Sharp Scratch

Medical jargon 101

FBC, BIBA, NBM - how many of these do you recognise?
The healthcare system speaks an entirely different language. As healthcare professionals, our vocabulary is full of jargon and acronyms, and it’s something that we pick up in training.
Communication is key in medicine. So why are we using language that our patients and colleagues may not understand?
A sub-specialty of medical jargon is management language. Check out this BMJ Christmas paper on management language: https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5661
Expert guest:
Dr Ashley Reece (@drashleyreece on Twitter) is a consultant paediatrician and a medical educator.
Thank you to Dr Simon Hodes (@DrSimonHodes on Twitter) who contributed to this podcast.
Check us out on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMJStudent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMJStudent/
This podcast is produced and edited by Dom Byrne and Duncan Jarvies.

Planet Earth on Red Alert

The climate crisis is a health crisis. In this episode, we explored how climate change will affect how we practise medicine, the importance of sustainable healthcare practice and what you can start doing on a personal, professional and political level towards a greener future.
Climate change is a complex and multi-faceted problem. It’s fair to point out that not everything is covered in this podcast. We would encourage you to do further research and empower yourself and others in working towards a greener future.
Expert guest:
Dr Anna Moore is a registrar in respiratory medicine, the Health Education England Population Health Fellow for NHS Lewisham and Greenwich Trust and the vice chair of Green at Barts Health.
Thank you to Rhiannon Osborne who contributed to this podcast.
Check out Anna’s editorial in the BMJ on integrating planetary health into the medical curriculum: https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2385
Check us out on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMJStudent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMJStudent/
This podcast is produced and edited by Dom Byrne and Duncan Jarvies.

Superstitions in medicine

Do you hold any superstitions? We are trained as evidence-based healthcare practitioners, yet there are some superstitions that still persist in medicine.
Superstition is an example of confirmation bias, where sometimes we would search for evidence to confirm one's beliefs. Confirmation bias is recognised as an important source of medical error and we discussed what we can do to mitigate this effect.
The BMJ Christmas paper that Laura mentioned about the Q word: https://www.bmj.com/content/367/bmj.l6446
Our expert guest: Dr Neil Dagnall is a researcher in applied cognitive psychology and carries out research projects on belief in the paranormal, mental toughness and anomalous thought processes.
Check us out on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMJStudent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMJStudent/

Mind the gender health gap

The government launched a Women's Health Strategy to improve health and wellbeing of women in March 2021 as the UK was found to have the largest female health gap in the G20 countries and the 12th largest globally. In this episode, we discuss whether our medical curriculum is doing enough to equip future healthcare professionals in providing adequate healthcare to women.
Link to the government strategy Pat mentioned in the pod: https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/womens-health-outcomes-is-there-a-gender-gap/
Our expert guest: Dr Elinor Cleghorn has a background in feminist culture and history, and the author of Unwell Women, a book that examines the history of medical misdiagnosis of women's illnesses.
Check us out on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMJStudent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMJStudent/

What is the hidden curriculum?

Join our Editorial Scholars, past and present, as we reflect on the hidden curriculum, and discuss its role in cultivating professionalism.
While you are here, do check us out on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMJStudent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMJStudent/

Do you have a mentor?

What do med students have in common with Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter?
Luke Skywalker had Obi Wan to guide him through Jedi training. Harry Potter had Prof Dumbledore who gave him advice in surviving at Hogwarts and beyond.
Whether officially or unofficially, we have all had mentors who guided us through the non-straightforward journey known as medical school. They could come in the form of medic parents or a mentor whom you were matched to through a formal scheme - or anyone who helped you during your medical school journey.
In this episode, we address the questions:
Why would you want a mentor
What are the different types of mentor
How to find a mentor
How to make the most of a mentoring relationship
Our expert guest:
Dr Georgia Winnett is a consultant renal physician at Basildon Hospital, senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin School of Medicine and an associate postgraduate dean for Health Education East of England.
While you are here, do check us out on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMJStudent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMJStudent/

Tips for clinical years

This week the panel discusses their tips for clinical years. From the logistics of commuting and hospital accommodation to speaking to your first patient - tune in to hear the panel's reflections and advice

Should I intercalate?

This week Nikki and Anna are joined by Professor Doug Corfield from The University of Manchester Medical School to talk all things intercalation. From why to take a year out to all of the logistics involved, listen to find out more about doing an intercalated degree during your medical studies.

Imposter Syndrome

This week Nikki and Issy are joined by general surgical registrar Clara Munro, and author and co-founder of the Impostor Syndrome Institute, Valerie Young to talk about imposter syndrome in medicine.
Article mentioned: https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome
Valerie’s website: https://impostorsyndrome.com/

Will my hobbies make me a better doctor?

This week the panel are still talking about their hobbies, and what their motivations are for pursuing them. From music to sports, photography to Netflix - do the skills we pick up help us become better doctors, or do they help our general wellbeing? Tune in to hear from some of our listeners about what they get up to in their free time and why…