Cancelled exams. Cancelled electives. Cancelled placements. An indefinitely postponed graduation and a call to join the frontline in the fight against COVID-19. This is the reality for final year medical students, facing one of the toughest decisions they are likely to make in their lifetime. Following the recent announcement by Matt Hancock, the secretary of Health, the government announced that over 5000 final year medical students will be graduating early and joining the frontline to join healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19. This was a decision that caught many by surprise, including the aforementioned final year medical students across the country. Early Provisional Registration and Foundation Interim Year 1 (FiY1) posts Final year medical students who have graduated from a UK medical school will be eligible to volunteer and take up Foundation Interim Year 1 doctor posts (including those on the primary list and reserve list for the 2020-21 UK Foundation Programme). In order to be granted provisional GMC registration, doctors must be part of a Foundation Programme, i.e. be in a recognised Foundation Year 1 (F1) post, which can be a short-term post such as an FiY1 post. Students must choose whether or not they wish to obtain early provisional registration and join the frontline. There is no obligation for students who have recently graduated to serve in the NHS immediately. According to the BMA, these will be paid posts on a fixed term contract for 4-5 months before individuals would normally have joined the foundation programme. Volunteers will have the choice to work in hospitals trust near to their medical school or at the trust they have been allocated to work in as part of the UK Foundation Programme. The local foundation school will be responsible for overseeing the training of interim F1s during this time. Plans for final year medical students are dependent on the individual medical schools and local arrangements. This is dependent on whether medical schools have fully assessed the competencies for new doctors required by the GMC. The aim is for final year medical students to join the workforce as soon as practical. Some medical schools are only letting final year medical students work as HCA’s for the time being Sources: UKFPO, GMC, BMA. It is important to note that these new job posts may be subject to changes, so we encourage you to stay updated by regularly reviewing reliable sources. Are Final Year Medical Students Ready? The lack of clarity is resounding. We have spoken to final year medical students from various medical schools across the country; some who have just officially graduated having sat their exams only a few weeks ago and others who have had their final exams cancelled. Not quite the victorious end which many have dreamed of; nevertheless, life must go on. We asked what their questions and worries were with regards to the government announcement. The main questions were surrounding: What is to be expected of them? Will they have the appropriate supervision that they need? Is there enough PPE to protect them from the disease? Is their knowledge sufficient enough to step up to the task being asked of them? How will they be viewed if they don’t step up? What is in place to ensure a smooth transition from being a medical student to being a doctor? “Hearing that both my written and clinical exams had been cancelled was a huge relief. It’s common knowledge that finals are amongst the hardest exams you’ll have during your time at medical school. However, the novelty soon wore off. The decision to get final year medical students working early was communicated to the public before it was communicated to us. We found out at the same time as everyone else, despite these decisions directly impacting our lives and unfortunately, many of us do not feel ready. Our exams were scheduled for May/June so whilst our knowledge is adequate, it is not as good as it should be. Additionally, the pressing nature of this situation means many issues have not been addressed. The most important being that after June, many of our housing contracts will be up. How are we expected to work without having anywhere to live? Despite my reservations, I’m more than happy to help the NHS during this time of crisis, but I do not believe it should be as FY1’s. The thought of having to take up a role that I have not fully mentally or academically prepared for is very daunting.” – Final Year Medical Student Should medical students even be asked to step up in this capacity? It’s a tough ask but it reveals the extent of the dire times that we are currently in. With shortages of healthcare staff existing nationally prior to this crisis, the guidance to self-isolate for two weeks if you or anyone you live with has any cold like symptoms has resulted in even greater shortages. In as much as we need more support, students must be aware of what they’re stepping in to: a system already bursting at the seams now overwhelmed with a pandemic which shows no current signs of slowing down. The reality of the problem A lot of doctors say that the best learning is done on the job, but the current circumstances are very different. We spoke to a doctor (SHO) about what he feels final year medical students should know. “When I first started as an F1 I was nervous to prescribe paracetamol for patients. Frantically checking co-morbidities and drug interactions etc. Getting stressed taking bloods from patients or trying to place cannulas and do ABGs in real life scenarios knowing I was responsible. Now imagine the same scenario times 100. I have 25 COVID-19 positive patients. When you go in there with an apron, gloves and a mask, and the patients are coughing everywhere. Look frail. Struggling to breath. Basically, dying in front of you. Consider how you will feel. Not only the pressure of trying not to come out telling everyone you failed. But also, to try minimise your own exposure to this deadly virus. But then also consider the emotional stress. This is not something to take lightly. I appreciate all of you willing students and I applaud your bravery. But I want you to truly know what you're volunteering for.” Let’s talk peer pressure Competitiveness amongst medical students is nothing new. It’s what you’d expect when you're bringing together a number of students amongst the top 10% of the country. But now is not the time for peer pressure to be rampant, each individual needs to act according to what best suits them at this time. Although these interim FY1 posts are voluntary, there is the worry that if you don’t volunteer, you will be missing out on a once in a lifetime experience, being left behind or looked down upon by your peers for being too scared to face the pandemic. Rather than peer pressure, let us ensure we are extending support and encouragement to our peers, reminding that no matter what they decide to do in this time, it is okay. Whether you decide to step up now or later, you are still as valuable. Our MM Tips Do what’s best for you. Discuss with friends or family, or make the decision on your own. Weigh up the pros and cons and understand the challenge ahead. It's okay to be afraid. Fear is a completely natural response. You are not alone. The current uncertainty is likely to be unsettling but you are capable. The GMC are responsible for acting in the best interest for medical students, doctors and patients and if they and your medical school believe that you have received sufficient training to practise as a doctor, you have no choice but to take their word for it. Familiarise yourself with the Advice available and stay updated. British Medical Association: If you haven’t yet, join the BMA – membership is free for Final year medical students up until October the 1st. https://beta.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/covid-19/your-contract/covid-19-early-provisional-registration-for-final-year-students Join the BMA Medical Students Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BMAstudents/photos/a.341683459180314/3454069574608338 General Medical Council: https://www.gmc-uk.org/news/news-archive/early-provisional-registration-for-final-year-medical-students UK Foundation Programme: Make sure you are familiar with the advice from the UKFPO. Ensure you are receiving what the UKFPO guidelines state: Induction, Full supervision, Debriefing, Recognition of your contribution at this time, Remuneration, Indemnity, Access to other resources provided to foundation doctors. These are essential components that should not be foregone to you starting work despite the times we are in. These components are necessary in order to keep you safe and well covered. Make use of the resources available Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/medics.academy.final.2020/ Medics Academy FREE F1 Prep: https://www.medics.academy/courses/F-Docs-Programme Foundation Doctor Handbook are offering FREE copy of their app: Foundation Doctor Handbook - Assessment advice, management algorithms, reference docs and clinical calculators. Everything a FY Dr needs! Apple: https://t.co/AzzAAFVxL4?amp=1, Android: https://t.co/eTUyJxFWWt?amp=1 Coronavirus Tech Handbook: https://coronavirustechhandbook.com/medical-students BMA Wellbeing Support: There is always someone you can talk to. The BMA Wellbeing Support services provides confidential 24/7 counselling and peer support services open to all doctors and medical students on 0330 123 1245. BMA - Wellbeing support services https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/work-life-support/your-wellbeing/counselling-and-peer-support Written by Olamide Dada

As part of our plans to expand this year, we have decided to share the stories of many Melanin Medics (both doctors and medical students). We believe that it is very important to show that our journeys to Medicine may differ greatly but ultimately the destination remains the same. Through out the year we will be interviewing various Melanin Medics at different stages in their training/ careers, giving them the opportunity to share their personal stories of the steps they took to excel in their careers and get to where they are today. Recently, we had the opportunity to interview Ayowade Adeleye, an international student from Nigeria studying Medicine in the UK. MM: PLEASE CAN YOU TELL US WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO STUDY MEDICINE? AA: Medicine was always the first thing I wanted to do, but along the line I diverted a bit and considered other career paths, in the end I came back to my “first love”; as they say “your first answer is often the correct one”. I also knew that I wanted to study something that gave me a balance of science and caring for people (cliché, I know but it is true). As someone who gets bored really easily I knew when choosing my career I needed something that would keep me interested and involved for a long time. I found Medicine intriguing enough to keep me interested for my whole life. Medicine gives a variety of options for my future career path and within my future career path it also provides various opportunities e.g. whilst practising I can explore teaching as well which is what I love. MM: WHAT OTHER CAREER OPTIONS DID YOU CONSIDER? AA: I considered engineering but the amount of math and physics in uni scared me away; I also considered Social work but I wanted something a bit more science related. Interestingly, I never considered law or business and I’ve always been quite creative and into graphic design but I preferred it as a hobby rather than full time career. (For those who may not know, she designed the MM logo). So I actually found my way back to medicine by eliminating everything I didn’t want to do. MM: WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO STUDY ABROAD? AA: The educational system in Nigeria is heavily based on rote learning e.g. memorisation, learning facts and just basically studying to pass exams. While some people thrive in this system, I knew that I couldn’t maximise my potential in such a system. I wanted a system that was more involved in hands-on learning and acquiring applicable knowledge and that was what the UK system was, particularly Cardiff. MM: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE UK, SPECIFICALLY? AA: I considered applying to America and Canada, but in both countries I had to do a primary undergraduate degree before getting into med school. I also considered applying to Eastern Europe, but they offer a traditional course which as I mentioned earlier was not suitable for me. The UK offered the most direct route to medicine as well as the most suitable method of learning for me. MM: COULD YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO STUDYING MEDICINE IN THE UK. AA: My school in Nigeria was an international school that ran an ‘Early Decision Programme’, to give high achieving students the opportunity to sit the traditional 2 year A-Levels in 1 year. So basically, I started my A-Levels before sitting my O-Levels (GCSE’s) and then continued my A-Levels in August 2014, so I graduated from High School in June 2014 and I sat my AS exams in October/ November 2014 and wrote my A2 exams in May/June 2015. During my A-Levels I applied to UK Medical Schools for the first time, My first application was not successful. I believe this was due to a number of factors; I was 17 at the time (most UK medical schools require you to be 18 before you start the course), I didn’t have enough information about specifically applying to Medical Schools in the UK and I was doing my AS exams at the time so I couldn’t really focus on my application. But I had an offer from the University of Southampton for Audiology and thankfully by the time by A2 results came out, I met the entry requirements. I studied Chemistry, Biology, Physics & Sociology and I achieved 3A’s & 1B and subsequently accepted my offer to the University of Southampton and the plan I had was to do Graduate Entry Medicine after completing by Audiology Degree but just as I was processing my Visa to come to the UK , my parents decided I should make another attempt at applying for to the UK for medicine so I had to take a Gap Year. This was one of the best decisions I ever made. MM: WHAT DID YOU DO DURING YOUR GAP YEAR? AA: During my gap year, the plan was to put all my energy and focus into my application. So I spent the first month of gap year writing my Personal Statement which was corrected, revised and reviewed so many times and thankfully I got a lot of help from my parents, aunties, uncles, doctors and ‘The Medic Portal’. Once I had my final draft, I spent the next part preparing for the UKCAT with the help of ‘Medify’ & ‘The Medic Portal’ and sat the test in Nigeria. By the end of November/ beginning of December I had heard back from all of the Medical Schools I had applied to and received Interviews for all of them. So on the 26th of December 2015 I travelled to the UK by myself  for the first time and luckily all my Interviews were within a month of each other so I didn’t need to make several trips. I received interviews from Hull York Medical School, University of Leicester, Cardiff University & University of East Anglia and was privileged to receive offers from all. At the end of the day it was just God that helped me through it all, as I don’t think I that I did anything extra or special. I also utilised my gap year doing so many things that I’d  always wanted to do such as voluntary work and training in hair styling and make up artistry. My school in Nigeria also made it mandatory for everybody to apply to university in Nigeria. So having applied to University of Ibadan Medical School, I received an offer to study Medicine as a direct entry student which meant I went straight into 2nd year because I already had A-Levels. So while waiting for hear back from the UK Medical Schools I started Medical School in Nigeria. Where I spent about 6 months studying medicine. MM: WHAT WAS MEDICAL SCHOOL LIKE IN NIGERIA? AA: Medical School was interesting, even though I was there for a short time I enjoyed my time there and made a lot of friends who I am still in touch with today. However, in regards to the Medical School curriculum, I struggled a bit because as previously mentioned there was a lot of information to process in a short time and I found it a bit abstract because there were no clinical correlations and the course was very traditional. MM: WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT MEDICAL SCHOOL LIKE? AA: I am a 2nd year Medical student studying in Cardiff and I absolutely love it. The course is amazing. The course is called “Case-Based learning” which was devised by the university itself. We get given a case at the beginning of the 2 week period and all of our learning is based around the case. For example, if we get a patient who presents with a heart attack in the case scenario, we have to learn the relevant scientific and clinical concepts in regards to the heart and the cardiovascular system. We also have weekly placements and clinical skills sessions related to case. One of the major underlying features of our course is the ‘Spiral Curriculum’, which means that over the course of our degree we constantly revisit concepts that we have previously encountered and build upon them, this prevents us from forgetting about it and also provides us with the chance to understand topics that we may be unclear about. I absolutely love it and if I had to describe my course in 2 words, I would choose the words ‘relevant’ and applicable’. MM: HOW DID YOU FIND THE PROCESS OF ADAPTING TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY? AA: Whenever I tell people that I am from Nigeria, they pull a long face and immediately start feeling sorry for me, because I am so far away from home. I find it funny when people do that because I hardly get homesick. This probably because I went to boarding school in Nigeria so this eased my transition. Cardiff also made it quite easy for me to adjust, as the campus is embedded in the city which meant I regularly had to interact with the community outside of the student population. I’ve also been very blessed with I have made who are like family to me and I speak to my family back home often so I don’t feel homesick. Cardiff is a second home to me now. MM: WHAT DO YOU DO BESIDES BEING A MEDICAL STUDENT? AA: I’m presently the Vice President of a society in the university called ‘Timothy Bible Study’, a Christian society meeting weekly to fellowship with one another and discuss the scriptures. I am also involved in a Christian Performing Arts Organisation called ‘SOEL Connect’ as a member in the Gospel Choir and leader of the Outreach team involved in creating publicity for events we hold such as the biannual Concerts. Additionally, I have a blog called ‘The Still Small Voice Says’, which is a Christian blog that encourages young people to find comfort and encouragement in the word of God. I love to cook and I also do a bit of  Graphic Design & video editing. MM: WHAT TIPS/ ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER MED STUDENTS? AA: For prospective international medical students I would definitely recommend that you do your research, be open to receiving help and give it your best shot as UK medical schools tend to only accept a limited number of international students e.g. my medical school only accepts 10 international students per year. Be focused; once you decide what you want to do run with it and don’t let anybody discourage you. I was once told it was impossible to get into a UK Medical School without doing a premed degree first but look at me now, I’m here by God’s grace. I would advise that current medical students find a good friendship group as they will serve as a support system in good times, bad times and lonely times. Medical school is truly a roller coaster ride and you need people who can hold your hand through it all. Know yourself so that you know how you study and so you can recognise when your body is telling you to take a break, don’t overwork yourself! MM: WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? AA: I’m not sure what speciality I want to go into yet but right now I am interested in Obstetrics & Gynaecology as well as Endocrinology but I know that Medical School is the place to discover what you like and what you don’t like. I have an interest in teaching & Medical Education, so I hope that sometime in the future I can go back to Nigeria and help remodel the Medical School Curriculum in Nigeria so that students like me can stay in Nigeria and still get the best education possible. Thank you Ayowade for sharing your #JourneyToMedicine with us. Follow Ayowade on her Socials: @ayowade (instagram), Ayowade Adeleye (Facebook) and don’t forget to check out her blog ‘The Still Small Voice Says’. If you enjoyed reading this blog post, please share and follow our blog! Would you like to share your Journey to Medicine on the Melanin Medics blog? We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch – melaninmedics@gmail.com

The Melanin Medics Blog Series showcasing black Medical Professionals in various Medical Specialties. Sharing their journeys, challenges and life lessons. #RepresentationMatters. This week we're featuring a Community Sexual & Reproductive Health (CSRH) Registrar: Dr Annabel Sowemimo! Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far I am currently Community Sexual & Reproductive Health (CSRH) Registrar based in Leicester and I also run Decolonising Contraception - a collective of Black & people of colour working in sexual health. After completing my foundation programme, I completed an MSc in Sexual & Reproductive Health research at the London School of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and also a Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene with MSF. Why did you choose this Specialty? Throughout medical school I had such varied interest loving science and the humanities - I was on Drama Society and organised an outreach project called DramaJam, I was President of Student’s for Global Health and editor of their magazine at one point. I intercalated with Medical Anthropology and after that i was set on finding a special that built on the social science skill set I really enjoyed. CSRH is such a wonderful mixture of all my interests combining clinical practice, public health & management and leadership. There is a huge scope for research, innovation and community work - I just don’t there is any other specialty like this. What your role in this specialty entails? On a day to day basis, I work between the community sexual health clinic and the hospital gynaecology department. My competencies include gynaecology including menopause & early pregnancy care, genitourinary medicine, psychosexual health, managing sexual assault and lots more. You have Consultant’s with quite a wide scope of clinical practice. During your time in Medical School, did you enjoy this specialty? I don’t think I discovered CSRH existed until my final year of medical school. Nationally, there are only about 36 trainees currently and there were far fewer when I was at medical school. Even now most other specialties are not really sure what we do and who we are. CSRH use to be a sub-specialty of O&G but in 2010, it became it’s own specialty and we have been growing ever since. What is your greatest achievement till date? Definitely founding Decolonising Contraception which discusses the health inequalities amongst Black & people of colour within sexual & reproductive health (SRH) by having the difficult conversations about race and culture that people struggle to have. When I started I was nervous that people wouldn’t get it or my colleagues may not be supportive however, I have since spoken at the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Health (FSRH) conference and the British Association of HIV (BHIVA) conference. We had a stand at the British Association of Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH) conference this year and I had such amazing conversations about the barriers between doctors and patients. We also do public engagement events and this year I have spoken to so many Black women about their reproductive health - I just really want to make sure I can advocate for the people that don’t get to sit in the rooms I do. What has been your biggest challenge working in this specialty so far? I think CSRH being small and new is a challenge. Firstly, when I applied there were only four jobs nationally. I had my heart set on doing CSRH so I knew that I would go wherever that job was yet, I understand that other people may not be able to move around as freely. I now have an ST1 which is great but for two years I was the only CSRH trainee in my city and they hadn’t had one before so, there can be a lot of logistical hiccups and you have to be incredibly organised. What do you like to do outside of work? I can’t sit still which I think is partly due to dyslexia - my mind is always working over time. I love writing and I write for a few platforms gal-dem.com and Black Ballad are my favourites. They have really made an incredible space for people like me and it is so great reading the work of other women of colour too. I sit on a few committees including the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Health International Affairs Committee and I am a trustee for Medact. When I’m not doing all this I release my strength at the gym (yes I am one of those awful people who likes exercise..sorry) - I took up boxing a few years ago and I had a very solid jab! What advice would you give to someone interested in this specialty? Don’t be put off by the competition ratio! If you think this is the right specialty for you then, you are probably right and it goes beyond your academic potential. Make sure you know what CSRH involves and the issues the specialism faces, try to do a taster week and come to along to FSRH events. It is an incredibly friendly specialty and some of my colleagues have become amazing friends.

The Melanin Medics Blog Series showcasing black Medical Professionals in various Medical Specialties. Sharing their journeys, challenges and life lessons. #RepresentationMatters. This week we're featuring a Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon: Dr Natasha Berridge! Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far? My name is Dr Natasha Berridge. As an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, I am dually qualified in both Medicine and Dentistry. In total, I spent 10 years at university achieving my intercalated BSc in Pharmacology, Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) and Bachelor of Medicine (BM). Following my foundation training, I commenced my core surgical training in London at Imperial NHS Healthcare Trust, subsequently gaining membership of the Royal College of Dental Surgery (MFDS) and Royal College of Surgery (MRCS). I was fortunate to secure my Higher Surgical training (ST3-ST7) in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in North West London and completed my surgical training after becoming a fellow of the Royal College of Surgery; FRCS (OMFS). I then completed the prestigious Training Interface Group (TIG) Fellowship in Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgery. I am on the GMC Specialist Register of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and currently work as an NHS Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Consultant specialising in the management and reconstructive aesthetic treatment skin cancer. In addition, over the past years, I have developed my non-surgical speciality interest in facial aesthetics and have just been awarded a Masters’ Degree with Merit in Aesthetic Medicine & Skin Ageing (University of Manchester) where I also received the Outstanding Achievement Award for my postgraduate studies. After years of writing papers for peer reviewed scientific journals, co-authoring the internationally popular Primal Head & Neck DVD-Rom for Dentists/Dental Hygienists, I have recently become Resident Medical Specialist to online lifestyle magazine Salon Privé, where clients are able to enjoy reading updates on the latest trends in Health & Beauty. Why did you choose this Specialty? I’ve always been fascinated by the art of surgery and in particular facial anatomy. Given my background in Dentistry, pursuing a career in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery seemed like the most logical step to take. Without doubt, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) affords the opportunity to manage a diverse group of conditions that requires a high level of expertise in both soft and hard tissue handling. During your time in Medical School, did you enjoy this specialty? I became aware of the speciality of OMFS in the early years of my Dental degree at King’s College London. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent on placement with the Maxillofacial Surgeons and was sufficiently inspired to choose to spend my Elective with the Maxillofacial Unit at University College Hospital (UCLH), time which was well served as I was later awarded the AstraZeneca Elective Prize for an Oral Presentation detailing what I had learnt during my time with the Maxillofacial team at UCLH. What is your greatest achievement till date? That’s difficult to answer as I feel that all of my experiences to date have undoubtedly contributed to my lifetime goal of becoming a facial surgeon. It’s been a very long journey, not always easy and with unexpected personal life events along the way. However, the one trait that I believe has helped me through those years of gruelling surgical training is my resilience/tenacity. Even as a child, if I was told by others that I wouldn’t be able to do something, there negativity had the opposite effect and quite simply ignited a determination to prove the ‘nay-sayers’ wrong. I’ve always demanded the highest performance of myself at all times and have focused on the ‘end goal’ of becoming a surgeon. Twenty-three years later and wiser, I am now one of the small number of women of colour who are Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons in the United Kingdom. What has been your biggest challenge working in this specialty so far? Despite it being 2019, a handful of my patients and colleagues (young and old) are visibly surprised when I tell them that I am a Consultant Surgeon. Some feel that I don’t look old enough and commonly I’m assumed to be the nurse. Whatever their perceptions, unintentionally it’s a form of bias but I’ve learnt not to take offence to these comments. It’s great to be able to challenge the unconscious gender bias surrounding the way that people often think of surgeons; that they are “naturally” men. Surgery, in particular, OMFS is still very ‘male-dominated’ but I feel that it’s steadily changing. There are certainly more women, and especially women of colour completing higher surgical training that will eventually allow them to practice as an NHS Consultant. What do you like to do outside of work? I spend a lot of time at work, so I love nothing more than having family time and experiencing those precious life moments with my two younger sons and husband. I’ve also recently become quite the fan of hot yoga, which I find fabulous both for physical toning and emotional relaxation. What advice would you give to someone interested in this specialty? Surgery is tough and not for the faint hearted. Dedication, diligence and perseverance are an absolute must for those considering pursuing a career in surgery. Higher surgical training is intense and there have been many highs and lows. Fortunately, the highs have far outweighed the lows. Having patients trust me with their health and lives is a huge responsibility and privilege that I never take for granted. To perform life-enhancing corrective facial surgery is hugely rewarding. For those interested in pursuing a career in OMFS I would recommend spending time shadowing a Registrar in training by attending ward rounds, observing in theatre and outpatient clinics. If still interested, there are events held throughout the year that are sponsored by professional bodies such as the British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (BAOMS) that would give a fantastic insight into the scope of surgical practice in OMFS.

Thriving Amid Adversity Re•sil•ience /rəˈzilyəns/ noun 1. the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. I’ve never really considered myself to be resilient until I was asked the question ‘what does resilience mean to me?’ I remember starting off with “Resilience is a set of tools and behaviours that will keep you coming back - smarter, harder and stronger….” Like most people I applied to medical school in year 13 and unfortunately did not make it to the interview stage therefore, I decided to study biochemistry for three years. Throughout my time at uni, I knew I still wanted to study medicine so continued to work towards that whilst getting a degree. If at first you don't succeed dust yourself off and try again My first post uni cycle was 2018 where I received an interview at one medical school but unfortunately did not get in again. This completely broke me, at the time I thought to myself ‘I have the grades, I have the work experience, I prepared fervently for the interview, what did I do wrong?’. I was told by people I know to even complete strangers to “give up on this medicine dream”, “by the time you’re finished you’ll be old, how will you find a husband”, “women should finish their education early”, “Do a masters instead”. I knew deep down that I still wanted to peruse Medicine, even though it felt like the odds were against me, not just because I promised my mum a few weeks before her death at the age of 14, that I would be greater than her and make her proud but because deep down I knew this is what I’m passionate about and want to peruse. I remember saying to my aunt, I’m going to keep trying to peruse my medical dream because I’d rather try and try again than give up and be unhappy doing something else. After applying to medicine again and this time not only receiving multiple interviews but offers too, I was over the moon and knew that my persistence and resilience had paid off. Resilience Over the past two years I’ve learnt first hand what being resilient really means. Being the primary carer for my aunt whom suffered from diabetes and kidney failure, due to a failed double transplant. She had been home bound for the past two years. Despite her situation, she was always so positive and eager to push and rehabilitate herself in order to improve her progress. The passing of my aunt a few months ago, has been really hard, not only did she teach me to keep fighting but how to be resilient. Despite being home bound for two years, she would try her best to make light of every situation, continuously praising God and encouraging me even though my battles weren’t even a tenth of what she was going through. Ultimately, as a Christian, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without God. Me being resilient is not by my own doing but His. ‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’ Isaiah 40:31 NIV I hope to be able to teach others that hardships are character builders and that changing the direction our lives set for us starts with ourselves. It is important to change our focus from causes and blame to asking ourselves what can we do about it and where do we go from here. Follow your heart and believe in yourself. Whenever I doubt myself I remember my aunt telling me “keep striving forward, you were made for this. Don’t let anyone tell you you deserve anything less.”

As part of our 'Black Blood Appeal' Campaign and in the run up to our 1st Blood Drive, we asked our 4 ambassadors who are affected by Sickle Cell Disease some questions to raise awareness about Blood Donation and Sickle Cell in the African-Caribbean Community. Each of their stories are unique, yet reiterate the same message: the need for more black blood donors. Name: Alidor Gaspar Age: 31 When were you first aware of your condition? First memory is age 5 What do you do? Missionary/Artist What do you do to raise awareness of sickle cell anaemia? Music, workshops, social media and word of mouth State an interesting fact about yourself: I met the queen at age 7 Have you received a blood donation part of your treatment? If so, how many? Yes, I receive an exchange transfusion every 6 weeks. I started in November 2018 and haven’t had a crisis since then. Why is it important to have more black blood donors registered to donate blood? Because they are a better blood match for black people with sicklecell. What are the main symptoms and complications that you deal with from having the condition and how are these usually managed? Body pains, I usually try to keep hydrated and take any tablets needed. How has sickle cell anaemia affected your life? Negative/positive impact: Positively it has allowed me to take my health more seriously, it has allowed me to meet some amazing people who have the same struggles and has allowed me to raise awareness on some great platforms. Negatively, I didn’t get to do everything I wanted to do as a child as I had to watch my health closely. Personal achievements and triumphs you’ve celebrated despite your condition: I released my first EP in 2015 and it charted at no.4 in the UK official Christian & Gospel Charts and no.4 in the iTunes Hip Hop Charts. I released my most personal song ‘Hidden Pain’ in March 2019 in association with the NHS and I was able to raise awareness on stations such as BBC 1xtra, Channel 5 News, Metro & more. I am now planning to release my debut Album in the last quarter of 2019. How have you managed your condition and who has supported you through this time? I have made sure not to over-push myself and rest as much as possible. My family have supported me. Take home message/memorable message to finish: Don’t allow your health to stop you from pursuing what God has in store for you. Bonus Questions: What is one thing you would want people to know about sickle cell anaemia? As a black person, it’s important we know how much this affects our people. What can we do to help? Research, process and take action. What are the most common assumptions/misconceptions people make? That we are exaggerating about our pain because it’s not physically evident. What would you like health professionals to be more aware of when caring for patients with Sickle cell anaemia? Listen to us, believe us and study sickle cell to have at least a little understanding of what we go through, this affects us not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. Does anyone else in your family have sickle cell anaemia/sickle cell trait? Did your parents know if they were carriers of the sickle cell gene? My mother has sicklecell, my dad has the trait. They found out the other party was a carrier after I was born. I have several cousins who also have both. Why is it important to have more black blood donors registered to donate blood? Because they are a better blood match for us. We need to do more for our community because it affects us ALL whether we see it or not. JOIN OUR BLOOD DRIVE HELD ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST AT THE WEST END BLOOD DONOR CENTRE! Click Here to find out more! - BLOOD DRIVE

As part of our 'Black Blood Appeal' Campaign and in the run up to our 1st Blood Drive, we asked our 4 ambassadors who are affected by Sickle Cell Disease some questions to raise awareness about Blood Donation and Sickle Cell in the African-Caribbean Community. Each of their stories are unique, yet reiterate the same message: the need for more black blood donors. Name: Kehinde Salami Age: 38 When were you first aware of your condition? I had it all my life but first found out when I was 24 What do you do? I am founder/Director of SickleKan sickle cell foundation, as well as a youth worker and work for the NHS recruiting Black blood donors for our various blood drives What do you do to raise awareness of sickle cell anaemia? I run my own charity raising awareness as well as offer services to the community to support children families and adults affected by sickle cell disease, while also doing work in hospitals schools and other organisations raising awareness, plus supporting those affected by sickle cell What is an interesting fact about yourself? Was born with a hole in my ear which they say is a throw back gene to when we had gills Have you received a blood donation part of your treatment? I have never had blood transfusions but my daughter who also has sickle cell has Why is it important to have more black blood donors registered to donate blood? To meet the demand at the moment as only 1% of blood donors are black, which means that due to sickle cell patients needing blood transfusions the importance of finding the closest match possible means theres less likelihood of blood being rejected or the recipient producing antigens that make future blood donations much more difficult What are the main symptoms and complications that you deal with from having the condition and how are these usually managed? Main thing is tiredness and fatigue and the mental health side effects to being in pain for prolonged periods of time which can emotionally drag you down. These are usually managed by resting when I can and keeping busy constantly knowing that the stuff that I do is contributing to making a difference to how sickle cell is perceived in general. Knowing that Im helping gives me great comfort How has sickle cell anaemia affected your life? Negative/positive impact. Where to start, Too many instances to mention, Almost Dying multiple times, Chest Pain, going blind in my left eye, hip pain, swollen feet, hands, shortness of breath and chronic back pain and fatigue. Personal achievements and triumphs you’ve celebrated despite your condition: Helping contribute to providing a platform for sickle cell patients to have a voice, being apart of the BAME blood organ and stem cell review register as a main grass roots contributor which has now been made as part of legislation How have you managed your condition and who has supported you through this time? I have actively researched myself remedies and have taken a proactive stance of actively seeking new ways to stay healthy. Gym, change of diet, drinking lots of water and resting when I need to. Take home message for our readers: I will say we sickle cell warriors are just that, we may bend but never break because we truly are testament that strength comes from overcoming anything sickle cell can put us through to continue going to be warriors which is truly inspiring Bonus Questions: 1. What is one thing you would want people to know about sickle cell anaemia? That its not contagious and that its hereditary (both parents need to have the gene either via being a carrier of the sickle cell trait or have the full blown condition for it to be passed on. 2. What are the most common assumptions/misconceptions people make? That looking perfectly fine means that you are not struggling internally with sickle cell 3. What would you like health professionals to be more aware of when caring for patients with Sickle cell anaemia? That it takes more than just learning and studying sickle cell, you need to understand that it affects people differently and that the pain can be comparable to gunshot and knife wounds so please have empathy and respect to any patient in your care 4. Does anyone else in your family have sickle cell anaemia/sickle cell trait? Did your parents know if they were carriers of the sickle cell gene? My Dad has sickle cell, and so does my youngest sister and also my daughter has sickle cell, while my mum carries the trait Why is it important to have more black blood donors registered to donate blood? To meet the demand that is needed, currently there are only 1% of black blood donors registered to give blood, which is nowhere enough to address sickle cell patients needing transfusions as often as every six weeks. Which can be up to 8 pints of blood per transfusion. Gist of it is if we don’t get more black blood donors more sickle cell patients could die JOIN OUR BLOOD DRIVE HELD ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST AT THE WEST END BLOOD DONOR CENTRE! Click Here to find out more! - BLOOD DRIVE

Medconnect Europe is an agency comprised of students and Doctors who’ve graduated from Bulgaria that provides free, impartial and understandable advice to prospective students aiming to study Medicine or Dentistry in Europe. As a team, we understand that there are a plethora of agencies who are currently extorting students without actually guaranteeing them a place at the end of the application process, trust us we’ve been there! Luckily, with our service we intend to provide the best experience tailored to students by students who actually know what the application process is like. With that being said, we’d like to walk you through the typical application process, so you are aware of what to expect. Firstly, it is important for every applicant to have an idea about where they want to study. Are you thinking somewhere in Europe? We offer services for Universities in Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Ukraine, and a brief background of these countries can be found on our website. Secondly, all applicants should make a note of the entry requirements that have been set by each university, as some will be higher than others. There are also 4 year Graduate options available for applicants who have already completed an undergraduate degree in the UK, otherwise the course is typically 5/6 years. Now you have an idea, we’re ready to get started! APPLICATION Initially, all applicants are required to fill and submit an application form and a contract which will state clearly the terms and conditions of the service agreement that we will provide. The application form is a means for us to gather information about the applicant and to determine if they meet the requirements for their intended study. DOCUMENTATION Once the application form has been completed, we will require some documentation. This documentation includes a scanned copy of the passport and all necessary educational certificates for the applicant. Please note that throughout this process, our specialised team will always be in constant communication with applicant to ensure that the form is filled out correctly and to notify them of any amendments. ENTRANCE EXAM Whilst we are processing the documents, the applicant can commence their preparation for the entrance exam. A number of resources will be available to them via our online portal, which will be more than sufficient for them to pass. Next, all documentation must be legalised by a solicitor and translated into the language of which the applicant intends to study in, which is arranged by us on behalf of the applicant. Subsequently, the application form and documentations are submitted to the university. INTERVIEW Once the University is satisfied with all the documentation that has been provided, the applicant will be invited for either an entrance exam or interview in that country. We know that it can be daunting being in a foreign country for the first time. A member of our team will help the applicant to book flights and any other travel arrangements. Fortunately, a member of our team will be at hand to meet the applicant at the university so they to show them to their exam/interview. ADMISSION Finally, the applicant will receive an admission letter by the University confirming that they have been successful. In which case it's time to prepare to relocate abroad. Congratulations! PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING Before the applicant sets off, we host a pre departure meeting for all the students who are travelling to Europe. This provides a great opportunity for the applicant to meet a few people before venturing out into the unknown as well as gaining some vital information about the country, financial aid and study materials for the course. We empathise with every applicant who hasn’t gained admission to Med School in the UK let alone having to begin the hunt for other Medical Universities in Europe. We can appreciate how difficult this process can be, but that is why we are here to let you know; you are not alone. We hope that this article has eased your mind about studying abroad and more importantly given you an agency you can put your trust in. We will do all the hard work for you. We look forward to connecting with you somewhere in Europe.

The Melanin Medics Blog Series showcasing black Medical Professionals in various Medical Specialties. Sharing their journeys, challenges and life lessons. #RepresentationMatters. This week we're showcasing a career in Pharmaceutical Medicine! Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far My name is Dr. John FW Ndikum Medical Doctor | Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Class of 2010 MPH | Yale School of Public Health, Class of 2018 Like many Black children inspired by Dr. Ben Carson, I was determined to become a neurosurgeon and began actively working towards this goal from about the age of 13. After several years of discipline, focus and dedication, I was admitted to Barts and The London Medical School at the age of 18. This marked one of the greatest moments of my life, and the consummation of a dream I had harboured since the age of 3 following a visit to the hospital. By the time I had graduated from medical school however,  I felt very lost. It was tough - here I was at 23, unsure of what I should spend the rest of my life specialising in. I did eventually find my feet in General Medicine, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Working within the NHS was a blessing and a curse; I was blessed to be privy to the inner workings of Europe’s largest healthcare provider but frustrated by my inability to overcome the structural limitations that at times prevented the optimal delivery of care. This frustration eventually blossomed into a passion for Public Health, leading me to Yale where I graduated with a Master of Public Health degree in May 2018. Why did you choose this Specialty? During my time at Yale, I explored several options post-graduation and was attracted by the prospect of combining my interest in organisational management, medicine and public health. After some thorough research, it became obvious that Pharmaceutical Medicine fit the bill; I could improve the health of populations at both the downstream and upstream levels whilst being training to add ever-greater value and make a wider impact to the global village. What is Pharmaceutical Medicine? 'Pharmaceutical medicine is the medical scientific discipline concerned with the discovery, development, evaluation, registration, monitoring and medical aspects of marketing of medicines for the benefit of patients and the health of the community. At core of the discipline is the clinical testing of medicines, translation of pharmaceutical drug research into new medicines, safety and well-being of research participants in clinical trials, and understanding the safety profile of medicines and their benefit-risk balance.' - Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK During your time in Medical School, did you enjoy this specialty? This actually wasn’t a speciality that was discussed during my time in medical school. It was my own exploration as well as discussion with colleagues that made me aware of it. What is your greatest achievement till date? The journey through which I passed, which I discuss in verse in my book of poetry book of poetry (Words of a Feather). That period was instrumental in helping me to find an inner strength that I was not aware I possessed and awakening me to the immense power and utility of harnessed resilience. What has been your biggest challenge working in this specialty so far? Learning to manage colleagues who are not medical professionals. Doctors have their own lingo and cultural mores which they assume everyone else understands. So learning to work outside the standard medical hierarchy has required much reflection but in hindsight, has served to refine and enhance my communication skills. What do you like to do outside of work? Gym - strength, power and endurance training. Dance! Read - primarily non-fiction on a variety of topics. Discuss random abstract topics (e.g. philosophy, the nature of society, the function of government)  with like-minded friends. What advice would you give to someone interested in this specialty? Reach out to people working in it and find out if it really is for you. I personally love being at the forefront of research and enjoy flexing my creative muscles. Some people don’t. So I suppose you’ve just got to spend the time finding out what fits with your temperament. 'Medical school is a means and not an end. Beyond its gates lie arduous hours and night shifts. There is no glamour. And the ‘oh he’s a doctor’ proclamations of enamoured family members soon wear off. Graduation from medical school marks the beginning of a very long road ahead – are you ready for it? As important as it is to acknowledge the underrepresentation of Black individuals in the medical profession, an undue focus on this can derail you. Focus instead on why and HOW exactly you want to be of service in this world, and the strength of your desire will obliterate obstacles in your way. Acknowledge reality, but do not deny your own inner greatness. Be of service first to yourself by dreaming of a bigger life, then create a vision that includes others. Things of significance are not achieved by focusing on why we cannot, but on why we can, and WILL. Remember this.' - Read more from Dr Ndikum's Blog Post - Strive On

There is far more in you than you know. Far more in all of us than we can even imagine. Transcending social categorisations of ethnicity, class and status exists a force within; it is sparked by self-belief and fuelled by a vision to be of service for a purpose bigger than ourselves. It is this inner power, combined with the help of innumerable individuals, that has allowed me to graduate from medical school in London, publish a book and more recently to graduate with a Masters degree (in Public Health) from Yale University in the United States. And the journey continues. Medical school is a means and not an end. Beyond its gates lie arduous hours and night shifts. There is no glamour. And the ‘oh he’s a doctor’ proclamations of enamoured family members soon wear off. Graduation from medical school marks the beginning of a very long road ahead – are you ready for it? As important as it is to acknowledge the underrepresentation of Black individuals in the medical profession, an undue focus on this can derail you. Focus instead on why and HOW exactly you want to be of service in this world, and the strength of your desire will obliterate all obstacles in your way. Acknowledge reality, but do not deny your own inner greatness. Be of service first to yourself by dreaming of a bigger life, then create a vision that includes others. Things of significance are not achieved by focusing on why we cannot, but on why we can, and WILL. Remember this. Some of you might be saying, ‘well yes that’s very nice, but what can I actually do’. In response to this valid question, the advice I would give to aspiring doctors is as follows: 1. HAVE A PLAN Nothing worthwhile is achieved without a blueprint and very few great things happen in life by chance. A couple of years before my book was published, I saw it in my mind’s eye until it was real to me. And then devised a plan to make that image a tangible reality. Executing that plan was much tougher than day-dreaming about publishing, but without it, the book would have remained a pipe-dream. 2. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF The great scientist Isaac Asimov mooted “Above all, never think you’re not good enough. Never think that. In life people will take you at your own reckoning.”. Self-doubt not only acts as a brake on the path towards accomplishing your objectives, but is palpable to others, who might otherwise have collaborated with you. Besides, there will times when no one will believe in your dreams. You need to be able to stand alone sometimes for what you believe in, regardless of whether the crowd joins you. As I wrote in one of my poems, ‘Immortal Deeds’: Immortal words are never writ By the souls of the o’er meek; Would Achilles’ name modern ears meet If he had been in spirit weak?” 3. KEEP MOVING FORWARD…STRATEGICALLY If life demands one thing of us, it is progress in all of its domains. Be your very own personal trainer, targeting areas of weakness and continually optimising strong areas. Everything that you will achieve in life will be a by-product of who you are. Strive therefore, to be the greatest version of yourself. And all else shall follow. 4. HAVE A REASON Without it, you might as well not begin. Life WILL throw curveballs, and unless your reason is bigger than providing for yourself alone, you will lack the resolve to follow through. To my thinking, life supplies you with the energy commensurate with your objective. Expanding the scope of your contribution therefore, will provide you with the fuel for when things get tough. 5. STEP BACK FROM TIME TO TIME TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE Ultimately, being a doctor on a ‘pale blue dot’ grain of sand isn’t that significant, when measured against cosmic proportions. There is more to life than professional success. Take a step back from time to time to remember this and to nourish the other parts of your mind and life. As my friend said in a conversation where he loosely quoting E.F Schumacher, “we are here to accumulate more than just financial capital…we must remember to gather social, spiritual and moral capital too.” 6. KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING AND NOT THE END Had I known this, I would probably have avoided the anti-climax that was the day I received the results that I had passed medical school. Life is a never-ending journey and the competencies you are required to become proficient in extend beyond just memorising semiabstract knowledge. Pace yourself. 7. STRIVE NOT ONLY TO ACCUMULATE, BUT TO LEAVE A LEGACY What you will leave behind on this Earth is more important that what you alone have accomplished. Leave a footprint. In fact, leave a ladder with an instruction manual by the side, so that others too can benefit from what you learned. — Ultimately, achieving your goals (one of which is to become a doctor) boils down to two things – right mindset (i.e. mental tenacity) and correct action (or your willingness and capability to get things done). Dreaming of being a doctor is not sufficient to achieve that goal, but aimless action and revising pointless topics will avail nothing. Right vision combined with correct action is what will crystallise those cherished ideals you hold into reality. And remember…strive always, to be the greatest version of you. Dr. John FW Ndikum Medical Doctor | Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Class of 2010 MPH | Yale School of Public Health, Class of 2018

Have a read of this great article, as a Psychiatry Registrar and member of our organisation, Dr Jermaine Bamfo discusses the challenges, rewards and realities of being a BAME medic in the UK on the The Doctors'​ Association UK blog. Here is an extract "Being a BAME (Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic) medic comes with its rewards and challenges. Having been raised in the cultural melting-pot of East London, my experiences of interacting with other ethnic minorities in my formative years provided me with a rich array of differing conduits through which I can form a rapport with a wide variety of patients. In saying this, there have also been challenges that I have personally faced in my medical journey, problems that my fellow BAME colleagues have experienced and many more systemic issues which have slowly become more apparent. And it is these challenges that I will be focusing on in this article…" Read Dr Jermaine Bamfo's full article here: https://lnkd.in/djz8Zxi ------------------------------------- DAUK is a non-profit organisation run by volunteer doctors: To find out more go to: https://www.dauk.org #medicine #bame #medic #doctor #nhs #healthcare #workplace #melaninmedics

The Melanin Medics Blog Series showcasing black Medical Professionals in various Medical Specialties. Sharing their journeys, challenges and life lessons. #RepresentationMatters. This week we're featuring an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist! Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far Miss Abisola Adeleye, BSc(Hons), MBBS, MRCOG. I'm currently an ST6 level specialist registrar, training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the East of England Deanery and a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Studied Medicine at Bart's and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, I also earned a first class honours BSc degree in Primary Health Care during an intercalated year at University College London. I won a runner-up award in the London Schools and the Black Child Academic Achievement Awards 2010. My passion for education has been realised through a medical workbook I co-authored and published with CRC Press - Making sense of Fluids and Electolytes: a hands-on guide. I also enjoy being a trustee for and participating in activities run by the charity Salaam Education Services. Why did you choose this Specialty? I get to do something different on most days at work - On-call for labour ward and delivering babies, simple and complex obstetric and gynaecology surgery, outpatient clinics, inpatient ward rounds, ultrasound scanning. Very varied activities and I get to work with different healthcare professionals such as midwives, nurses, theatre teams, sonographers, not just doctors. During your time in Medical School, did you enjoy this specialty? My medical school placement was in a DGH (District General Hospital) away from my medical school base. I had to stay in hospital accommodation which meant I preferred to spend more time in the hospital and immerse myself in the specialty rather than in the accommodation. I met enthusiastic consultants unlike any other specialty I experienced. They saw I that was keen and gave me more hands-on opportunities and mentorship. What is your greatest achievement till date? I was fortunate enough to publish my workbook on fluid and electrolyte management aimed at medical students: Making Sense of Fluids and Electrolytes: A hands-on guide. This was a very unexpected opportunity which started out as an entry into the RSM’s Young Authors competition. This event was held in a similar way to Dragon’s Den - I pitched my book idea along with my colleagues, to a panel of publishing house editors. The prize was supposed to be mentoring from one of the editors and signed copies of well-known clinical books. The editors liked our idea so much that we were offered a publishing contract. I found the publishing process quite enjoyable overall, especially when I was finally able to hold the book and thumb through it! The challenges were keeping the material up-to-date, working as a trio and finding editors ourselves, whom we could work well with and who shared our vision for the book . With regards to publishing more resources in the future, I currently have nothing in the pipeline yet but I won’t say no to another opportunity to publish something that can help others. What has been your biggest challenge working in this specialty so far? Work-life balance. Making the most of time off work by truly relaxing and not being tempted to allow work to extend into my time off. What do you like to do outside of work? Working out, weekends away, nice meals, exhibitions and shows with friends & family. I do enjoy teaching others, something I’ve done since I was a teenager coaching students for 11+ & GCSE exams. Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. ~ Dolly Parton What advice would you give to someone interested in this specialty? Get a medical school placement, taster week, foundation year rotation or trust SHO job in the specialty to ensure that you know the realities of what to expect in the specialty, to help you work out if it’s right for you. By being here today, I am hoping to help you see how you can achieve your own success and overcome challenges you may face along the way.