Career Conversations

In this episode, Dr Heather Kennedy talks with Dr Amy Perkins (Consultant Dermatologist) about her other roles and interests, which include social media, AI, public health advocacy and being an ambassador for skin cancer charity Skcin. Dr Perkins discusses her approach to using social media as a medical professional, the importance of digital literacy, and her advice for others wishing to raise awareness of public health issues. 

Dr Amy Perkins is a Consultant Dermatologist at NHS Forth Valley and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow. She sits on the board of examiners for the Royal College of Physicians and is completing a Master’s degree in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine at the University of Manchester. Her interests include dermatology education, health misinformation on social media, digital health communication and the ethical integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare. 

Dr Heather Kennedy is an ST4 in Acute Internal Medicine in Southeast Scotland and a member of the Trainees and Members' Committee. 

Recording Date: April 2026 

Useful Links

Skcin charity - https://www.skcin.org/

Amy's post after ASA sunbed advert ruling - https://www.instagram.com/p/DOsWzP0DDup/?igsh=dWRiYXdwZHRoOGhv 

GMC "Using social media as a medical professional" - https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/the-professional-standards/using-social-media-as-a-medical-professional/using-social-media-as-a-medical-professional

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode Dr Jan Engel-Morton discusses Expedition & Wilderness Medicine with Dr Naomi Dodds. Dr Dodds explains the roles and responsibilities of an expedition medic and their personal experience of getting involved in Expedition Medicine. They also discuss how interested physicians can get into Expedition Medicine and find opportunities for work. 

Dr Naomi Dodds is an Anaesthetist based in Aberdeen, a qualified UIMLA International Mountain Leader, and Mountain Rescue Team Doctor. She is Co-director of the International Postgraduate Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine and Education Lead for the International Committee of Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom). 

Dr Jan Engel-Morton is a Medical Education Fellow and Registrar in NHS Lothian. 

Useful Links

PG Diploma - https://rcpsg.ac.uk/education/international-postgraduate-diploma-in-expedition-and-wilderness-medicine 

Adventure Medic - https://www.theadventuremedic.com/

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode of Career Conversations, Dr Emma Spencer discusses the importance of digital health literacy - the ability to access, understand and use digital health tools - with Professor Mahmood Adil, RCPE's outgoing Clinical Data & Digital Health Lead. Prof Adil describes his career journey into digital health, his role at the College, and he provides insights into the evolution of digital health over his career and the fascinating opportunities this has afforded him, including his work with the Manchester Commonwealth Games. The introductory resource on clinical data and digital health can be accessed on RCPE's Education Portal: https://learning.rcpe.ac.uk/data-digitalhealth 

Professor Mahmood Adil was RCPE's Clinical Data & Digital Health Lead. He is a global expert in clinical data, digital health & innovation fields. He has over 25 years of medical, public health, executive management, academic and policy experience and has delivered on key senior positions in the UK, USA & Middle East. 

Dr Emma Spencer is Co-Vice Chair - Education of RCPE's Trainees and Members' Committee and resident doctor in internal medicine. RCPE would like to thank Professor Adil for his contributions and service as our Clinical Data & Digital Health Lead. 

Recording date: 17 April 2026 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Heather Kennedy talks with Dr Amy Perkins about a career in Dermatology. Dr Perkins highlights what attracted her to the specialty, discusses her route to becoming a consultant, and gives advice for any medical students or resident doctors looking to develop their interest in the career. 

Dr Amy Perkins is a Consultant Dermatologist at NHS Forth Valley and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow. She sits on the board of examiners for the Royal College of Physicians and is completing a Master’s degree in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine at the University of Manchester. Her interests include dermatology education, health misinformation on social media, digital health communication and the ethical integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare. 

Dr Heather Kennedy has completed IMT and is currently working as a locum in NHS Fife. She is a member of the Trainees and Members' Committee. 

Recording Date: April 2026 

Useful Links

British Association of Dermatologists - https://www.bad.org.uk/ 

DermSchool 2026 - https://bad.org.uk/events/18th-annual-dermschool-preconference-session 

Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment in Dermatology - https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/specialties/dermatology 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks with Dr Toby Merriman about what it means to be the medical registrar. Based on research during his Masters in Medical Education, Dr Merriman discusses the different ways that people cope with being the medical registrar and some of the benefits of this difficult but rewarding position. 

Dr Toby Merriman is an Acute Medicine Registrar working in NHS Lothian. While completing a Masters in Medical Education at the University of Dundee, he became interested in professional identity formation and the socialisation factors that influence this complex process. Inspired by his own experience, he studied the professional identity of the medical registrar for his Masters research. Along with his clinical work, he maintains an interest in simulation, clinical education and narrative research. 

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. 

Recording date: 24 March 2026 

Useful Links

JRCPTB Specialties - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties 

Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/ 

Dr Merriman's talk at the Medical Trainees' Conference 2026 (you must be a member to view) - https://learning.rcpe.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=28041 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks to Dr Clare Bostock about the important topic of work-life balance. Dr Bostock also discusses the concept of hyper-doing and shares advice gathered from their own experiences on when to recognise hyper-doing and reclaim the balance between the personal and the professional. 

Dr Clare Bostock is a Consultant Geriatrician in Aberdeen. Outside work, she enjoys creative writing and a variety of sports, including triathlon . She confesses to being a 'hyper-doer' and is always looking for fresh ways to 'hyper-don't'. 

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. 

Recording Date: 18 February 2026 

Useful Links

Reframing failure; redefining success - Clare Bostock, 2025 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14782715251368571 

Hyper-doing? Hyper-don’t - Clare Bostock, 2023 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14782715231189297 

Burnout and Work–Life Balance: Getting Personal - Clare Bostock, 2019 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.4997/jrcpe.2019.202 

Digital Life: Value or Vice? - Clare Bostock, 2019 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.4997/jrcpe.2019.408 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

Dr Katherine Ralston (Consultant Physician and Geriatrician) joins Aoife Duignan (RCPE Trainees and Members' Committee) to discuss preparing to finish training and achieving your certificate of completion of training. 

Dr Kat Ralston is a Geriatrician working in West Lothian. 

Dr Aoife Duignan is Co-Chair of the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Registrar in Geriatric and General Medicine in Edinburgh. 

Recording Date: 29 January 2026 

Useful Links

JRCPTB Guidance - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/training-certification/completing-training 

Consultant Conversations Podcast Episode - https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/consultant-conversations/what-i-wish-i-knew-preparing-for-and-becoming-a-consultant-7-mar-2024/ 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

This is a co-release with our sister podcast, Clinical Conversations. In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks with Dr Manav Sharma about the specialty, Aerospace Medicine. They discuss the pathways which lead to the specialty and some interesting cases. 

Dr Manav Dutt Sharma is an aerospace medicine physician, former Indian Air Force flight surgeon and human factors specialist with over 23 years of experience at the intersection of aviation and healthcare. He has led an award‑winning primary healthcare centre in the Air Force, works on safety, service quality and systems improvement in hospitals, and has authored a forthcoming book, From Runways to Recovery Rooms, on what healthcare can learn from aviation. 

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. 

Recording date: 12 December 2025 

Useful Links 

JRCPTB Specialty - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties/aviation-and-space-medicine 

Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/ 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this updated episode of Career Conversations, Dr Gabrielle Woodward-Smith discusses their experience of applying for Internal Medicine Training (IMT) using the Oriel system with Dr Marilena Giannoudi, and Dr Emma Spencer highlights important changes in the application process. 

Update recording date: 28 October 2025 [original release: 10/2022] 

Useful Links

https://www.oriel.nhs.uk/Web 

https://www.imtrecruitment.org.uk/ 

https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties 

Disclaimer: Please always refer to official recruitment websites for the latest guidance as application dates and processes may differ to those described in this episode. 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

During SAS Week 2025, join us for a conversation about SAS doctors: an alternative to traditional training. Dr Marilena Giannoudi (RCPE T&MC Podcast Lead) is joined by Dr Libby Crawford, a SAS Doctor in Newcastle and RCPE's SAS Doctor Lead, and Dr Sue Pound (RCPE Vice President) who discuss the career option of being a SAS doctor and how RCPE can support you. You can contact Dr Crawford by emailing [email protected] 

Useful Links

https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/sas-doctors 

https://www.thefederation.uk/training/training-certification/portfolio-pathway-formerly-known-cesr 

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This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).