Medical Elective Placements: Top Tips

In this episode of the podcast, we chat with Emily Mounsey, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. She takes us through her early career and interest in orthopaedics, training routes into her specialty, and a typical day at work. We also discuss work-life balance, working as a woman in surgery, and sexism in the workplace. This is a really fascinating discussion which provides some food for thought on the progress in shifting workplace dynamics. Thank you very much to Miss Mounsey for coming on the podcast and sharing her reflections on this. Resource for the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery, whose articles are referenced in the episode:https://www.wpsms.org.uk/about.htmlGuest: Emily MounseyProducers: Emma Harvey, Lewis Potter

In this episode of the podcast, we speak to three final-year medical students - Milena, Jaisila, and Arthur - about their experiences planning and undertaking a medical elective placement. We understand this can be quite a daunting prospect. So, we hope that this offers helpful advice for any medical students preparing for their elective placement, regardless of its location or length. Discussion points include how and when students started planning, tips for staying organised with paperwork, preparation and packing advice, and experiences that have stuck with them since.Producers: Emma Harvey, Lewis Potter

For this special episode, we spoke with Hippolyte Fraser, a pharmacist who has lots of experience working in a secondary care Frailty team. We unpicked some of the key issues surrounding polypharmacy, medication linked to increased confusion and falls risk, and deprescribing. Hip also shared her top tips for completing drug charts. This is a really informative episode for any qualified healthcare professionals (or students!), particularly those working in acute or care of the elderly settings. 

In part two of our Respiratory special we sat down with Ren Lawlor, a nurse practitioner who specialises in Respiratory Medicine. We discussed her career, moving from secondary care to primary care, and what her current clinical and educational work entails. We also unpicked the presentation of COPD and how to distinguish existing symptoms from something more sinister. As an interesting follow on from our last episode, she also shared her perspective on inhalers and the shift in guidelines towards combined therapy. This episode is a really interesting listen for anyone interested in respiratory medicine or a specialist career within nursing. 

In the first episode of our two-part respiratory special, we spoke with Dr Fiona Mosgrove, a GP with a special interest (GPSI) in respiratory medicine. We learn about her work as a GP, as well as the development of a career tailored to her interests in respiratory medicine. She shared her top tips for questions to help identify specific symptoms and patterns of illness when taking a respiratory history. This episode also provides some food for thought about the use of inhalers and their environmental impact. This episode is a really interesting listen for anyone who wants to learn more about work as a GPSI or in respiratory medicine. 

In this episode of the podcast, we talk with Dr Palmer about his experiences working in sexual health and HIV. In addition to his reflections on the speciality and its overlap with public health, he also provides food for thought on destigmatising sexual health issues and the value of raising awareness of HIV through shows like It's a Sin.

In this special episode, we sit down with two current medical students to explore their experiences of medical school so far and share their advice for incoming students this September. We discuss what it's like on the first day of medical school, the importance of work/life balance, preparing for placement, and the very common feelings of imposter syndrome. We hope that this episode is helpful for anyone starting their studies or coming back for the new year - good luck to you all!

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the exciting and multi-faceted career of Professor Cowie, a cardiologist with a particular interest in heart failure. Our guest provides us with insight into the progression of cardiology as a specialty, research and the development of therapeutics, and his work with NICE. Host: Joshua Chambers Producer: Emma Harvey

In this episode, Dr Micheal Malley gives us a very interesting perspective on global health issues, child health, and working with MSF. This episode is great for anyone - medical or non-medical - interested in global health and humanitarian work.

In this special episode, our podcast host sits down with our producer, Emma, and the Founder of Geeky Medics, Lewis, to discuss our top tips and tricks for OSCEs and written exams. This episode is for anyone preparing for exams, particularly those who have missed in-person OSCEs due to the pandemic. We hope that this discussion provides helpful and practical advice - including information on the new Geeky Medics collection of 500+ OSCE Stations - as well as easing some of your worries with general advice about how to approach exams. Best of luck to everyone sitting exams at the moment! Host: Josh ChambersProducer: Emma HarveyGuest: Lewis Potter