Incoming Sharpscratch host Zaynah Khan is rebroadcasting her favourite episodes, handpicked from the Sharpscratch archives. This episode on Anxiety was originally published in March, 2020. In our next episode, we'll bring you the third and final of Zaynah's vault selections.

Anxiety's a natural part of life - under certain circumstances. And we know that med students and junior docs are more likely than other groups to suffer from anxiety disorders and depression. This week, the Sharp Scratch team talk about their anxieties, and hear from some expert guests on how we can manage anxiety day to day, and how to recognise when we might need a little extra help.

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New editorial scholar Zaynah Khan is sliding into the hosting seat for Sharpscratch. We've delved into the Sharpscratch vaults to retrieve three episodes for you to listen to over the next month as Zaynah settles in. They're some of her favourites - we hope you enjoy. Here's the first, originally broadcast in May, 2024.

Often, we think of medicine as a science. We think of doctors as scientists and scholars. We pride ourselves in being ‘in STEM,’ supporting evidence based medicine and learning the so-called ‘medical model.’ Our view of medicine, it’s teaching and its assessment is framed by medical science, and we may not think of ourselves as creatives.

In this episode, the panel discuss whether there is room for creativity in medicine,  hear from some creatives in medicine, about how their art has contributed to their practice of medicine and their careers, and think a little about the creativity hidden within medicine.

With thanks to Roshni Beeharry, Megan Brown, Antonia Peilober-Richardson, Raymond Matthews and John Launer.

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In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel made up of Elgan, Anna and George get together to talk about medical school interviews. They are joined by expert guest, Paul Garrud who is chair of the Medical Schools Council Selection Alliance.

The episode covers topics including how you can best prepare for medical school interviews, what the different types of interviews you may encounter are, what interviewers are looking for, and tips to help you manage nerves and anxiety. The panellists chat about their own experiences of interviews as well as their advice. The episode goes on to emphasise the importance of fitting in time to practice before your interviews, ensuring that you reflect on your experiences, and how to find ways to show authenticity rather than rehearsing scripted answers. The episode also discusses misconceptions applicants may have about what interviewers are looking for and the widespread availability of free online resources for preparation. 

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In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel made up of Judy, Elisabeth and George get together to chat about bias that exists in medical education. They are joined by expert guest Dr Laetitia Zeeman, lecturer in Public Health and researcher in the field of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, whose work focuses on addressing the health needs of minority groups.

The episode discusses the importance of being inclusive and intersectional in our approach to medicine as well as what medical students and doctors can do to address the gaps in our knowledge and confidence when it comes to the healthcare of minoritised patient populations, including people of colour, women and LGBTQ+ people. 

The episode also touches on  implicit bias, microaggressions, and how medical schools teach about health inequalities.The panel also discusses what students can do if they encounter discrimination while on placement, and the steps that can be taken to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for both patients and healthcare professionals.

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In part 2 of this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel, made up of Mary, Éabha and George, get together to discuss palliative medicine with Dr Mary Miller, a consultant in palliative medicine with an interest in medical education. 

In the second half of the discussion, the panel discusses the challenges medical students and doctors face when dealing with end-of-life conversations and palliative medicine. Dr. Mary Miller provided insights on how to cope with the emotions that may arise when treating patients at the end of their life, as well as how medics can develop their coping strategies.

The panellists also discussed how medical students are a part of providing holistic care for patients, including within the palliative medicine team and the importance of showing compassion towards patients, colleagues and yourself. Dr. Miller emphasises the valuable role medical students do play in providing holistic care and the privilege of being a part of patients' end-of-life journeys.

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In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel, made up of Mary, Éabha and George, get together to discuss palliative medicine with Dr Mary Miller, a consultant in palliative medicine with an interest in medical education. 

During the episode, Dr Miller talks about her career journey, what drew her to working in palliative medicine as well as how to open up conversations as medical professionals about death and dying. Together, the panel, along with Dr Miller discuss palliative medicine as well as the experiences of medical students on palliative care placements, including the panel reflecting on their own experiences. 

The episode also discusses the emotions that can sometimes arise when medical students and newly qualified doctors are working in palliative and end-of-life care, and ways in which we can learn to cope with those feelings. The discussion emphasises how to holistically approach this as well as the importance of drawing on the support of colleagues, faculty and fellow students, as well as the ways that communication skills can help medics become more comfortable with these conversations about death and dying. 

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Can you really pass medical school by only doing online question banks and never attending lectures?

In this episode, George and panellist Judy meet with Professor Andy McKeown, Director of Undergraduate Medicine at Keele University, to discuss the different study habits of medical students and whether some techniques are better than others.

Whether you prefer OnExamination, PassMedicine or Anki, medical students are always looking for the most efficient ways to pass exams.

Judy and George ask Andy questions about how the ways we study interact with how we learn medicine, and discuss the pros and cons of the different study techniques medical students commonly use.  

The episode highlights the importance of implementing a good work-life balance, particularly during exam season, as well as the approaches we can use to promote understanding medical school content beyond just passing our exams. The episode considers the role of implementing a number of different study techniques when preparing for exams including the actual reason it might be wise to attend your lectures. 

In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel made up of Inez and George get together with the band GULZ to chat about balancing a musical career alongside working as doctors.

GULZ talk about their experiences as musicians and forming a band while at medical school, as well as how they are able to balance rehearsals and gigs alongside studying medicine and working as doctors.

The episode touches on how medical training can put pressure on medics to abandon extracurricular activities but emphasises the importance of medical professionals to pursuing creative interests outside of medicine and how this is beneficial for student and doctor wellbeing. 

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In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel talks about why misogyny and racism exists in medicine and how students and resident doctors can educate themselves to tackle bias in healthcare. 

The panellists for the episode, made up of Sarah, Anna and George chat with expert guest Annabel Sowemimo a community sexual and reproductive health doctor, activist and author of Divided: Racism, Medicine and Why We Need to Decolonise Healthcare. 

Together they discuss the existence and history of medical misogyny and racism, as well as how medical students can learn to address these. Annabel highlights the ingrained gender bias in medicine and how the dismissal of women’s health issues have been normalised, particularly for women of colour. The episode emphasises how medical students and resident doctors can empower themselves through educating themselves on the history of medical misogyny and racism in order to promote anti-racism and inclusive practice throughout our careers. 

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In this episode of Sharp Scratch, the panel gets together to talk about hierarchies starting in medical school and continuing through our working lives as doctors.

The panellists, made up of medical students Maz, Sarah and George, chat with expert guest Lorelei Jones, medical anthropologist and senior lecturer in Health Sciences at Bangor University. 

Together they discuss what is meant when we talk about the existence of hierarchical working in medicine, how hierarchies can be problematic, and how we can challenge this. The episode also discusses the importance of collaboration in work environments, the importance of psychological safety, and how we can work to empower medical students and residents to speak up when they have concerns. 

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