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 Gastroenterologist! Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far My name is Dr Yaa Danso and I am a Gastroenterology Registrar. I completed my medical training in Bart's and the London and graduated in 2013. I decided for a change in scenery and opted to complete my foundation training in the North West deanery. I moved to Manchester and worked in large DGH. During this time I got involved in teaching and introduced my own teaching programme within the trust. I continued in Manchester for my core medical training and it was these two years that really made my, what I would call, my "Doctor forming moments". It was also during this time that I had begun to focus on my desired speciality. After core medical training I took a year out where I took a few holiday breaks and also worked as a registrar in a few different specialities to get a feel for the next 5 years! I'm now working as a Gastroenterology ST3 in the North West, coincidentally in the same hospital I began as an FY1. More recently I am particularly proud to be involved in the organisation for Ghanian Doctors and Dentists Association UK @GDDAUK, who won a prestigious GUBA Award in 2018. Why did you choose this Specialty? When I first started as an FYI I was quite sure I wanted to do hospital medicine. Initially they all the specialities seemed very similar so I looked towards the Consultants/regs. I looked at if they seemed happy in they're job, were they stressed, are they approachable, did they enjoy their own speciality; this can be very eye opening. For Gastroenterology, I loved the mix of things to do- particularly learning how to do endoscopy (this is the best part of my week) and getting involved with emergencies. The needs for Gastroenterologists, female ones especially, are growing. Out of the 10 Gastroenterology seniors in my hospital (SpRs and Consultants) I am the only woman! Probably the most important for me was the work life balance. I knew working in hospital I would be expected to do out-of-hours work, but at the moment most Gastroenterologists are part of the Gastro Emergency rota and thus forgo all general medical on-calls...this clinched it for me 📷. Gastroenterology is a really great speciality, I love what I'm doing at the moment and I would encourage others to try a taster week at their own hospital or with the BSG (British society of Gastroenterology) to see if it's your fit. During your time in Medical School, did you enjoy this specialty? Interestingly, I was initially quite set on training in psychiatry. During medical school I would cater all my self directed modules towards psychiatry and even took my elective in a psychiatry unit in Barbados. But fairly soon after I turned up onto the wards as an FY1, I  was pretty certain I wanted to pursue hospital medicine and did just that. What is your greatest achievement till date? My greatest achievement came quite recently with me getting my registrar job, but it wasn't as easy as I had imagined. On my first application/interview I was so worried  about the process and how "better qualified" the other candidates were. I second guessed myself all the way through and this reflected in my result. My ranking was in the bottom 10% and wasn't anywhere close to getting a speciality training job within the UK, let alone the location I wanted. I was gutted. I cried. And seriously questioned if I was overstepping myself for thinking I was good enough for this job at all. But I thought I'd give it another go - just to make sure. I worked to get a few more lines on the CV and knowing the process with solid prep, gave me the confidence to let me feel more like myself in the interview. A few weeks later THE email popped up and I couldn't believe the result. With my new score I was now ranked *2nd* in the country! I almost cried then too......and then took a screenshot and sent it to the group chat! Needless to say I was offered my top choice job: the speciality I wanted, in the location I wanted. I am now Dr Yaa Danso Gastroenterology Specialist Registrar. Even as I write this, it still makes me smile. #StartedFromTheBotto....you know the rest. 📷 What has been your biggest challenge working in this specialty so far? As I have become more senior my responsibilities have naturally increased. Particularly on-call, I'm the go-to for so many questions; medical or otherwise. I find myself often having to make that phone call to the consultant for their opinion or researching up-to-date guidelines. This was something I rarely needed to do as an SHO and would simply ask my registrar if I was really stuck. But now that I AM the registrar It's simply not enough to just fumble along. I expected to be on quite a steep learning curve as a first year registrar but  being regularly hit with things I have never encountered is still daunting. What do you like to do outside of work? I have recently moved and I have really got into interiors and home decor whilst fashioning up my new place. Every now and again I post about something I bought, new decorating ideas and can be regularly found scouring the shelves of Homesense. I also love how Afrobeats is having such a big come back now! I head to an Afrobeat/Bashment dance class a couple times a week in Manchester. And when I'm at home there's nothing better than a Louis Theroux docu-series 📷🏿. What advice would you give to someone interested in this specialty? We all have that innate pull that brings us to medicine and some of our reasons is easier to verbalise than others. In general I think it's important to consider the following: Become a "yes" woman/man. Don't let your anxieties overcome what you want to be.  I remember during foundation and also as a core medical trainee, thinking....."How on earth am I ever gonna be a med reg!!?" "Am I good enough?" And  when you get there you may not feel ready, but you may just surprise yourself at how quickly you can adapt. Change is always good, it brings out the best in you. Learn to say yes to the things that scare you the most and watch your comfort zone grow. A friend once said to me "If it doesn’t scare you then it’s not worth doing. Close your eyes and jump. Everything you want is on the other side of fear" so say yes! Keep your goal in sight. Whether that be completing foundation training, finishing exams or having a plan to travel always remember what they are. There are some days I struggle when I'm at work, but it's great having that reminder that this pain is temporary! And in a few years I will get to enjoy my speciality just as I want to. Take your time. With the exams, on-calls and not to mention all the commotion that goes with requesting annual leave, I found core medical training pretty exhausting. Afterwards I took a year out and loved the change in pace! It gave me the time to really consider what I wanted to specialise in and gave me a renewed energy for when I started my registrar post.

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 Dentist! Dr. Olurotimi Adesanya BDS , DRDP (UCL), DDHLM (FGDP-UK), FDS RCS (Ed.), FFGDP(UK) One of the founders of the African Caribbean Dental Association and Present Chairman of the association. I qualified in 1991 from School of dentistry University of Benin, Nigeria, since qualifying I have worked in several hospitals both in the United Kingdom and abroad, including Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Bedford General Hospital, Countess of Chester Hospital and Royal London Hospital. During my training in the hospitals, I reached the level of a Staff Surgeon in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Registrar in Paediatric Dentistry. I obtained a Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh in 2000 and A Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative Dental Practice from the Eastman Dental Institute (Universities College London) one of the world renowned Postgraduate Institution in 2009. In 2011 I was awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Health Services Leadership and Management by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) The diploma provided me the educational experience that has advanced my knowledge and competence in the operational and strategic management of dental services, to ensure my dental team consistently provide a high quality of dental care. In 2013 , I was awarded the Fellowship of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) of the Royal College of Surgeons England in recognition of my excellence in primary dental care . I choose dentistry as a career because it is a caring profession and at time I applied it was believed that there was not enough dentists in globally and some patients did not have access to care In my career my greatest achievement so far being the owner of a dental practice caring for patients. My greatest challenge working in primary dental care is the business side of dentistry being able to strike a balance between providing the best possible care for the patients with the resources available. My advice Have a vision. I had a vision to be a dentist at the age of 13 after reading an health magazine which reported there was not enough dentists globally Work hard with a focus mind , purse excellence in whatever you do Speak to those already in the profession for guidance , Get a mentor Begin with the end in Mind Outside work I enjoy self-development, travelling, recording / listen to music and being in a position to help others reach their full potential

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 Anaesthetist! Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far My name is Marilyn and I am an anaesthetic CT2 currently working in Lister Hospital, Stevenage. I trained at St George’s University of London, intercalated at Kings College London and graduated in 2014. After foundation training, I took a year and half F3 exploring a career in anaesthetics, travelling and volunteering in Africa. Why did you choose this Specialty? Physiology always interested me at medical school, and I was draw in by the acute applied physiology that is the basis of anaesthetics. Although many people tend to get a warped view of anaesthetists sitting around drinking coffee all day (we do some days!), it is a very varied and dynamic speciality. Anaesthetists are all over the hospital from theatres to intensive care, maternity to ED resus and even paediatrics. There are many possibilities with a career in anaesthetics depending on your interests. I have colleagues who do their 9-5 in the NHS and weekends retrieving patients from all over the world or part time with more free time to enjoy with their children. The possibilities are vast! During your time in Medical School, did you enjoy this specialty? I went to medical school with the intention of becoming a paediatrician. Although every encounter with a ‘cool’ doctor swayed my decision. In the space of 3 years I went from neurosurgery to cardiology to emergency medicine and back to paediatrics. I geared my CV towards paediatrics and chose to do a student selected component in the paediatric intensive care. The paediatric intensive care was my first real encounter with anaesthetists and from there my interest in anaesthesia grew.  I really enjoyed my anaesthesia and ITU rotation in final year. All the anaesthetists were really nice, seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs and were just all-round cool people! What is your greatest achievement till date? Volunteering in Chad was one best things I have done to date. I’ve always wanted to use my medical skills in an area where they are desperately needed. It was a tough experience but definitely an experience of a lifetime. I am really passionate about developing world anaesthesia and it is something I look to do more of in the future. What has been your biggest challenge working in this specialty so far? One of the biggest challenges in anaesthesia is when things go wrong. Due to the nature of our work bad situations can escalate quickly and it is important for an anaesthetist to maintain an air of calm whilst trying to control the situation. What do you like to do outside of work I love to cook, it’s definitely my post work therapy. I like to travel as much as possible. I am a book worm, my last read was The Power by Naomi Alderman and I have recently taken up bouldering, so we will see how that goes! What advice would you give to someone interested in this specialty? Get yourself into your nearest anaesthetic room- we are always happy to give advice and explain more about what we do. If it is possible, do an ICU / anaesthetic job during your foundation training. You can even take time out of training to explore a career in anaesthesia before committing, as there are post F2 clinical fellow jobs available. Be prepared- the exams are hard, but it is a very rewarding career so don’t be put off. If I can do it so can you!

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 Psychiatrist! My name is Dr Jermaine Bamfo and I am a core trainee in Psychiatry, currently completing my second year of specialty training. I am the first son of Ghanaian parents who had originally come to the UK in the mid-80s. I was born in Hackney and brought up in Shoreditch, when it was one of the most underprivileged areas in the whole of the UK and not the hipster-central we know it to be today; being brought up in that atmosphere came with its considerable challenges but I am grateful to God and my family for helping me thrive nonetheless. I left secondary school with 14 GCSEs A*-C. I applied for Medicine at A-level but unfortunately missed out on my conditional offers by the slimmest of margins. Fortunately, due to my performance at my medical interview at Liverpool I was offered a place to study Anatomy & Human Biology at the University of Liverpool, and eventually attained a First Class. I managed to get onto the highly-competitive graduate entry programme at Imperial College London, and completed the course in 2013. I did my foundation training in Northern Ireland, where I also attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychiatry and Mental Health from Queens Univeristy Belfast. I took an F3 year where I worked in medicine at Watford General Hospital and Medway Maritime Hospital before securing a specialty training number in Psychiatry in 2017. Why did you choose this Specialty? I ended up choosing to pursue Psychiatry because it was a specialty where I could marry my personal interests and my abilities and utilise them to be the best doctor I could possibly be. I have always been drawn to the stigmatised in society, and helping break down stigmas. Through my personal experiences and my work mentoring people in a variety of mediums, I have seen that mental health is a critical part of the human make-up. And with increasing societal awareness of mental health, there is an increasing demand on formal services. Not only that but I feel it is important to have greater Afro-Caribbean representation in the field in order to offset some of the well-known discriminatory issues that exist when it comes to mental health services in the UK. I wanted to play my part to effect real change, in a field that I would genuinely enjoy working in on a day by day basis. During your time in Medical School, did you enjoy this specialty? NO! Which is hilarious. And that’s why it’s important as medical students to always keep an open mind when it comes to specialties. Sometimes you can be drawn to the ‘sexier’ specialties but you have to keep at the forefront of your mind your ‘why’ (i.e. the reason *why* you’re pursuing medicine) and in my previous answer you can see how my *why* has led me into a career in Psychiatry. I suppose for me I hated Psych at medical school not necessarily because it may not have been the most respected of specialties but more that I had some bad experiences in a clinical placement on a Psychiatric ICU which I felt at the time were representative of what I would have to face in the specialty as a whole. It was my F2 placement which showed me the breadth of Psychiatry, the opportunities available, the work-life balance, the great attitude to educational opportunities etc. Working in that placement and seeing what was on offer, everything clicked. Unfortunately that click did not happen at medical school. What is your greatest achievement to date? In my medical journey I suppose it is completing graduate entry medicine at Imperial College. It was an intensive course, and it coincided with a very difficult period of my life where I was working out who I was as a person, what I wanted from life, questioning everything and everyone. It was a period of time which could have broken me easily, but I came out standing tall. What has been your biggest challenge working in this specialty so far? I think it can be very uncomfortable at times being on-call and being confronted by a medical emergency. In an inpatient mental health setting you most times don’t have the range of equipment you would have at your disposal in a typical medical setting, and the staff may not be as well-trained and proficient in dealing with physical health as you would like. So it can be challenging and disorienting dealing with such situations. It’s a greater test of your general medical knowledge in terms of reacting to things quickly, effectively, knowing what you can do with what you have and working out when a higher ceiling of care is required. What do you like to do outside of work? I love to spend time with my young family - my beautiful partner Sibyl and our perfect young baby girl Aivanna. Im a regular churchgoer, attending Powerland Chapel International at South Woodford where I’m involved with the media and also with the young adults group. Im also involved with the GUBA Foundation as a PR & Communications Executive; the GUBA Foundation is a charity which has a range of focuses including reducing infant mortality in Ghana and increasing autism awareness in the Afro-Caribbean communities. I enjoy travelling, and also enjoy exercising my creative abilities be it via drawing artwork or engaging in design. I’m an introvert and in the past few years I’ve found great comfort in understanding & accepting this, and revelling in having my own space & time to relax and recharge. What advice would you give to someone interested in this specialty? Pursue your interest! It’s a rich season for Psychiatry and mental health at the moment in that there seems to be an appetite in the wider world for increasing awareness. So keep your eye out for topical issues in the news and enhance your knowledge of the big issues that are out there. Seek out opportunities to shadow trainees or spend time in various settings. There is currently a big movement helmed by the Royal College of Psychiatrist themed ‘Choose Psychiatry’ - which is aiming to increase recruitment numbers, and there are a wide range of resources available to help answer your queries and dispel any myths about the specialty. Try and engage in as many things as you can which show off your genuine interest in mental health, as these will stand you in good stead when it comes to applying for specialty posts. If you’re interested in Psychiatry, go for it! Take the leap! I made the jump a couple of years ago and there’s never been a day that I’ve regretted it.

Summer is on the horizon! Is it too soon to be excited? After a challenging year, the summer season is what we can all look forward to. The great weather, ample time and new experiences are just a few of the highlights. It's so important that you utilise your summer efficiently; do the things you love, catch up with friends and family and focus on passion projects. This is your time to really rejuvenate! We've shared our top tips for making the most of your summer, even if you're a Medic or applicant, make sure that this summer is one to remember! 1. Reflect, relax, rest and recharge! The majority of us, if not all of us would have just completed several final exams or OSCE’S which challenged us mentally, physically and emotionally. Therefore, it is vital to give yourself a break to recover from these exams so take some time out for yourself whether it be binge watching all your favourite Netflix/Youtube /TV shows, retail therapy or sleeping for a week- whatever it is do something that makes you feel refreshed. Another useful tip after exam is to spend time reflecting on your exams- did anything not go according to plan, was your study techniques- did it work?, is there anything you could improve upon? Did you utilise your personal learning style to your advantage? 2. Re-introduce your regular activities or hobbies- e.g. gym, playing an instrument, etc which you may have significantly reduced or pushed aside during exam season. For me this is playing netball, baking cakes, going to fitness classes, early morning jogs with my mum and sister. 3. Reconnect with family and friends – For many of us we live away from home during the semesters at university so it is important to stay in contact with friends who you do not see or speak to often. A few ideas include: having a picnic in the park, bbq’s, catching up over coffee or doing something fun such as bowling. 4. Volunteer /complete work experience - there are many opportunities available such as summer school programmes or conferences which you can attend. Alternatively, you may choose to volunteer in your local hospital as part of your work experience or with charities such as Doctors without Borders, British Red Cross, and Human Relief Foundation etc. 5. Find ways to make an income- now that you are not studying for a few weeks/months and have more free time on your hands why not apply for healthcare related jobs such as HCA, care home assistant or if not a job in any field will be sufficient. If not, use your skills to your advantage and make into a business e.g. freelance hairdresser/photographer. However, this may be easier for some students if they have already managed to secure a job by working whilst studying medicine. 6. Do something new- learning a new skill is always fun for example learning a new sport at your local leisure centre or sewing. Not only will this allow you to make new friends but also provides a sense of accomplishment. 7. Travel- whether this is exploring your current city, a day trip to different city in the UK or a holiday abroad, there are plenty of things to do and discover. Who knows you may even find hidden gems in your local area. 8. Research medical opportunities e.g. internships or medical electives which can take place both in the UK and abroad. These may include: NSAMR, Work the World, Gap Medics or Projective abroad. Even if missed the deadline for this year summer placements or internships you can begin to plan and prepare for next year whilst taking note of the deadline. 9. Polish your personal statement/ CV or portfolio- it always important to constantly update your CV with any courses you have completed throughout the year and what skills you have gained from these experiences. This is useful as it allows you to keep a record that you can refer to in future interviews. 10. Get ahead of the new semester- speak to students who are in older years and ask them what you can do in order to become be prepared for the upcoming year. Start your reading list which will save you sleeplessness nights during the upcoming semester and avoid trying to cram everything in a short space of time. Written by Shona Manning

"Comparison is the thief of Joy" I've heard that quote repeatedly throughout my life but I would be lying if I said that I don't compare myself to others at times. Life happens in such a way that as soon as you see someone doing essentially more than you, you automatically feel that you are not doing enough. If there's anything I've learned from comparing myself to others, it's that comparison does more harm than good when allowed to. Now don't get me wrong, comparison could be that motivating factor that you needed to get yourself up and actively pursuing your goals but on the other hand when comparison progresses into unhealthy competition, that's when it becomes detrimental. I thought I'd share some home truths about comparison and ways to avoid comparing yourself to others below/ Focus on your lane and be confident I know where I am going and I know what I need to do to get there. If I allow comparison to distract me not only will it take me longer to reach my goal, it may also derail my journey and focus. Before you know it, your goal has changed to achieving the same things as someone else which may not classify as a mark of success in your own life. Understand that you are not the person you compare yourself to. Taking Inspiration or Copying? It is possible for you to learn from others and what they have done. Be Inspired! But taking inspiration should not mean copying. You cannot expect the same results from years of hard work that it has taken this person to reach great heights. It is possible for you to adopt the positive actions and behaviours you see and adapt it to yourself. It isn't one size fits all, there is scope for you to make it your own and unique to yourself. "Don't set sail using someone else's star" Become aware of, and avoid your triggers. I would describe social media to be a black hole of comparison. We spend hours scrolling through feeds showcasing the highlights of a persons life e.g. their numerous awards, holidays, relationships etc. without truly engaging one another. We don't know what another person is going through, we don't know their struggles or how they were able to achieve what they have. If you find that social media continuously triggers feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and frustration, then choose to take a break or unfollow certain pages. Make sure you control social media and not the other way around. Embrace the success of others Embracing the success of others does not make you any less successful. Good things can happen to other people and it doesn't mean that your life is any less important. By being happy for others, you'll learn to accept yourself and cultivate a more positive environment. Don't let fear guide your choices Don't make fear based decisions out of feelings of inadequacy. These decisions tend to be the ones you regret in the future. You may feel like you have to do certain things to achieve the same results as someone else but the truth is that there is no pressure. Move at your own pace and take your time to make sure your decisions are truly in order for you to grow and succeed in a way that is unique to you. "Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle" Accept where you are and know where you're going Recognise where you are and what you have achieved so far but also know that this isn't your endpoint. Where you are today doesn’t say anything about where you’ll be in the future. What matters isn’t where you are. What matters is your mindset, attitude, and where you’re going. Simply aim to be the best you can be! Compare yourself to yourself This is a more honest metric of success and will also boost your self-esteem.

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort” - Paul J. Meyer. Mastering self management is a pivotal habit which can help to alleviate the pressure of one’s mental health. According to a UK-wide stress survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation, it found that almost three quarters of adults (74%) “have at some point over the past year (2018) felt so stressed they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope”. The causes of stress are multifactorial and may be a result of biological, psychological or social factors; this article will be setting a focus upon work-related stress and the different ways in which self-management strategies, based upon time management, are utilised to succumb this. How prevalent is work-related stress? According to the Labour Force Survey (HSE report), 44 percent of workers experience stress, depression or anxiety as a result of workload. Workload alludes to tight deadlines, too much responsibility or pressure. By occupation, professional public service industries (such as healthcare workers; teaching professionals and public service professionals) show higher levels of stress as compared to other industries. The prevalence rate for work related stress in 2017/18 was 1,800 per 100,000 workers. Relevance of a self-management strategy Self management is the driving force for setting up a successful day which facilitates continuous organization and execution. It is highly recommended that one should take the time to develop the self-management methodology which is best suited to their own lifestyle, in order to achieve better efficiency and fulfillment of targets. Methodology Number 1. Daily Goal. Notes and checklists of daily to-do duties. Some people adapt to a “one task per day principle” in order to spread out duties evenly. Methodology Number 2. Strict timing. Taking a step to orchestrate calendars and appointment times. A binary is made between the mandatory daily duties and the non-important activities. Allocating a suitable time block is then performed in order to fulfill the task. Methodology Number 3.Outcome-focused. Instead of scheduling to-do duties; predestined outcomes are planned and allocated throughout the week. These outcomes are then paired with a matched activity. This is a goal-oriented methodology. Methodology Number 4. Four Quadrants. The four quadrant rule is based upon the ability to make a distinction between important and urgent matters and their relevant importance. It is then highly advised to prioritise the activities in Quadrant 2 which aid towards long term development, setting a limitation upon Quadrant 1 to avoid burnout and avoiding Quadrant 3 and 4 which serve as distractions. Quadrant 1 Urgent/Important - Deadline projects. Crisis. Quadrant 2 Not Urgent/Important - Personal growth plan. Investment. Opportunities. Creativity. Quadrant 3 Urgent/Not Important - Interruptions. Matters based on the urgency and priority of others. Quadrant 4 Not Urgent/Not Important - Trivia. Time wasters. Busy work. Additional measures to strengthening your self-management is feeling less guilty for saying “no”, delegating tasks to your support system and developing a personal vision statement which helps to align all of your to-do duties into cohesion. Self management is a habit which needs to be exercised; thus it does not always feel fun during the initial steps but the long-term benefits regarding health and sociological benefits are essential. In addition; if you are experiencing high workload stress; it is essential to allocate rest periods for when they are necessary and additional help if required. On a final note, keep pushing! Written By Jade Okene Mental Health Foundation. (2019). Mental health statistics: stress. [online] Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-stress [Accessed 20 Apr. 2019]. Hse.gov.uk. (2019). [online] Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress.pdf [Accessed 20 Apr. 2019]. Covey, S. (n.d.). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

One of the biggest difficulties that medical students often face is how to study and how to store the huge amount of information we need to know in our brain. Everyone has their own way of studying and as you go through medical school you begin to discover what really works for you. Over the past 2 years I have adopted the study method of spaced repetition. You might be wondering what it is and if it really works, but yes it does, it got me 1stdecile in my exams (YAASSS!!) and its going to most definitely help you too. Below is my very own guidance to studying and revising for exams. You may want to follow it step by step or you may choose to incorporate some of my steps into your own study process. Towards the beginning of the year or the start of a new semester, I spend most of my time making my notes and gathering my revision resources The second half of the semester is when I begin my revision. First, I make my lecture notes. These notes contain all the information on the lecture slide and any additional the information that the lecturer mentioned that I thought was relevant and helpful. This is done for every single lecture I would have had during the week. Over the weekend, I would go through all the lecture notes I made that week and try to understand them. A mistake that a lot of students make is that they just try and memorise, however it is important that we store the information into long-term memory because we not only need it for our exams, but also for when we start working as doctors. Taking the time to understand what is being taught is therefore vital. Once I feel that I have understood the information, I will make a new set of notes for each lecture. These notes must be concise and set out in a way that you best understand them. Steps 1-3 are continued on a weekly basis until there is a long break e.g. Christmas or Easter Holidays. At the beginning of the holiday, I always advise making a list of everything you need to know e.g. lectures, anatomy etc and then make a revision timetable. A mistake I feel that many of us make is that we overestimate the amount of work that we are able to do. This often leads to us feeling as though we haven’t accomplished much. It is therefore important that we set realistic targets to meet and give ourselves some time to relax and have some fun. 5. The holiday period is where the revision begins. Many people have their own methods however I particularly like the use of flash cards. From the notes I made previously, I would make my cards with a question on the front and the answer on the back. I try to make all of them during the first week. 6. For the rest of the holiday, I constantly review the cards and below is how I do so: I have 3 boxes, each labelled every day, every 2 days and every 5 days. All the cards are placed in the everyday box on the first day and I will go through them. The cards I got correct and had no difficulty answering would be moved up to the next box (every 2 days). The cards I got wrong will remain in the everyday box. After 2 days, I will review the second box. Those that I got correct would be moved up to the last box (every 5 days) and those that I got wrong would be moved back down to the everyday box. At the 5 days mark, all the cards in the last box are reviewed. If they are correct, then they remain in that box. If not, they move back down to the second box (every 2 days). This may all sound confusing, but eventually you will get the hang of it. 7. Flash cards isn’t the only method of studying. There are many other ways such as group studying with friends, or even teaching someone who knows nothing about what you’re studying. Lastly, it is very important to make sure that you have a good work-life balance. Don’t isolate and over work yourself. It is vital that you still maintain and keep some time for your friends and family. Thank you so much for reading and good luck with your exams. Written by Khadija Owusu

Medical school applications are so competitive that deserving candidates are turned away every year. However, please be encouraged that many applicants get rejected first time and are later successful. It is important to not lose hope. Here are some tips to help you through this time. Allow yourself to heal Rebounding from medical school rejections is tough. Being rejected can feel discouraging and demotivating especially when you know you have worked so hard. I would encourage you to allow yourself to recover and to heal from it. However, you must bounce back. Don’t give up on the fight. Rejections may mean you might have to wait a little longer than expected but it doesn’t mean that you will never get there. Rather than view rejection negatively, see it as a true test of your passion and desire to study Medicine. Concentrate on A levels Do not let any rejections hinder your motivation to study for your A-levels. It’s okay to feel down for a little while but make sure to bounce back and redirect your focus to achieving the best grades possible. Don’t lose hope! Reflect on why got rejected At times, a rejection can be due to a flaw in your application. Take to examine every aspect of your application to see what went wrong. Was it a pre-interview or a post-interview rejection? If pre-interview, did you meet the GCSE requirement? Do your predicted grades meet the A-level requirement for that medical school? Did you meet the non-academic requirements including extra-curricular activities, volunteering and work experience? If post-interview, how was your interview performance? Why did your interview performance let you down? What could you have done differently? If you can, try and get feedback from the medical schools that you applied to. Although this might not always be possible, it is always worth asking. Consider clearing The universities offering clearing spaces differ from year to year. Although getting into Medicine via clearing is competitive, it is definitely worth a shot and there is no harm in trying. Clearing opens on July 5th 2019. By going on the UCAS website you’ll be able to search the Medical schools that you can apply for via clearing. Note that you would have had to achieve the correct grades and have met the entry exam threshold to be considered. Also, prepare for another round of interviews! To find out more about clearing, you can check the UCAS website by following this link: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/what-clearing Consider taking a gap year Be excited! You’ll have a year of endless opportunities and this can serve much better than diving into a degree that you might not be committed to. If you do decide to take a gap year, be sure to make the most out of it. Spend the year constructing an even better medicine application. You can do this through: Getting more medical related work experience. This can be achieved through paid work, potentially as a health care assistant, volunteering or shadowing a doctor. The longer term the experience is, the better. Work on improving your UKCAT or BMAT if this was a weak point that you identified. Make smart decisions when reapplying such as researching the medical schools that allow reapplications. Spend some time doing the things that you love and that will make you happy! Whether that is through travelling or picking up a new hobby, go for it. Let your gap year be an opportunity for you to grow and learn new skills. Consider graduate route entry You may have a 5th university choice that you applied for at the start of the year. If you have an offer for that course you may consider studying it and following a graduate route entry into medicine which is an accelerated four-year course. However don’t limit yourself to graduate only programmes! You can still apply to the traditional/standard medical courses. While doing your degree be sure to undertake as much work experience as possible, including some form of volunteering to help with your future medicine application. If this is something you think you’ll be interested, please research the pros and cons thoroughly. If you want it, work hard for it and you will get it! Don't give up! WHERE DID I GO WRONG? Are you wondering where you may have gone wrong in your Application? Contact us and we will be happy to go through your Application with you over a phone call with one of our team members. We will identify any weak points and suggest how you could have improved it. Email us: melaninmedics@gmail.com Wishing you all the best of luck! Written By Sarah O'Connell Applications Coordinator

Whether you’re studying for your A-level exams or medical school exams this summer, the motivation to get out of bed, go to school or university AND actually consolidate your learning through revision is something we all struggle with! These are my tips to motivate yourself to revise and a few ways to learn your content effectively. 1. Maintain a good work-life balance during ‘revision season’ I lose motivation when I have nothing to look forward to but doing more revision – this can be very counter-productive! To make it easier to motivate yourself to revise, you should break up your learning with hobbies or fun things you enjoy doing. For me, it’s very important to not isolate myself from my family and friends – you do not need to be revising 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Revision is really about quality and not quantity. Revise smart NOT hard! A good way I approach a large amount of revision is focus each day on a subject (sometimes I find that creating a revision timetable is useful as it means you aren’t feeling scatter-brained about where to start). Try and work for 2 parts of the day: for example, morning to late afternoon or late afternoon to evening and use your spare time to do what you like. You can take a morning off to sleep in or spend an evening with your friends. You’ll feel less guilty about it because you would have put the solid work in during the day. 2. Reward yourself after every exam… but don’t slack! Most of us have more than one exam and must not burn ourselves out or have too much fun before the next. It’s important to reward yourself with a small treat or some time out after one exam before your next one comes around. Have your favourite food for dinner, meet up with friends or give yourself one day/few hours off from studying. This will re-energise and re-motivate you to tackle your upcoming exams. 3. Use different revision techniques for your subjects/topics Different types of revision can be tailored to different subjects and the variety will keep you on your toes and help you stay motivated and on top of things as you’re revising. Mind-maps are a great way to write out complex and detailed biological processes whereas flashcards are perfect for learning quick facts and figures like the total number of chromosomes in a human cell or the date Henry VIII was born! Below is some more information on these techniques: Creating Mind-maps or posters Mind-maps are a creative way to organise your notes about a topic or particular process on 1 sheet of A4 or A3 paper. These are much easier to look at and take with you on exam day and you will find that you learn a lot of content as you create them. I find that creating posters and putting them up in my bedroom encourages me to look at them and refer to them if I’m ever studying and forget a few facts/figures here and there. Mnemonics and mental associations Mnemonics are a good way to learn names, short processes and relationships. However, basing all of your revision on mnemonics can get you very confused when it comes to examinations (I wouldn’t recommend mnemonics for learning anatomy, for example, because there is just SO much to know!). Mental associations with unique scenarios, images or things you enjoy are a popular way to memorise content. Flash Cards + quizzing yourself (handwritten or online) Flashcards can be one of the most effective revision techniques if used correctly. The most important part of revision is NOT the note-taking or textbook-reading but it is the consolidation and understanding of that knowledge and being able to answer questions about it. I create my own online flashcards using the programme Anki and use these to test myself BEFORE attempting past papers. The programme also automatically shuffles cards, so you practice the flashcards you DON’T know more often than the ones you have mastered. If you have exhausted your past paper question bank or are tired of doing them, flash cards are a quick and easy alternative. Quizlet is also a great site for ready-made quizzes to test yourself. 4. Think towards the future… what am I going to do when exams are over? Having something great to look forward to when all your exams are over is always a good motivator. When I finished my A-Levels I travelled to Malta with family and planned my subsequent gap year (which included a lot of travelling too!). Keeping this in mind kept me on track to do well in my exams. Although travelling is always fun, it could be just looking forward to all the free time you have coming up in the summer! This is not an extensive list but just a few things to help you KEEP GOING! The 2 year journey of A-levels is short but intense – rise to the challenge and make sure you succeed! Good luck! - Jessica O’Logbon We have a number of useful blog posts to help as we approach Exam Season! Check them out below: - MEDICAL SCHOOL RESOURCES: YOUTUBE REVISION CHANNELS - NOTE-TAKING IN MEDICAL SCHOOL - OUR TOP TIPS FOR LEARNING ANATOMY - INNOVATIVE WAYS TO STUDY - OUR TOP TIPS FOR MANAGING THE WORKLOAD - HOW I STUDY IN MEDICAL SCHOOL: SPACED REPETITION - A-LEVEL REVISION TIPS AND ADVICE - GETTING THROUGH EXAM SEASON

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” Fredrick Douglas I grew up in relative poverty. The common dream to transcend the chasm of socio-economic divides in society always seemed impossible, but somehow, I managed to scale those esoteric heights. I am often asked how? What made it possible? I am so stubborn to think that I could to do whatever I put my mind to that I have stumbled upon comparative triumph at a flattering rate. My secret to success. An infallible belief in myself which undoubtably, often, landed me in trouble rather than glory. It is, however, the foundation of who I am today. Where did such resilience come from? In a time where negative influences and stories dominate society and media, where do we look to for guidance and structure? Unfortunately, for young black men, positive black role models are rare. Even more sparse are those positive role models who exist in middle class or professional environments in which our society is built on trying to emulate. I can only speak for my own influences and what I know of the black British communities. There is no doubt the experiences I have had will have an eerie resemblance in different ways across varying cultures. For me, my most influential role model was my father. At a superficial glance you would see the ordinary working-class Caribbean man. When I look at him, I see that history I was never taught in school. I see more. My father is a traditional man with simple goals in life; to build a family and provide for us. Often the simplest things can be the most complex in practise. When I was four years old, my mother died quite suddenly. It is a story that requires its own personal blog to explain how her memory is part of who I am today. Retrospectively, I can honestly say I was too young to really understand or feel true pain. My sadness on reflection was probably mirroring the emotions of those around me. Having since experienced love, relationships and the pain of break ups, I can not imagine the difficulty and suffering my father went through. The woman he built a life with, his everything, the mother of his children was taken from him. All he knew had to change. Not too long after he was made redundant. He persevered through shift work, low paying jobs, absence from his children. He was on his own with two sons and all the stress of life and finances. Furthermore, in later life, his new wife had cancer on two separate occasions. Now with four children he was responsible for, I can only speculate on the complexity of emotions he overcame to be the rock of our family in such a difficult time. Despite the duress and pressure my father must have been under, he never wavered. He taught us morals, shared his religious faith, gave rules and taught us accountability. He disciplined us. He showed us love and affection. He educated us about the responsibilities and dangers of being young and black in England. He taught me about hard work and dedication and had an undying faith that I could be successful in anything. He made me work for the things I wanted whilst encouraging me to push beyond. Not only did he tell me these things. He showed me. His whole persona embodied all he taught me. Family always first. Not to shy from hard work. What you put in is what you get out. Rules are important but you must break boundaries. Be creative and express it in whichever way you are so inclined. Without knowing it, the power struggle and the annoying consistencies I experienced as a child prepared me for those things that I had no idea would come. My father was my very own black king. Strong and vulnerable. Brave and unwavering in faith. Humble yet proud. The history I was never taught. I see so much more because of him. My relationship with my father was not perfect. In fact, in some points it was fractured to dangerous and almost catastrophic amounts. One thing I can only say now is I am eternally grateful and so blessed to have him in my life. Now not everyone is as lucky to have such a person in their life. Despite that, there are many strong and positive black men and women in our communities. I say to them, do not be afraid to be proud. You may not have achieved as much as you wanted or gained the title you craved, yet in your struggle there is so much beauty. Be proud and stand up and share your stories. Invest in your own communities. There is so much good there. We are so much more than how we are portrayed. Be proud of your blackness. Be proud of your struggle. Even the humblest achievement is inspiring. Even ‘just’ surviving. The lack of positivity in the black community is the child of institutional racism combined with poverty. It seems inevitable that a worrying majority of young black boys and girls, regardless of their ‘class’ will become exposed to either discrimination, violence, crime or gangs. Again, another subject that requires its own dissembling and exploration. It exposed me to violence, death, crime, police, fear, comradery and fellowship. As a young man, I had two of my closest friends murdered, many of my friends stabbed or seriously injured, arrested and harassed. I had experienced what an urban warzone is. Fear of death and violence daily, a powerful motivating factor to positive but mostly the negative behaviours of those living in these communities. I accepted my circumstances. Despite this, I always believed I was destined for more. My pride and self-belief drove me beyond the norm. I had no one to tell me which way to go. I had to stride for myself. This is the way my father believes each person must live their life. We must all decide in the end who we are and live with the consequences. I decided despite my beginning I would end well. I think that came from him. To those young adults and children looking to their futures and looking for guidance. There are Kings and Queens around you if you look. Do not be discouraged by the barriers society has placed in front of you. You can overcome anything. You need to believe in yourself for someone else to believe in you. Find your fire, your passion. We are more than gangs, more than knifes, more than a statistic. We are more than athletes, more than music, more than entertainers. Whilst I am proud of our sporting achievements, our cultural prowess, our musical and performing talents, we are so much more. We are beautiful, we are smart, we are whatever you believe yourself to be. We are a community. Find your role model and remember to be one to someone else. You do not have to be perfect to inspire those around you. There is no remote to life, you need to stand up to create change. Written by Dr Jerome McIntosh

Balance. As medical students and future doctors it is something we frequently speak about during interviews and strive to achieve. It is truly the key to success and in this post, I will be looking at how I achieve balance between my study and gym life. Finding a balance between time to study and time to go to the gym has been a skill I have learnt since my first year of university and I am still adapting to the growing responsibilities of a medical student. For example, I had a lot more free time in 1st year compared to 3rd year (my current year) due to placement, more clinical skills teaching and lectures. Nonetheless, something I have found to help is perspective. I have to be honest with myself at the times where I feel guilty for leaving the library to go workout and ask myself how much would that 1 hour of studying actually contribute to my knowledge long term. I could have done 1 lecture or a few questions, maybe even practiced an OSCE station but how much of an impact would that have on my final grade at the end of the year? Very little. Revision and studying should be building on the knowledge that is already there (I like to refer to it as the layers of revision) therefore 1 hour less of studying will not lead to me failing my exams. So, the next time you tell yourself you just don’t have time or your time would be better spent studying, analyse how true that statement really is. Something else that has also helped me find balance between the two is the fact that they complement each other so well. I try to refrain myself from seeing the gym as a “chore”because this will lead me to feeling like I have to go rather than I want to go. Also, the gym can be the perfect break away from studying, especially if you find yourself stuck on a difficult topic that is proving difficult to understand. It allows you to clear your mind and come back to your revision material with a clearer mind and a fresh set of eyes. Several studies have been done on the benefits of exercising whilst studying and some common findings is that they increase your alertness and attention span. Also, eating a healthy diet with plenty of water does provide cognitive benefits which can also help with revision. In addition to that, organisation and planning my days and weeks ahead of time has to be one of the biggest factors which allows me to remain balanced and on top of my commitments. I start each new week writing a list of goals in terms of what topics I want to study, any lectures/clinical teaching/placement days I need to attend and then all the other things that may occur during the week for example church service or OSCE practice or even an afternoon out with my friends. I start slotting in these goals into each day and fitting in gym sessions around that. For example, if I wanted to study haematological cancers this week but also do 2 practice OSCE sessions and go out to lunch with my friend, I would fit these into the days and make gym sessions fit around them. Occasionally this may mean sleeping very late or waking up early but I try my best to catch up on the missed sleep with naps or weekend lie ins. I would advise getting a planner/diary or even using notes on your phone. Making a spreadsheet is also a good way to do this and is something I used to do in 2nd year. Finally, I’d say my most important tip is being okay with not being able to do everything. It’s very easy to be hard on ourselves and stress about every single thing but there are going to be days where you cant get everything done and you learning to be okay with this is crucial! Putting pressure on yourself is good to an extent, the right amount of pressure can force you to be productive and push yourself but too much pressure can leave you feeling run down and unhappy, both of which I have experienced. There are days where I get 6/7 hours of studying done and had time to smash my gym workouts but there are other days where I only get in an hour of studying and wasn’t able to spend as much time in the gym as I wanted to and I have learnt to be equally content with both. Medicine does not define you, neither does the gym, it is what you do not who you are. Tomorrow is always another day to do more and be better but appreciate the little victories you had today!