Sharp Scratch

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.
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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…

I tried to do everything and I had one or two breakdowns a term..

How many times have you been surprised to find out about a coursemate's hidden talent? Perhaps you've discovered they were Grade 8 Cello when they were 11, or that they were an olympic athlete in a past life?
This week the team talk all about their hobbies - particularly what they got up to before med school, and what their motivations were for keeping so busy!

Inclusive Practice

This week the panel are joined by Michael Brady, the national advisor for LGBT Health to discuss why your patient’s queerness might matter to you, and how to practice inclusively, as well as an interview with Lisa Power MBE, a British sexual health and LGBT rights campaigner. Have a listen to hear Michael Brady answering your questions, agony aunt style!

Queer Allyship

This week the panel are joined by Eli Fitzgerald to discuss what an ally actually is. Find out what makes someone a good (or a bad) ally, as well as how to be an ally for your patients or colleagues.
Learning resources:
The Genderbread Person | A free online resource for understanding gender identity, gender expression, and anatomical sex.
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/lgbt_in_britain_health.pdf
Allies | PFLAG
Trans & non-binary services - 56 Dean Street- Sexual Heath Services
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If you have been distressed or affected by any of the topics discussed in this programme, you can seek support from : LGBT Foundation Helpline (0900-0900 weekdays) - https://lgbt.foundation/helpline
Switchboard.lgbt (phone line 1000-2200) - https://switchboard.lgbt
Stonewall What’s in My Area? - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/whats-my-area
Mindline Trans+ (National Line, Mondays and Fridays from 2000 to 0000.) - https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline-transplus

Queerness in Medicine

Episode 51: Queerness in medicine
This week the panel are joined by Dr Joseph Hartland, a doctor who works at the University of Bristol Medical School overseeing the teaching of diversity and protected characteristics, to discuss how queerness is seen at medical school. To put the conversation in context, the Sharp Scratch team also had a conversation with Tommy Dickinson, author of the book ‘Curing Queers’, about the history and the legacy of LGBTQ+ issues in the NHS.
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If you have been distressed or affected by any of the topics discussed in this programme, you can seek support from :
LGBT Foundation Helpline (0900-0900 weekdays) - https://lgbt.foundation/helpline
Switchboard.lgbt (phone line 1000-2200) - https://switchboard.lgbt
Stonewall What’s in My Area? - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/whats-my-area
Mindline Trans+ (National Line, Mondays and Fridays from 2000 to 0000.) - https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline-transplus

Why do you want to be a doctor?

It's the age old medical school interview question - but why did we initially want to become doctors? Do those reasons still stand, or are they replaced by stronger motives? Listen to the panel discuss their own expectations vs. reality of life at medical school and beyond, with interviews from TV Doctor Zoe Williams and CMO Chris Whitty.