A regular feature where an MBChB student chats to a member of staff over a leisurely lunch.
This issue, Year 5 medical student, Anushka Pathak meets Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Neelom Sharma.
Of course, like much of our socialising, Lunch Mates has migrated online for lockdown, but we’re delighted to invite you to the respective homes of Anushka and Neelom.
Anushka
What were you expectations of this lunch meeting?
I was looking forward to getting to know Neelom better, and asking him about a career in psychiatry.
What did you talk about?
So many things…medical school, music (and medics who make music, specifically!), psychiatry, Edinburgh, books, and food.
Can you tell us about your lunch mate’s role and what they most enjoy about it?
Neelom is a consultant general adult psychiatrist in Edinburgh, and he loves being able to create real connections with his patients, and how psychiatry allows him to look at patients holistically and through different lenses – philosophy, law, literature…
What’s your lunch mate’s favourite place to eat out in Edinburgh?
Neelom loves going out for lunch with his family, and he recently took his children to Illegal Jacks for some Mexican food. In lockdown, he has been making lots of toasties (he had a very interesting tofu toastie during our chat today!).
What does your lunch mate enjoy doing in their spare time?
He really enjoys spending time with his kids, and cycling with his friends. He also loves volunteering with care home residents in Musselburgh, where he enjoys taking the residents on Trishaw bike rides.
Did you find any interests in common (outside of work)?
Books, and artisan coffee.
Did anything surprise you about your lunch mate?
It turns out that lockdown has prompted us both to start ordering coffee beans and making artisan coffee at home.
Also, this is less about Neelom, but I am surprised that a tofu toastie apparently tastes very good. Maybe that’s one for me to try sometime too!
Tell us about one aspiration your lunch mate has for the future
To continue keeping his career varied and interesting.
Neelom
What were you expectations of this lunch meeting?
To talk about who I am as well as what I do for job.
What did you talk about?
The wonder of Edinburgh as a city to live in, and be a student in; what to do in lockdown in Edinburgh; fancy coffee; books, films and music (and how that might apply to psychiatry)
Can you tell us about your lunch mate’s role and what they most enjoy about it?
Anushka is a medical student who practises really holistically and loves getting to know patients.
What’s your lunch mate’s favourite place to eat out in Edinburgh?
On Bap – a tiny Korean place which I now really want to go to
What does your lunch mate enjoy doing in their spare time?
Music – she’s a musician in her spare time and is teaching herself guitar and writes songs.
Very cool!
Did you find any interests in common (outside of work)?
Coffee, music and books.
Did anything surprise you about your lunch mate?
I always love students’ enthusiasm, and being middle aged I’m always surprised by it!
Tell us about one aspiration your lunch mate has for the future
To become an inspirational psychiatrist.
>>Watch the recorded lunch mates interview in full
If you would like to take part in a future edition of lunch mates, or have suggestions of who you would like to hear from, please email cmvm.communications@ed.ac.uk
