The Medical School Experience

Welcome to the final episode of this season of The Student Dose. This episode falls last but is very much not least as we discuss navigating medical school as a BAME medical student and beyond.  We are very lucky to be joined by Dr Teddy, aka @teddybearmedic, a current Foundation Year 2 doctor working in Wales. Teddy is from an Afro-Caribbean background and talks openly on her social media about her own experiences of working and studying within the NHS. During this podcast, Teddy guides us through the challenges that she has faced, racism and micro aggressions she has witnessed in the workplace and gives us tips as to what to do if you witness these in your day to day life. She also highlights the importance of having role models from all walks of life - if you don’t see yourself being represented then you don’t know who to go to for help. Make sure you listen to the end for an exciting announcement from The Student Dose team!To find out more about Teddy, you can find her at @teddybearmedic on most social media platforms.Guests: Dr Teddy  Podcast hosts: Charlie Carey, Claire McGinniss, Katie RooneyProduction/Edit: Claire McGinnissFind out more about our sponsor Pastest here.Like what you hear? Find details/links to those external resources we mentioned throughout, below.The 'Mind the Gap' handbook.'Melanin Medics' charity. 'African Caribbean Medical Mentors' charity.BMA article- 'Racisim an issue in NHS, finds survey.'BAME Community and the NHS on The Medic Portal.It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the 'You Okay, Doc?' charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you fin yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for season two took place July-September 2023.As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youokaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting. To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.

There is no getting around the fact the medicine is an intense course. Not only do you have to put in long hours, study a vast amount of content but, it can also be emotionally challenging. We have all heard of the phrase work-life balance, but why is it important and how can we achieve it? In this episode the hosts discuss what makes us more than medical students, how best we can strike that balance between studying and maintaining our own well-being and the consequences we may face if we don’t get it right. We need to remember if we are to be health advocates then we need to start by looking after ourselves. Getting the balance right at medical school puts you in good standing for when you start working as a doctor.Podcast hosts: Charlie Carey, Claire McGinniss, Katie RooneyProduction/Edit: Claire McGinnissFind out more about our sponsor Pastest here.It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the 'You Okay, Doc?' charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you fin yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for season two took place July-September 2023.As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youokaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting. To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.

In this episode we will cover having a disability as a medical student, but more specifically neurodivergence and specific learning disabilities. We are aware that disability extends further than this and we hope to explore this further in future episodes.Disability results in some unique challenges both in everyday life but also medical school. In this episode the Claire interviews Florence Ashaye, a third year medical student at the University of Southampton. Florence has lived experience of multiple disabilities, accompanied with mental health challenges, which she talks openly about on her Instagram and YouTube challenge as well as on this podcast. Together, Florence and Claire discuss what it is like to navigate medical school, what help there is out there and how Florence has made the most of opportunities that have arisen. They also touch on the helpful reminder that everyone can shine in different areas, don’t let medical school define you. You can find out more about Florence on her Instagram @floshaye Or on her YouTube channel.Guests: Florence Ashaye  Podcast hosts: Charlie Carey, Claire McGinniss, Katie RooneyProduction/Edit: Claire McGinnissFind out more about our sponsor Pastest here.It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the 'You Okay, Doc?' charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you fin yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for season two took place July-September 2023.As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youokaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting. To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.

TW: This episode discusses themes that some listeners may find challenging. This includes mention of sexism, sexual assault and rape. Please consider whether you may find this difficult or upsetting before listening. Sexism, unfortunately, is a common problem within healthcare at the level of both medical student and doctor meaning we may see or experience it during our careers. In this episode our hosts are joined by Dr Becky Cox and Dr Chelcie Jewitt, founders of the campaign ‘Surviving in Scrubs’. This is a campaign trying to put an end to sexism in healthcare. They advocate for victims, campaign to the GMC, provide active bystander training and much more.  They are giving a voice to survivors and raising awareness. Listen in to hear them discussing some shocking statistics, talk about what exciting things they have managed so far and what they hope to achieve in the future. They give us a sad reminder that if you have experienced this you are not alone and give some useful tips as to what you can do if you see or experience sexism within the work place. Find out more about Surviving in Scrubs from their Instagram page @scrubsurvivors or on their website www.survivinginscrubs.co.uk.We mention a BMJ article that you can find here.Guests: Dr Becky Cox and Dr Chelcie Jewitt, Surviving in Scrubs Podcast hosts: Charlie Carey, Claire McGinniss, Katie RooneyProduction/Edit: Claire McGinnissFind out more about our sponsor Pastest here.It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the 'You Okay, Doc?' charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you fin yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for season two took place July-September 2023.As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youokaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting. To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.

For many people, medical school will be the first time they encounter a form of failure. Whether this be not hitting personal targets, failing an exam, or not getting the job that you wanted for your foundation years. No matter what the ‘failure’ may be, it can be a really challenging time but just remember: you are not the first, you won’t be the last and you are not alone in failure. It does not define you.  In this episode the hosts reflect over some of their own personal failures and how to reprogram your attitude and refocus afterwards in order to learn and grow from them. They discuss the taboo surrounding failure at medical school and how this needs to change and how being open and honest with failure allows you to celebrate the hard work and effort that has gone into medical school. Failure doesn’t take you back to the beginning, you have still taken a step forward, it just might not be as big of a step as you had hoped.Podcast hosts: Charlie Carey, Claire McGinniss, Katie RooneyProduction/Edit: Claire McGinnissFind out more about our sponsor Pastest here.Like what you hear? Find details/links to those external resources we mentioned throughout, below.'The F word- talking about failure in medicine' from the BMJ Opinion'How to Fail' Podcast -link to apple podcasts but available on your usual podcast platform.'The Overlap' Podcast3 ways to Overcome Exam Failure... from personal experienceIt is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the 'You Okay, Doc?' charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you fin yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for season two took place July-September 2023.As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youokaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting. To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.

Welcome back, Season 2 of The Student Dose is here. After a quick reintroduction and catch up from our hosts Charlie, Claire and Kate we jump straight into a follow up interview, one year on, with fellow You Okay Doc? ambassador Dr Marianne Gazet. Marianne is currently a Foundation Year 2 doctor and in this episode we are reflecting back on her first year of being qualified. Taking the step from being a medical student to being a newly qualified doctor is a daunting time and a steep learning curve but tune into this episode to find out how Marianne has navigated this change. We discuss everything from the struggles of being a rotational doctor to coping with situations that haven’t gone quite right. We of course also discuss maintaining your mental health and well-being through this time. Guest: Marianne Gazet. You can find Marianne on Instagram @Mariannedoesmedicine  or on her own podcast @morethanmedicalstudentsPodcast hosts: Charlie Carey, Claire McGinniss, Katie RooneyProduction/Edit: Claire McGinnissFind out more about our sponsor Pastest here.It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the 'You Okay, Doc?' charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you fin yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for season two took place July-September 2023.As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youokaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting. To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.

Starting at Medical School is an exciting time filled with new experiences, new knowledge and lots of new friends! However, from just starting out, to pre-clinical then placement years, we often encounter a number of new situations and environments which at times can feel overwhelming. You won’t be the first person to experience this, nor will you be the last. Starting something new can bring with it a variety of thoughts and feelings whatever the environment.  In this episode our hosts and other members of the You Okay, Doc? team share their top tips for moving through Medical School and how to prioritise our mental wellbeing along the way. This episode hopes to be a bumper guide providing helpful snippets to prepare you for and guide you through the journey. Whether you are just receiving offers, are returning from a leave, or just feel the semester hasn’t gone as you might have hoped; this one is especially for you.   Tune in for the last episode of this series, we hope you enjoy!  Podcast hosts: Claire McGinniss, Charlie Carey and Katie RooneyContributions from: Dr Daniel Gearon, Dr Divya Varsani, Dr Lydia Edwards, Dr Anthony Baynham, Dr Marianne Gazet, Dr Emily Palmer It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of the recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the “You Okay, Doc?” charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you find yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for this series took place throughout 2022.  As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website: https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youkaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? Charity via text message. To donate £3 text “DOCTOR” to 70970. 

It is easy and perhaps comforting to believe that the road to our goals and success will come through a well mapped out and predictable route. During medical school and throughout life however, we often find that our expectations regarding how we reach a destination are significantly different to reality. Although less conventional routes into medical school may be less known about and in some cases initially appear to be the result of failure, they are far more common than many realise and can produce incredibly successful students and doctors.In this episode of “The Student Dose” Claire speaks to Dr Bakhtar Ahmed, an NHS doctor and founder of The Medic Life, an organisation that aims to help prospective students gain places at medical and dental school. Together we reflect on Bakhtar’s personal experiences during his career, the challenges he has faced and how optimism and the love of his work has led him from strength to strength. We also focus on how and why how we made it into medical school matters less compared to how that journey has shaped us today. We later discuss the work done by The Medic Life and the need to provide prospective students with essential and affordable support during their application. You can find Bakhtar on Instagram @the.medic.life and see his work at The Medic Life on their website @themediclife.com.Podcast hosts: Claire McGinniss, Charlie Carey and Katie RooneyGuest: Dr Bakhtar AhmedIt is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of the recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the “You Okay, Doc?” charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you find yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for this series took place throughout 2022. As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website: https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youkaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? Charity via text message. To donate £3 text “DOCTOR” to 70970.

Medical students are only one ‘type’ of person. This is the myth we challenge in this episode of The Student Dose. Join Kate, Charlie and Claire in conversation as they consider the preconceived ideas surrounding medical students and the difficulties this encourages. Particularly, the pressure we put on ourselves to achieve this mythical standard. This starts with the hosts considering the stereotypes they feel are associated with medical students. The conversation deepens as they mention how this idea of the ‘perfect medical student candidate’ doesn’t really exist at all. There are ways in which they fit into this mould but also so many ways in which they are unique to the role and actually much more than medical students. This episode is all about challenging the stereotype. Podcast hosts: Claire McGinniss, Charlie Carey and Katie RooneyIt is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of the recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the “You Okay, Doc?” charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you find yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for this series took place throughout 2022. As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website: https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youkaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? Charity via text message. To donate £3 text “DOCTOR” to 70970.

Navigating transitions is a normal part of life and is particularly important in the medical school environment. In this episode of 'The Student Dose', we explore some of the transitions experienced by Medical Students through University, until arguably the biggest transition of all becoming an F1 doctor. We are joined by newly qualified Doctor, social media medic, podcast host, and fellow 'You Okay, Doc?' Ambassador, Marianne Gazet who shares her medical journey so far and discusses the way she manages her wellbeing throughout times of change. This includes how she made her way through Medical School and her feelings towards starting her new role as an F1. Your hosts Charlie, Claire and Kate also discuss their experiences of adjusting to these times of change. We hope you enjoy and if you like what you hear, please remember to like and subscribe.Find Dr Marianne Gazet on Instagram @MarianneDoesMedicine or her podcast @morethanmedicalstudents for a link to listen.Podcasts hosts: Claire McGinniss, Charlie Carey, Katie RooneyGuest: Dr Marianne GazetIt is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the 'You Okay, Doc?' charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you fin yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for series one took place throughout 2022.As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youokaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting. To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.