Try and answer these questions: 1. What happened? 2. What did I do well? 3. What could I have done better? 4. What will I change in the future? The most important thing is that you whatever you identify you then use to build an action plan for the future. This is especially important in negative situations. Remember, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. You will never improve if you never think of a way to change. You don’t have to do this on your own, but it’s up to you to implement these plans. Then reflect again in the future to assess if they have had any effect (positive or negative). Written by Ewaola Apooyin References 1. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/reflection 2. https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards-guidance-and-curricula/guidance/the-reflective-practitioner---guidance-for-doctors-and-medical-students

The Bawa-Garba Case: In February 2011, Jack Adcock, a six year old who had Down’s Syndrome and a known heart condition was admitted to hospital following referral by his GP. He was seen by Dr. Hadiza Bawa-Garba, a trainee paediatrician in her sixth year of speciality training. Later that day, Jack’s condition deteriorated and he passed away. Bawa-Garba, a doctor with an impeccable record prior to this event, was deemed guilty of gross negligence manslaughterof a child who was under her care. The Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal services suggested a 12 month suspension from the GMC medical register. However, the GMC fought to appeal this decision which resulted in Bawa-Garba being erased from the medical register for UK doctors - thereby preventing her from working as a doctor. Mistakes were made during Jack’s time under her care. However, to what extent were they entirely Bawa-Garba’s fault? Dr. Bawa-Garba, a convenient scapegoat for a failing NHS? Bawa-Garba had just returned from a 13 month maternity break and resumed work at an unfamiliar hospital with no formal induction. Her department was understaffed and with her consultant and registrar on leave, she was expected to take on their roles whilst supervising two junior doctors. To add, computer systems were down that day so Bawa-Garba had no access to Jack’s blood results or x-ray results until later in the afternoon. Although mistakes were made, some say that perhaps if the hospital had been staffed correctly and the right administrative and technical systems were in place, things could have turned out differently. So could it be that Dr. Bawa-Garba has been used as a scapegoat for systemic failings within the NHS? Can we blame racial disparities? There have been several occasions where white doctors have had charges against them dropped despite being involved in cases similar to that of Dr Bawa-Garba. We see misconduct being overlooked and even under-reporting’s of patients exposed to poor practice to the GMC. GMC research found that doctors who obtained their primary medical qualification outside the UK and/or from a BME background are more likely to receive fitness-to-practice complaints than their white counterparts. An example of this is the case of Mr Ian Paterson, a breast surgeon who conducted improper surgery for several years (1997-2011). Mr Ian Paterson has only recently been found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent. Dr Ramesh Mehta, president of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) told GPonline that “… if Dr Bawa-Garba was white she wouldn’t have landed in such deep trouble” My thoughts as a Medical Student Cases such as Bawa-Garba’s make me worried about my future as a doctor working in the NHS. The thought of making a single error of judgement and then seeing the consequence that it has on my patient and then myself is terrifying. I also worry that I may be more susceptible to harsher scrutiny as a woman of African descent. Nonetheless, I do hope to see more workstreams that address racial inequalities in the medical profession and a greater presence of support and safe spaces for doctors Is Bawa-Garba’s case an illustration of the discrimination against BME doctors within the NHS? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts about this case! Written by Sarah O'Connell References Gponline.com. (2018). 'Inconsistent' handling of medical errors unfair on doctors, BMA tells review | GPonline. [Available at: https://www.gponline.com/inconsistent-handling-medical-errors-unfair-doctors-bma-tells-review/article/1490507 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018]. Campbell, D. Where does the blame lie when something goes wrong at hospital?. the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/13/where-does-the-blame-lie-when-something-goes-wrong-at-hospital [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018]. Media Diversified. Racism, blame & the NHS | Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba. Available at: https://mediadiversified.org/2018/02/08/racism-blame-and-the-nhs/[Accessed 11 Nov. 2018]. BBC News. The doctor struck off for honest mistakes - BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_struck_off_doctor [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018]. Topping, A. Breast surgeon Ian Paterson jailed for 15 years for carrying out needless operations. the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/31/breast-surgeon-ian-paterson-sentenced-for-carrying-out-needless-operations [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018]. Gponline.com.Doctors' groups throw weight behind Bawa-Garba legal appeal | GPonline. Available at: https://www.gponline.com/doctors-groups-throw-weight-behind-bawa-garba-legal-appeal/article/1488150 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2018].

As a 3rdyear medical student studying at Plovdiv Medical university in Bulgaria I am currently in my clinical years of medical school so here is an insight of my week: Monday: Mondays consist mostly of lectures beginning with an 8am Diaster Medicine/General surgery lecture depending on which week it is, then an Internal medicine lecture followed by Internal medicine practical in the hospital. My highlight today was my internal medicine practical. The topic for October was respiratory diseases. In today’s session my group and I had the opportunity to inspect, palpate, percuss and auscultate a few patients from the respiratory ward where we compared sounds from each patient lungs to determine if the sounds were dull, resonance and hyper-resonance. We also had the opportunity to learn about the differences in x-rays of a normal lung appearance to someone with pleural effusion. After this I went to the library to study for a couple of hours, followed by a gym session with a friend later on that evening. Tuesday: This day consisted of 5 sessions: 3 practicals (internal medicine, hygiene and diaster medicine) and 2 lectures (hygiene and pathophysiology). The most interesting session was diaster medicine as the topic was first aid and this enabled me to draw from my previous experiences. This topic was relatively easy to understand and the order of steps to take to perform first aid were re-emphasised. Wednesday: Honestly, this is the worst day for me because it is the longest day of the week. My day started at 7:45am with a Microbiology lecture. Throughout the day I had a few other practical classes which included: roentgenology and radiology and pathoanatomy. The roentgenology and radiology practical consisted of radionuclide of the diagnosis of the kidneys and the skeletal system. This main topic was bone scintigraphy- the different types, the phases, the features, evaluation and the main indications. The day ended with a Microbiology practical session where I had a class test and it finished at 6pm. Thursday: This is the only day of the week that I don’t have lectures which means I start slightly later (only by 1 hour though). I usually start the day with a pathophysiology practical, followed by general surgery and lastly pathonatomy. However, this particular day was a public holiday in Bulgaria so this meant no university. Therefore, I spent this time wisely preparing for my upcoming pathophysiology test. Friday: By the time it’s Friday I am usually exhausted from all the early starts throughout the week. However, I have to force myself to wake up extra early as I begin the day with a 7:30am (compulsory) general surgery lecture in the teaching hospital yes 7:30 crazy, right? Immediately after the lecture I had a general surgery practical. This week’s topic was breast examination. During this session the professor briefly summarised the theoretical information, then went to the breast clinic. We saw a few machines that are used for breast examinations. This included 3D mammogram tomosynthesis, film and digital mammogram, ultrasound and MRI. We were informed of how each machine works, the procedures taken for each patient, the reason why each one is conducted and how they differ from each other. I then had a quick break to grab a drink/snack then make my way from the teaching hospital to the main campus. Normally I have a pathoanamtomy lecture on Friday afternoon. However, today my group had ‘catch up’ lesson for pathophysiology since we missed yesterday’s session so we traded this instead of the lecture. We had a class test during our pathophysiology session. I then had 2 hours to spare so decided to go grocery shopping. After this, I returned back to university for an OSCE practical session run by the OSCE society. The topic for this session was respiratory examination. During this session I discovered that I have conjunctional pallor which is a sign of anaemia. My evening consisted of catching up with a few of my friends with dinner at my house. Written by Shona Manning

For some medical schools an intercalated degree is not compulsory, it may be optional. During my 3rd year of study, I decided that I wanted to do an intercalated degree. This was for many reasons. Despite it being an extra year of study, I believed that it was the right decision in order for me to maximize my potential during my time at medical school. As I am still unsure of what I would like to specialize in later on, I am doing my intercalated degree internally at St. George’s. Here, I am able to study further in depth a variety of specialties whilst conducting a research project. It has been 1 and a half months since I started, and I have decided to share 4 key tips that I have learnt so far. Get things done early. In medicine, you are not always used to writing many essays as coursework and having many deadlines. However, with an intercalated degree, this is the case. As part of my modules I am required to write essays, whilst also doing my research project. I believe the best way to tackle this is to make a note of the deadline, make a plan for the essay and start writing immediately. This will save plenty of time later on for your research project and for other assignments. Use this year as an opportunity to conduct research and perhaps get published. Many of you may know that getting published can give you a maximum of 2 points for your Foundation Programme Application. Aside from this, taking part in research gives you essential skills that you will need later on post medical school. Doing research and trying to get published is a long, difficult journey, but it is one worth taking. Don’t forget medicine. It is important to note that you are taking a whole year out of studying medicine. In order to have a smooth transition back into medicine after intercalation, it is important to keep reviewing your past material. Try to stay on top of the medicine. Perhaps this could be taking a couple of hours a week out of your normal schedule to revise some of the content you had learnt in your previous academic years. This is your year to do as much as you can. One of the great benefits of doing an intercalated degree is the sudden realization that you have a lot more free time. If you’re like me, you are probably in university 2-3 times a week. As a result, you are able to do a lot more in that free time. Apart from doing your work, you can perhaps take up a sport, join more societies etc. I see it as your year to engage in as much as you can because the next few years of medical school will be very intense. Deciding to do an intercalated degree has been one of the best decisions I have made. Not only am I developing skills that will benefit me in future, many opportunities are coming my way this year such as being able to present my research at conferences. Don’t forget that you also get to graduate at the end of this year with a couple of extra letters after your name. Written by Khadija Owusu

"If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives." ― Robert South The Democratic Republic of Congo, noted as the heart of Africa, is situated where the deepest river of the world resides. DRC holds one of the fundamental infrastructures of Africa due to the “Congo Grand Inga Dam project” - the utilisation of the Congo River to potentially light up the entire African Continent. Moreover, the nation has been noted for being a rich reserve of gold, diamonds and cobalt. The land houses The Congo Basin Rainforest which has been noted for bearing the Earth’s lungs as a result of being home to 10,000 species of plants. As a result of such a wealth of resources, the manifestation of human greed has blocked effective democratic progress and facilitated an unjustifiable war for decades. One of the many strategies of war which has been employed has been the use of sexual violence; this has left dire health and psychological consequences upon remote areas within the population. As a result, DRC has set out international community and non-governmental organisations to resolve this - such as the world renowned works of Dr. Denis Mukwege. Dr Denis Mukwege was inspired to pursue the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology upon trying to tackle the issue of maternal mortality. However the continuous increase of sexually abused cases in which he was treating shifted his focus to treat survivors of rape with gynecological complications. Mukwege is the founder of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu (est. 1999), where he specializes in the surgical and medical treatment of women who have been sexually abused. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. - World Health Organization (WHO). Mukwege recognised that the surgical treatment of cases is not enough to remove the mental and social dysfunction which could still impede upon the ones health. He has reported in an interview that “we have seen people who have stopped living” and was moved to ensure that his patients obtain the full measure of health. Therefore, the basis of his clinic is comprised of four pillars. The first is a medical pillar which ensues treating the gynecological infections and surgery. The second is a psychological pillar which involves providing psychological support in order to rebuild the patient’s mind. The third is a socioeconomic pillar which ensures that his patients are able to mobilise back into society in a sound manner. Finally the fourth is a legal pillar which involves setting out legalistic plans to treat the root causes of rape in order to prevent its incidence. “Peace is costly but it is worth the expense” - African Proverb. Panzi Hospital has had great partnership with Communauté des Eglises de Pentecôte en Afrique Centrale (CEPAC), Swedish and British development funds, PMU and Läkarmissionen and many over donors to continuously strengthen its infrastructure. Nevertheless a number of challenges are still faced such as bed shortages, insufficient water and electricity supply, and unstable security measures. We can change hate by love - Robert Mukwege. Mukwege was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize alongside Nadia Murad. They have been honoured for their efforts to come against sexual violence. He is also himself a minister in a pentecostal church in Bukavu. Written by Jade Okene

What is Speed Reading? Speed reading can be best defined as the process of quickly identifying and understanding as well as retaining phrases and/or sentences of any given page, all at the same time. It is the fine balance between comprehension and pace. The average rate at which most people read allows them to process 250 words in a minute. Some people, however, have a natural tendency to read much faster than others. Learning to speed read can help double this rate. The volume of information we have access to in this day and age is infinite. And there is tremendous pressure of always staying in the loop, be it at work or on social sites or the books we read. Learning to speed read can help you sift through important information in less time and keeps you well informed at all times. Speed Reading Techniques When you begin to learn speed reading, try to read each line in about one second. Gradually increase your speed with every subsequent page. In the beginning, you may find that you are not able to retain all the information you have read through. Don't let this discourage you. As your brain trains better, your retention and comprehension will improve. Mentioned below are a few techniques that will help you learn to speed read with ease. · Pointer Method · Track and Pace Method · Previewing Method Pointer Method Pointer method involves sweeping a finger underneath the line of text that is being read. It is also called meta guiding or hand pacing. Another way to use the pointer method is by holding a flat object such as a piece of paper or a card under the line that is being read and dragging it down the page as you read further. Track and Pace Method Track and Pace method is quite similar to the Pointer Method. Instead of sweeping the text with a finger, a pen is used. Focus on the text above the pen. This method helps increase the speed at which each line is read and improves focus on words. Whether or not you underline the words with the pen, as you read them is up to you. Previewing Method The previewing method entails rapidly moving eyes down the text on the page. While doing so, identify specific phrases or keywords. The key words or phrases are usually found in the first line or sentence of every paragraph. Keywords can be trigger ideas and words idea or even a name or a number. In the previewing method you don't read each word, but with sufficient training, you will find that your eye lands on important word that will allow you to figure out the key idea. Why should I speed read? What are the benefits? 1. It boosts your confidence Speed reading allows you to go through a lot of information in very little time. This helps you stay updated at all times. Your knowledge base widens and you become more resourceful. You are sure of facts as you have read them. This helps create a great impression in the work environment as well as social situation, leading to a positive impact on your confidence. 2. Creates better employment opportunities If you are looking for a new job or you have your eye set on the promotion, you need to be different than the rest. While formal education of an advanced level can help you with that, having a few other degrees or certification in specialized fields relevant to the opportunity you are seeking, will be feathers in your hat. With the help of speed reading, you can breeze through the syllabus/coursework. 3. Improves memory and creativity Reading at a fast pace helps you grasp, comprehend and retain a lot of information. This improves your understanding. When you understand a concept or a topic, you are more likely to remember it, thus enhancing your memory. Memory is considered an element of creativity. Better memory leads to greater creativity. 4. Reduced stress level In today’s age, we have access to copious amounts of information. Everyone around us is trying to get so much done in so little time. This leads to multi-tasking and by that extension, leads to divided attention causing overall inefficiency and increase in stress levels. Speed reading automatically improves your focus. A keen focus has equivalent benefits of meditation. It calms you and has a therapeutic effect leading to the controlled stress level. 5. Clearer thought process Speed reading positively affects the neuroplasticity of the brain. This helps the brain in mapping new connections resulting in creative thinking and greater problem-solving ability with better analysis. This helps in achieving a clearer thought process thereby helping you combine and connect ideas that are imperative for innovation. Conclusion One of the essential tips to keep in mind when you are a beginner is that it would help a great deal if you create an ambiance with as fewer distractions and interruptions as possible. You can try to cover words you have already read so your eyes aren’t drawn back to those words again. As a beginner, it would serve well to read through a simple and uncomplicated article or novel in order to figure out which speed reading technique you are most comfortable with. Take a moment to gauge what and how much you have remembered or comprehended. You can clock your speed with the help of a timer to keep track of your progress. The only way to get better at speed reading is through a lot of practice. Though the benefits of speed reading are immense, one should be careful not to speed read through legal, technical and other important documents as there is a chance of missing out on vital information in the sifting process. It would also be advisable to slow your pace of reading when going through material that is new or you are unfamiliar with, or if you need to teach/explain the content to someone after reading it. About the Author: Jimmy is an avid reader and is passionate about the skill of speed reading. Jimmy is the founder of My Speed Reading, a blog which is all about tips and strategies to improve your reading speed. You can visit Jimmy at his website https://myspeedreading.com.

STREAMLINE YOUR WORKLOAD USING THE 5 D’S: DO, DELETE, DELAY, DIMINISH, DISTRIBUTE Do: Work that is of high priority and needs to be done immediately or you potentially risk negative effects. Delay: Delay does not mean procrastinate. Procrastination is about indefinite postponement; delaying is about consciously rescheduling something for a time when you can get it done more efficiently. Some tasks are better saved for a time when you have the right resources, information and focus to get the job done right. Distribute: Work that can be done as a shared service  e.g. a group assignment, as some work is best done by someone other than you. Diminish: Work that does not need to be at the “gold” standard. Work that you can afford to reduce the effort required e.g: reducing the frequency, shortening, or consolidating the time you spend on that particular task, without losing the essential elements that are adding value Delete: Work that does not add value and is not constructive therefore you can delete them with no negative effect. “Deciding what not to do is just as important as deciding what to do”. WRITE DOWN ALL OF THE DEADLINES/ KEY DATES IN YOUR CURRENT SEMESTER I believe that this is the best way for you to prioritise, consciously keep in mind what is to come and encourages you to get started early. By doing this it also means that you will no excuse for not being prepared. For example: I have a Clinical Skills Examination coming up at the end of March. Since January, I’ve had the date written down and put it in a place where I can see it and continually be reminded of it; so every week since January I go over 1 clinical examination in detail and gradually increase the intensity as I draw closer to the exam. KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED One of the most difficult aspects of Medicine that I struggled to come to terms with was the fact that there was so much content to learn but I soon came to realise that there is no such thing as a perfect student and there will be stuff that I do not know. However, It is important to be able to identify what your Medical School or organisation expects you to know and prioritise this. The worst thing is working aimlessly and spending a large amount of time learning about things you aren’t required to know. Recognise what is required and establish whether or not you are meeting those requirements and if you are not meeting them, then how are you not meeting them. This helps you establish a plan of action and makes sure you cover all bases. STAY ORGANISED I can boldly say that organisation changed my life! This year I made being organised a priority and realised how much I struggle without structure. I bought myself a diary which if I’m honest I don’t really use but what I use the most to stay organised is the Calendar on my phone which is synced to my Medical School Timetable and my To Do List Notebook. I also organise my notes using colour coded binders and have very specific folders on my laptop to keep my lecture notes, this makes it easier to access during exam/ stressful periods. It’s so important to find a system that works for you. If you haven’t already, check out our blog post on Note-Taking in Medical School. MAKE GOOD USE OF YOUR WEEKEND I recognise the fact that I do need to rest so I normally try not to schedule work for the weekends but I use the weekends to tie up loose ends on topics I have learnt during the week. It really is the perfect time to catch up on work. If you have caught up with notes and have no plans, spend an hour going over previous topics from earlier during the year or just reading for the topics for next week, then you can ease the amount of work you have to do during the week. I also use the weekend to cover content from throughout the year or do practise questions but I also try not to do work that is too heavy. Weekends are for rejuvenation, so use this time to also give yourself some TLC, putting yourself under less pressure. GO TO LECTURES I know this is a lot easier said than done but it honestly does pay off in the long run and saves a lot of time whilst relieving the workload. Going over lecture notes acts to reinforce previously learned knowledge and therefore takes less time than approaching an unfamiliar topic and attempting to make sense of the lectures slides on your own. And if we are brutally honest with ourselves most times if you stay it home you do not use that missed lecture time effectively. MAKE A REVISION SCHEDULE Try and be specific by stating exactly what you want to cover in that time. For example: I used to just write Cardiology, but because I did not know exactly what I wanted to cover I’d spend half the time deciding what I was going to revise. Be specific by also including normal daily tasks such as: eating, sleeping, breaks, gym, even phone calls with friends & family. It is so important to find a balance between studying enough and resting! Additionally, try and make it early and ideally have a pre-exam revision schedule structure and an exam season revision schedule structure because exam season revision is a lot more intense. The main thing is to be realistic and actually make one that you can stick with this includes making room for the unexpected e.g. assign a catch up day or catch up hour. GET YOUR WORK DONE EARLY/ GIVE YOURSELF YOUR OWN PERSONAL DEADLINES This is a personal favourite of mine, I’ve been doing this for years and it has helped me so much. Maybe it is the African in me that knows that left to my own devices I’d be late for absolutely everything, so I have to make an extra conscious effort to get my work done early to avoid being overly stressed. Try and give yourself early deadlines than is expected e.g. a week earlier or a few days earlier than the deadline set by your university depending on the nature of the task. This instils self-discipline, puts your mind at ease and leaves room in case anything goes wrong so you do not end up panicking. If you haven’t already, check out our blog post on Time Management. TRY NOT TO PROCRASTINATE The worst thing about procrastination is that it is so tempting and you do not feel the impact of procrastinating until it is too late and causes a huge amount of stress. I believe everyone is guilty of procrastinating, it is completely natural. But the panic as a result of procrastination makes you more likely to forget things and has a ripple effect on other aspects of your life. Trying not to procrastinate is all about making the conscious effort to stay up to date with your reading and lectures and recognising that the most difficult task is just ‘getting started’. “Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.” TAKE A BREAK It is so easy to neglect taking a break but as soon as we realise that taking a break does not necessarily equate to a ‘want’ but rather a ‘need. Medicine is especially hard to switch off from but ‘the only way we can give our best is if we are at our best’. So find time to treat yourself or just do something you enjoy e.g. YouTube, games, sports, gym, going out with friends. If it means scheduling them in then do it, just as long as you are letting your mind rest and giving yourself a break.

My second semester of Medical School has officially begun in full force and has shown no signs of slowing down. For those that don’t know I’m a 2nd year medical student studying in the UK, my course is ‘Case based’ meaning that we are presented with a case scenario at the start of the week and picking out key clinical and social aspects in our small groups. We explain what we know about each factor identified, recognise holes in our knowledge and come up with learning outcomes that each of us must look into and answer over the course of the week. During the two week block assigned to a particular case, we are given a series of lectures related to that case as well as a clinical placement one day a week. My most recent case was specific to Psychiatric Medicine, focusing on Mood disorders and Psychosis,  prior to this, I had no exposure or knowledge regarding mental health. Having grown up in Nigerian household to traditional parents, mental illness was not something we spoke about often and in many African cultures such a topic is viewed as a taboo. I am privileged to have parents that are well informed about mental illness as my Mum works in that particular field and my Dad in education, so they are both aware of the ramifications of mental illness. I remember visiting Nigeria for the first time at the age of 13, as we drove through a noticeably deprived area I saw a man wandering the streets with minimal clothing and appeared detached from reality, the driver quickly described him as ‘Mad’, which is something you hear quite often in Nigeria. I must admit I’ve always had a very naive perspective of Mental Illness, it always seemed so distant to me. I assumed that patients suffering from Mental Illness were dangerous, prone to violence, unpredictable and to some degree responsible for their illness. I had very little idea of what suffering from a Mental Illness actually entailed and never knew just how common Mental Illness is in the 21st century. As part of my placement I spent one day with a Community Mental Health Team, which is comprised of Psychiatric Doctors, Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers, Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists as well as other medical professionals, I guess you can say this a perfect example of a Multidisciplinary team. I sat in on a Depot Clinic, which is the administration of long-acting anti-psychotic injections to mentally ill patients. Initially, I thought this was the most boring thing I could have been tasked with, however looking back I learnt quite a few key things. My supervisor took a very interesting approach and did not inform me of what mental illness the patient was suffering from prior to seeing them but I had to make an educated guess after seeing the patient. This was much harder than I thought it would be as Mental Illness is often described as ‘invisible’, you may not think anything is wrong with the individual as they do not appear physically unwell. For example, Schizophrenia can present with negative symptoms characterised by the person becoming more socially withdrawn, showing loss of motivation and increasingly not caring about his or her appearance and personal hygiene in contrary to what is normally shown by the media (hallucinations and delusions). This completely changed my perspective of mental illness. Psychiatry is viewed as such a dark profession, society often associates mental illness with serial killers and notorious violent criminals due to the media’s portrayal. One thing I really struggled with was hearing the stories of patients suffering from mental illness. I was told of a patient who had a particularly traumatic life, having been sexually abused as a young girl, she struggled with a drug and alcohol addiction and severe depression and on many occasions had tried to take her own life. Hearing of how mental illness has ended lives and destroyed families was heart breaking and challenging to hear. Patients are often reluctant to admit they have been struggling with their mental health and this can be due to prejudice, judgement and the social stigma. Having completed this case, I must say I have so much respect for this speciality in the field of medicine. It is truly one like no other, based on abstract concepts and an intrinsic relationship between multiple factors, it has come such a long way and continues to progress. Gone are the days of Mental asylums, we now have integrated community care available. With Psychiatry you truly have the opportunity to get to know the patients on a deeper level, not only are the presenting symptoms discussed, but the patient’s entire life story from the moment they were born up until the present day is also elicited. Through consultations you are able to gauge how the person may be feeling, for example: if a patient is anxious, you too may feel anxious during the consultation and if a patient is all over the place and you’re confused it is most likely Mania. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this case I can agree that Psychiatry is not the profession for me but has truly been a life changing experience. I have discovered the value of psychology and psychiatry, that their teachings can undo knots in us and permit life to flow again and aid us in becoming more truly human. ~ Jean Vanier

Happy New Year! It’s been a bit of a while but we’re back and here to stay. I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for all the support we have received last year; your kind words of encouragement do not go unnoticed & without your support MM would not have been able to achieve all we achieved last year. So I hope that 2018 is your best year yet. A huge part of entering the new year is setting the goals you want to achieve. We quite often hear the saying ‘new year, new me’ and to be honest I don’t quite agree with this. I believe it’s more about ‘new year, same me’ and realising that you can work with who you are now and believing that you can achieve all your goals. Setting goals puts you in the driver’s seat, giving you a sense of direction and the power to transform your life.  Goal setting provides you a benchmark for determining whether you are actually succeeding.  To accomplish your goals, you need to know how to set them. It’s never too late or too early to make a change or discover a new goal you want to achieve. So we have decided to share out 7 Tips for Successful Goal Setting: 1. WRITE THEM DOWN & REVIEW THEM REGULARLY What I like to do is remind myself of what I’m working towards by using visual aids. Vision Boards work for some people; posting pictures of things you aspire to attain in life and putting it in a visible place to draw inspiration and motivation for the day. Seeing your goals can constantly reminds you that I need to continuously work hard. Write them down somewhere you can see them make it part of your day to review your goals and take action. This keeps your goals alive and top of mind. People with written goals are approximately 50% more likely to achieve than people without written goals. 2. MAKE THEM SMART 3. CATEGORISE THEM By categorising your goals, you’re more likely to cover most areas of your life and identify your progress as the year proceeds. We came across a great template shared by Ife Adeyemi on Twitter in regarding to organising your goals which we tweaked a little bit (as seen below): Personal How you plan to develop your character Social Interactions e.g. friends, family, colleagues, networking What you intend on contributing to society, building and achieving Physical How you will manage and improve your health What good habits you will implement (e.g. Sleeping at x time and waking up at x time every day) What bad habits you will try and eradicate How will you ensure productivity Educational What you want to learn and input into your brain (non-academic) e.g. learn a new skill Academic Goals Achievements/ Awards Financial What you plan on saving How you plan on managing your money e.g. Vacations, Debts, Emergency Funds, Charity Spiritual/ Well-being How you want to develop in your spirituality How you plan to prioritise your well-being 4. SET GOALS THAT MOTIVATE YOU This means making sure that they are important to you, and that there is value in achieving them. There may be days where you feel down or demotivated but a quick reminder of your goals can act as enough to pick you and give you the desire to push through. The more your goals motivate, the more willing you will be to be to put in the work when you don’t feel like it. 5. HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY When someone knows what your goals are, they hold you accountable by asking you to “give an account” of where you are in the process of achieving that goal. Accountability puts some teeth into the process. If a goal is set and only one person knows it, does it really have any power? Many times, no. A goal isn’t as powerful if you don’t have one or more people who can hold you accountable to it. 6. DEVISE A PLAN OF ACTION If you’re really serious about your goals, you’ve got to set the ball rolling and devise a plan of action in regards to how you plan to achieve this goal. This involves: Knowing your motivations are for the goal What you need to make it work Steps you need to take to achieve it Date you want achieve it by Bigger goals are comprised of minute goals, breaking these goals down into manageable chunks will give you the ability to easily know if you are on the right path. Another option is getting a Goals Journal is really helpful for keeping track. 7. COMMIT TO YOUR GOAL It is extremely important that we set specific goals with a date and time with the intention of following through to the end! You can’t simply say, “I want” and expect it to happen. Goal setting is a process that starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve, and ends with a lot of hard work to actually do it. Goal achievement requires commitment, so to maximise the likelihood of success, you need to feel a sense of urgency and have an “I must do this” attitude. Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals.

Many dream of becoming a Doctor from a young age and some may only have decided recently but that is only the beginning. For those wanting to pursue a career in Medicine, this is a decision not to be taken lightly. The application process in itself is tough let alone the journey to become a Doctor itself, so we want to make sure you are prepared. We’ve listed some key things to consider: KNOW YOUR REASON Medicine is a very challenging and long degree, which does not stop being so challenging after you graduate. You will continuously be stretched intellectually, physically and mentally therefore your reason for entering this profession should be enough to motivate you (the more personal the better). KNOW THE PATHWAYS It is very important to be aware of what the journey pertains and the know the full Medical Training Pathway. There are various routes to medicine (Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Foundation Year and studying Abroad), knowing what is required for each  can help you to formulate a back up plan in case things go as unexpected. We recommend you write do the full Medical Training Pathway and stick it where you can see it to motivate you. For those applying in the next round of applications 2018/2019, write down a timeline of the key dates for your application including A-Level results day, UKCAT dates, BMAT dates, application deadline dates etc. Although it will be up to you to develop this plan, your mentor can review it and help fill in any missing pieces. HAVE A TASTE OF THE PROFESSION Another idea is to volunteer in a medical setting where you can meet someone who will be helpful and also have the benefit of learning even more about medicine first hand. It is necessary to expose yourself to the healthcare profession before you apply so you can see the role of a doctor in action and what it entails and whether the role is suited to you. That’s why we recommend you get some work experience as soon as possible, so that you can gain a realistic perspective of Medicine in practise and determine whether the negatives outweigh the positives for you. GET SOME GUIDANCE There are many aspects to Medicine, some doctors decide to delve into research, medical education or practise as a physician. If you know a doctor or medical student contact him or her to learn more about a career in medicine. Maybe a doctor who has treated you or someone in your family would be willing to spend some time talking with you about a career in medicine. Even if you don’t know a doctor directly, there are many you can reach out to who are willing to help. There is a lot of help available to support prospective Medicine applicants with their application and provide students with mentorship e.g. Black Medical Society & African Caribbean Medical Mentors. We as Melanin Medics are always here to answer any questions or queries you may have or read over your Personal Statement for you, FREE of charge. CHECK YOUR CREDENTIALS A solid academic record is required to study Medicine. You can do this by taking advanced classes/ courses, getting good grades and involving yourself in extracurricular activities. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned about your progress. It is very important to take the right subjects required to study Medicine at GCSE, A-Levels or Degree. Many UK Medical Schools require Chemistry and Biology at A-Levels, however so Foundation Medicine degrees allow students who have taken the wrong subjects, so make sure you do your research. Again, the majority of Medical Schools do not accept A-Level resits not completed within the 2 years of study so don’t forget to check their entry requirements and before choosing to apply a particular medical school make sure predicted grades meet their requirements. RESEARCH Make sure you thoroughly research what is required to study Medicine. Research is a key aspect of Medicine and the sooner you become accustomed to it the better. Here is a list of key things to research/ consider: Open Days/ Workshops/ Day Conferences Interviews Admissions Test: UKCAT, BMAT, GAMSAT Choosing a Medical School Personal Statement Funding Learning Methods We hoped this helped to put things into perspective. If you need any help at all, or have any questions feel free to comment below or send us a message.

Learning content and studying can get very frustrating when it seems as though your trustee method isn’t working as effectively as it once has. Different types of material may require different ways of learning the content in order for you to understand. We’ve listed various techniques commonly used to learn content and that have proven effective for certain individuals in time past. We recommend that you give them a go, and incorporate the ones that work for you in your normal study regime. Reading – Some people can just read a part of the textbook (or notes) and take it all in but for others you may require a bit more time. Reading is a great way to gain exposure to the material. For those that find it more difficult try reading out loud, changing your position or just reading the text again. Re-listening to lectures recordings – The intense note-taking that accompanies some lectures can be draining, and often you can miss out on vital information while trying to note down what was said two minutes ago. By recording your lectures you relieve the pressure off of catching everything the first time around, and allows you to work through it at your own pace. Writing notes – This may seem like the typical study technique but there’s something about writing things by hand that helps you remember it. I’m not just talking about writing notes by hand in class but also writing by hand again and again to help improve your memory of the material. Drawing on a whiteboard – Whiteboards are a great learning tool, they help you to present your information without the fear of wasting paper; mistakes can easily be corrected and the process of creating diagrams and recalling key concepts is helpful when studying. Creating questions – Creating your own questions provokes interest as well as analyses a student’s prior learning. When creating a high quality question, a student must reflect on the learning goals of what they are studying, consider misconceptions when proposing good alternative answers, understand the topic in depth and write a clear explanation for the correct answer. Teaching others – The best way to test if you really understand something is to try to teach it to someone else. As you prepare to teach you tend to study more cosncientiously, organize your knowledge, improving yout own understanding and recall. And as you explain the information to others, you identify knots and gaps in your own thinking. Make up mnemonics –  ‘Mnemonic’ is another word for memory tool; the word usually indicates a rhyme or a phrase, or a string of letters, or something else designed to trigger your memory. As humans we tend to link things in our minds easily hence helping us to remember them. As we think about these things, creatively, we are literally making stronger neural pathways in our brains. And the more we do this the more skilled we become at making memory work. Drawing diagrams – Drawing diagrams will help you to visualise information which could be hard to describe. This creates a visual memory in your mind which can be recalled in an exam. Explaining a concept from a simple diagram demonstrates your level of understanding and ability to piece brief information together. Answering questions – Practising sample answers to past exam questions can help train your brain to retrieve information. They also provide a practical insight into the style and theme of typical questions you will be tested on. Practise is key! Creating flash card – Quickly test your knowledge of key concepts, definitions, quotes and formulas with flashcards. They are quick to refer back to and can be carried whilst on the go, the process of reinforcing key concepts strengthens your neural pathways. Make a song – Take your course content, and try to do turn it into a song. It might sound silly, but it can definitely be effective. Think about how many song lyrics you’ve retained in general, and how quickly you can remember the lyrics to song you have heard years ago. While you’re studying, you can recite your brand new study song in your head, and realise just how much you remember. E.g. Remember the Hannah Montana Bone Dance Song Post it notes – Any concept you are struggling with or key phrases you need to remember, write them down on a post-it notes and the amazing thing about them is that you can stick them just about anywhere. Sometimes, the location of the post-it note can help you to remember something Create Mental Association – This is a great way to constantly remind yourself of what you have learnt whilst on the go. It basically just involves you using everyday tasks and items as ‘triggers’ to get you thinking about a particular concept you have learnt. The ability to make connections is not only an easier way to remember information, but it’s the fuel of creativity and intelligence. Watch YouTube Videos – YouTube Videos tend to explain topics in a concise however detailed manner and utilises visual aids. YouTube videos serve multiple purposes and are always there for you to go back to. Posters/ Mind maps – This technique enables you to channel your inner creativity, condense information and form links connecting different concepts together. Adding some flair to your posters will make the process a bit more relaxed. Colouring will help ease overall tension, so it’ll put you in a good place before getting down to the hard stuff. Apps – We are in a very technological age so why not make the most of it. Here are 2 of our favourite apps that you should check out. We will have a blog post on Study Tools coming out soon so keep your eyes peeled. Coogle Quizlet We do not recommend that you try an untested method of learning new content in the build to your exams, your time is precious and quite frankly there is no time for trial and error. By exam season you should already know what modes of revision work best for you at that point, so stick to it.