Sharp Scratch

Let's talk about sex

In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel gets together to discuss the gaps in the medical curriculum when it comes to teaching on sexual health. 
The panellists, made up of Will, Elisabeth and George chat with sexual health doctor Naomi Sutton. 
Together, they highlight how teaching at medical school often has a focus on sexually transmitted infections and contraception, and the importance of considering broader aspects of sexual health and wellbeing including sexual pleasure. The episode emphasises the importance of taking a holistic, non-judgemental approach in sexual history taking.The episode also addresses societal stigma in conversations around sex. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of advocating for a comprehensive and sex-positive approach to sexual healthcare. 
Naomi Sutton is a consultant sexual health doctor, who you may recognise from E4 The Sex Clinic.
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The cult of medicine

In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel, made up of George and Inez get together to talk about why people sometimes describe medicine as a cult.
The episode discusses the perceived parallels between the medicine and cults, and explores the strong sense of identity and community that often develops from our time at medical school and into our working life as doctors.
The panel is joined by Sam Jahara a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Tavistock certified Executive Coach with a private practice in Sussex.  Sam specialises in working with the psychological impact of high control groups and cults, offering psychotherapy, supervision, coaching and psychological consultancy to individuals, couples, groups and organisations. She was interviewed about her own experience of growing up in a cult on several podcasts such as ‘Indoctrination', 'Cult Vault', 'Talk Beliefs' and 'Cult Chat'. https://www.brightonandhovepsychotherapy.com
 
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What they won't teach you at medical school

In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel get together to chat with TikTok sensation and A&E doctor Maddy Lucy Dann.
The panel, made up of George and previous Editorial Scholar Nikki,  ask Maddy questions about why she became a doctor, her career in A&E, as well as her best advice for starting your foundation years.
The panel also touch on other topics, including what drew them to a career in medicine, the ways in which medical students can get the best out of their placements, as well as professionalism and social media use as a medic. 
 
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Are you really listening?

In this episode, the panel get together to discuss the importance of listening to our patients.
The panel are joined by expert guest Rageshri Dhairyawan to explore how medical students and doctors can improve their listening by increasing their awareness of biases that may lead to some patients being dismissed. They highlight the broader implications of not properly hearing patients, including the impact on health equity. The discussion also covers the challenges of dealing with uncertainty and acknowledging the social factors that can affect healthcare outcomes. The episode emphasises how becoming a better listener helps us to provide more compassionate care.
 
Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan is a Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV Medicine at Barts Health NHS Trust and Deputy Director of the SHARE Collaborative for Health Equity, Queen Mary University of London. She is author of Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing, published by Trapeze in 2024.

What is professionalism?

We talk about professionalism from day one of medical school, but what actually is professionalism? In this episode, we take a slightly more philosophical approach to this important question. 
George is joined by previous editorial scholar Laura, as well as expert guest Sabena Jameel. Together, they talk about what professionalism in medicine means, including the ambiguity and evolving nature of the definition, the burden of apparent perfection and the importance of character. We explore ways in which we can learn to nurture our professional identity in the right environments. 
Sabena is an inner city GP in Birmingham, she is also an Associate Clinical Professor in Medical Professionalism at Birmingham University Medical School. She has a PhD that looked at Practical Wisdom in Medicine.
 
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We all make mistakes

Fears around making mistakes seem to be common amongst medical students and resident doctors, so why are many of us afraid to talk about these fears? 
In this episode, the panel made up of Anna, Inez and George, get together with Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine. Together, they discuss why we are afraid of making mistakes, what to do when we do make a mistake, and, how we can become more comfortable talking about mistakes in medicine. 
 
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Dating dilemmas

When it comes to dating, does being a medical student or new doctor make it more complicated? When is the best time to tell your Hinge date that you're a doctor? Are break ups during medical school inevitable? And, are doctors more likely to cheat on their partners? 
In this episode, the panel, made up of Nikki, Sarah, Judy and George, get together to talk all about the dating lives of medical students and doctors, as well as discuss some common dating dilemmas. 
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What if I don't get my first choice?

Many medical students are aware that when it comes to foundation allocations, you may not get your first choice. In this episode, we talk about how to cope with the uncertainty surrounding this, the reasons that people may apply for pre-allocation, as well as the importance of social support and building a community in your foundation years.
In this episode, the panel, made up of George, Sarah and Maz, discuss the uncertainty around UKFPO allocations and reflections on how to make the most out your foundation years if you do not get your first choice deanery or job allocation. The Sharp Scratch panel are joined by guest Helen Salisbury, a GP, writer and educator. 

”It’s giving...CAP”

Were you born to write "It's giving CAP", but forced to write "patchy lower lobe consolidation, suggestive of a community acquired pneumonia"?
In this episode, the panel learn about the history of popular gen-z slang, how social media, including TikTok trends influence the language we use, and how it may have made it's way into medicine. 
 
This week, George, Nikki, Stan and William are joined by Sharp Scratch guest, Lisa Casey. Lisa is the host of Lexis, a podcast about language and linguistics, aimed at everyone interested in learning more about language and language use. 
 
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How do we cope when a family member is unwell?

Medical school is tough for students, with high workloads, exam pressure and uncertainty around placement rotations. So what is the impact on us when a family member or loved one becomes unwell? How do medics cope with this, and how do they find the balance between being both a medic and a loved one? 
In this episode, the Sharp Scratch panel explore what it is like when a family member or loved one is unwell, the pressures we face when supporting them, and how we can best support ourselves, through medical school and our future careers. 
The panel are joined by guest Hilary Williams, a consultant medical oncologist and Vice President for the Royal College of Physicians. 
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