A regular feature where MBChB students meet a member of staff for lunch. This issue, student Katie Birt meets consultant obstetrician and associate senior tutor, Dr Kirsty Dundas.
Katie
What were your expectations?
Kirsty and I had actually by coincidence been communicating via email recently – I had asked her for advice on where might be good for an elective in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G), so it was really nice to have the opportunity to discuss this amongst a lot of other things in person instead!
What did you talk about?
We talked a bit about electives, careers in O&G and our individual interests.
Can you tell us about your lunch mate’s role and what they enjoy about it?
Although Kirsty really enjoys the clinical aspects of being on labour ward and obstetrics, her favourite aspect of her role is team working. She feels that she would find it hard to enjoy a different speciality where there wasn’t so much communication. As part of this Kirsty really enjoys teaching or ‘mentoring’ students and has supervised many SSC projects now.
What’s your lunch mate’s favourite lunch place?
Kirsty and I discussed that neither of us seems to go out for lunch that often – understandably Kirsty’s usual lunch is a sandwich or salad she’s brought with her to the hospital. However, we found that we both really enjoy Loudon’s in Fountainbridge for breakfast/brunch (even if we pronounce it differently!)
Kirsty’s favourite place for dinner is Rollo in Stockbridge – she enjoys the sharing aspect of the style of food they do there.
What does your lunch mate enjoy doing in their spare time?
Kirsty enjoys going out running and doing exercise.
Did you find any interests in common (outside of work)?
We both enjoy finding the time to cycle to the hospital whenever we can.
What’s your lunch mates most memorable moment in medicine so far?
Kirsty really enjoyed her elective in rural Canada. She felt that this came at the right time during medical school as she had enough clinical competencies but was still so eager to learn. She got her food, accommodation and flights included, as well as two internal flights included so that she could explore Canada after her elective.
Whilst there Kirsty met another student from Southampton who she is still best friends with today. She was the first person on call in the hospital but felt that she also got adequate support from other members of the team. Therefore she says it’s the mix of fun and also clinical exposure that made her experience so special.
Tell us about one aspiration your lunch mate has for the future
Clinically, Kirsty and her colleagues managed to implement the first outpatient inductions of labour which she is very proud of. She has an interest in reducing the number of preterm births, so she hopes that one day soon she may be able to contribute to this in her work. Outside of the clinical side of work, Kirsty hopes to implement and improve on peer support. The network she hopes to produce won’t just be for O&G trainees but for midwives, anaesthetists, neonatal teams, and all those who are involved with obstetrics.
Kirsty
What were your expectations?
I really enjoy chatting to students and especially mentoring them so was keen to do this and by coincidence had had communication from Katie looking for help organising her elective in O&G in the Caribbean. So I thought that we would definitely have something in common!
What did you talk about?
So many things – why we chose medicine, why Edinburgh, where we were from, if we were from medical families, accents, what we like about O&G.
Can you tell us about your lunch mate’s role and what they enjoy about it?
Katie is in 5th year. She is strongly considering an academic path and probably in obs and gynae. She has a very active impressive charity role.
What’s your lunch mate’s favourite lunch place?
Loudon’s (this made me laugh because she said “ Loodons” and I say “ Lowdons”!) – we agreed they have great eggs benedict.
What does your lunch mate enjoy doing in their spare time?
Seeing friends, of course, but Katie also works for an amazing charity who take children from very deprived backgrounds in Edinburgh on regular trips e.g. bowling, cinema, picnics. This is so important and clearly rewarding work. Amazingly, her own personal tutor did the same charity work when she was at university.
Did you find any interests in common (outside of work)?
O&G clearly. Love of Edinburgh. I run and Katie used to prior to knee issue.
Did anything surprise you about your lunch mate?
Katie’s charity work really impressed me and she has won a prize from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Oh, and she sounds English but was born in Coatbridge!
Tell us about one aspiration your lunch mate has for the future
To promote research in O& G and to research something that could really make a difference to the lives of her patients- translational research.
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
