From Stethoscopes to Sails
Final-year medical student Ellie Rowbotham swaps scrubs for sea boots as she reflects on her first voyage as a sail trainee during the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen. What is a Tall Ship? As someone who had not sailed …
Society in focus: Edinburgh University Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery (EUSCTS)
Hello! Here at EUSCTS we aim to provide likeminded individuals with a platform to build on confidence, skills, and knowledge. To keep it short, we want to educate and mentor the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons! What is cardiothoracic surgery? …
Where is the line between activism and professionalism?
Year 1 medical student, Cassidy explores the boundaries around activism and professionalism and discovers and discusses a few of the grey areas and obstacles. Lately, with so much happening, with the pandemic, environmental challenges, widening health inequalities, and uncertainty around …
Where do we go from here? Random allocation: a necessary evil or a blessing in disguise?
Year 5 medical student, Joe discusses the new preference informed allocation system for prospective resident doctors and weighs up a couple of possible scenarios. “You mean you could be sent…down south?!?” she lamented with the horror reserved only for Scots …
Adjusting to full-time learning on HCP-Med
Transitioning to full-time medicine education involves not just a shift in routine but careful financial planning. Here’s how final year student, Susan Poots, navigated the transition from part-time to full-time learning in year-four of HCP-Med. Managing financially When I started …
How I juggle family, work and academics on the HCP-Med programme
Hi, I’m Susan, a year 5 student on HCP-Med. Combining advanced studies with personal life demands a high level of discipline and effective management strategies. Here’s an insight into how I manage to juggle family, work, and academics in the …
“The torch that she lighted: pass it on” – the history of women in surgery at the Surgeons’ Hall museums
Year 5 medical student Amberley, shares her experience visiting Surgeons’ Hall museums to see a powerful new exhibition featuring a portrait celebrating women in surgery. On a sunny afternoon not long before we entered the depths of exam season, …
Pivotal people in transgender healthcare
Year 5 medical student Sarah, shares the stories of four key individuals in the journey of transgender healthcare. ‘Surely, where the mind cannot be made to fit the body, the body should be made to fit, approximately, at any rate …
Why choose the HCP-Med: From public health to medicine
Susan, a final year student on the HCP-Med programme, explains why it was the right programme for her, and shares the highlights and challenges so far. Choosing HCP-Med When I considered a career change into medicine there were a couple …
Society in focus: Medics Crochet and Crafts
Hello! We are Medics Crochet and Crafts, a relaxed society that aims to support students through creativity and crafting. You can come along to perfect your skills or learn something new! Our aim? The society is only a few …
Settling into Edinburgh as an international student
Hey guys! I’m Andria and I’m a current first year medical student. As an international student from Taiwan, I have had to move (quite literally) across the world to Edinburgh. At the time, I remember being quite excited but also …
Medicine in the Media -Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
Trauma Code: Heroes on Call By Moniz Wong Thinking back to question ‘why do you want to study medicine?’, I’d imagine that many of us can attribute that to the medical shows that we’ve been exposed to since young. Whether …
Club in focus: Edinburgh University Medics Run Club
Hello! We are Edinburgh Medics Run Club. Established in 2024, we are one of Edinburgh’s newest and fastest-growing societies. Whether you are a high-level athlete, completely new to running, or somewhere in between – we offer runs suited to all …
Time out: Boss bakes
My name is Boss Cheung, avid amateur baker, cake sommelier and least importantly, a first year medical student. Here’s an insight into my life in baking – the ultimate time out for me. Whilst romanticising university life before I started …
My first university trip away: venturing to Aviemore with the Wilderness Medics
Hello, my name is Boss Cheung and I’m a first year medical student and I wanted to share an insight into my adventure to Aviemore with the Wilderness Medics – my first residential trip away. Last semester was a busy …
Making a musical
Hi! My name is Sarah, and I am one of the directors for this year’s Medics Musical. I am writing this in the middle of our rehearsal for our big number for the end of act one, and I should …
Alcohol: a tonic and restorative?
Year 5 medical student, Sarah takes us on a journey through history as she ponders the use of alcohol as medicine. “For wine is the most beneficial of beverages, the pleasantest of medicines, and the least cloying of appetizing things” …
Am I supposed to know what I’m doing?
Year 1 medical student, Cassidy discusses imposter syndrome. One day, you’re thrilled to have made it into medical school. Full of excitement and ambition, you realise all the hard work you poured into your application paid off. The next, you’re …
Medicine: it’s no laughing matter
MBChB student Joe Bulman explores the phenomenon of the doctor turned comedian. Robin Williams (as the now iconic fictional funny-doctor Patch Adams) once declared, when his character was finally brought to justice for practising medicine without a licence, that “If …
The Graduate: Claudia Chan
Claudia Chan graduated from the MBChB in 2023. She is currently a Specialised Foundation Year 2 doctor at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. Tell us a bit about your time at university. Any particular memories? One of the highlights of my …
