personal statement qs Flashcards
what did you learn from you worm experience? GP
-5 day work experience at a GP practice
-undertook it with the aim of gaining a better understanding of different healthcare professionals roles
-to help me make a decision on my future career
-was able to see variety of roles that a doctor has
-diagnosing and treating
-co-ordinating referrals
-teaching medical students
-educating patients, public health
-part of wider MDTs
-GP partner (more managerial roles)
-their role isn’t just medical so they need many more skills that scientific and logical skills
-they’re working with patients, building doctor patient relationship (and trust in the medical profession)
-importance of empathy, communication, sensitivity
-patient coming in with concerns of breast cancer to mother who came with child who had a UTI
-communication skills developed thru volunteering at MENCAP
-initially w receptionist
-then with pharmacist and nurse
-gave me a real insight into MDTs and appreciation of teamwork and collaborative skills
What did you learn from your work experience? PHARMA
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What did you learn from your volunteering? MENCAP
-charity that works with adults with learning disabilities
-at my specific branch, they host sessions across the week providing the members with fun and enjoyable activities
-these sessions aimed to provide the members with a positive and comfortable environment for them to socialise but also share their achievements and worries
-provided an invaluable learning experience
-adapting communication skills
-empathy
-i was able to contribute in other people’s development, very rewarding
What did you learn from your volunteering? HOSPITAL
-volunteered at a hospital for several weeks
-i had ranging tasks
-some days i was doing tea and coffee rounds in the Acute Assessment Unit
-some days I was by the reception guiding patients to where they needed to go
-first exposure to fast paced nature of medicine and more intense side of medicine
-saw the importance of all the healthcare professionals in a wider MDT
-importance of communication
-gained many practical skills myself
-wanted to be useful so i took the initiative in asking doctors and nurses if they needed any specific help
-spent some of my time talking to patients on wards, helping hone my own communication skills
-particular patient had come in after having suffered from a stroke
-talked about her experience and how she was unable to identify her symptoms, looking back at how obvious they were
-i stayed with her as she awaited her results, comforting her
-active listening skills played an important role
-personal research i’d done into strokes really helped me appreciate her worries
-med is intersection of empathy and scientific knowledge
-not only equipped me with skills and exposed me more to the field BUT also consolidated my desire to go into the field as I think its fulfilling and meaningful job
What qualities of a doctors did you see from your work experience?
-scientific knowledge
-diverse range of cases and they were able to handle all
-integrity
-feeling able to ask questions when necessary
-teamwork
-working as part of a wider MDT, appreciating all views
-empathy + communication
-patients are not just medical issues, need to provide holistic and patient centred treatments which suit their desires
-mencap
What have you learnt through extracurricular reading/learning?
RCPCH (royal college of paediatrics and child health) podcasts
2part podcast series about child health inequalities
child health inequalities refer to unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes among children
influenced by socioeconomic and environmental factors
-poverty, housing, education, access to services
children from wealthier families tend to have better health outcomes
CAUSES
-Adverse childhood experiences are stressful or traumatic experiences during childhood
-children exposed to multiple ACEs more likely to face issues such as anxiety, depression, chronic conditions
-early detection critical so can be supported
-poverty affects all aspects including qual of education and food
-poor nutrition leads to devp delays, unsafe/overcrowded houses inc risk of accidents and infections
-poverty inc stress affecting mental
-health begins before birth
-mother w/out access to nutrition affects baby
-geog inequalities, deprivation, poor health outcomes
-postcode lottery
ADDRESSING AND REDUCING
-prevention and early intervention is important
-ensuring support for families, access to education and healthcare
-health visitor services
-provide more integrated care, health overlaps with social issues
-paediatricians need to advocate for broader issues facing child health
-breaking cycle, following up on care
KEY TAKEAWAYS
-health inequalities are not random
-shaped by society and environment
-children circumstances have profound impact on health, injustice
-important to appreciate so you can make changes and find solutions
LEARNT
-effective doctors address not just diseases but also social and environmental factors affecting patient health
-early intervention crucial in preventing LT issues
-doctors must act as advocates to reduce inequalities
-holistic approach to care is essential
-link into NEA
Have you read any research articles?
-Stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted/reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients
-Classified as
-Ischaemic: caused by a blood clot or other obstruction blocking blood flow in a cerebral artery
-Haemorrhagic: occur when blood vessel in brain bursts, leading to bleeding (hemorrhage) that damages brain tissue
-Thrombolysis for Ischaemic strokes
-First line of treatment that involves dissolving the blood clot that is blocking blood flow to the brain
-Tissue plasminogen activator is a drug that works by activating plasminogen, converting it into plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down the fibrin in clots
-most effective when administered within 4.5 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms
-after, the risks, such as brain swelling (cerebral oedema) and bleeding (hemorrhage), outweigh the benefits
-if blood flow blocked for too long, brain tissue damaged due to o2 + nutrients, weakens blood brain barrier (protective layer, separates brain from circulating blood), making it more prone to leaking
-administering tPA after this point can worsen swelling or cause secondary hemorrhages
-recent research
-advanced imaging - MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging helps identify areas of the brain that are still salvageable even beyond the typical 4.5-hour window
-combining thrombolysis w other therapies, protect brain cells from damage during/after treatment
-research into effectiveness of think FAST (facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call)
-women, ethnic minority groups
-wake up strokes dont allow for immediate action
what did genomics course teach you?
what did paediatrics course teach you?
NEA
my NEA explores the reasons behind the difference in healthy life expectancy in two neighbouring boroughs
Adam Kay’s book This is Going to Hurt
unfiltered outlook on the medical field from the perspective of a junior doctor, including his struggle
-Kay highlights long shifts, emotional strain
-book features dramatic and humorous patient stories that reveal both the joys and challenges of medicine
-cumulative stress and lack of work-life balance ultimately lead to Kay leaving his medical career to pursue writing
-Medicine is a career full of emotional highs and lows, requiring resilience and adaptability
-Long hours and stress can take a toll, so maintaining balance and personal well-being is crucial
-Medicine can be exhausting, but it’s the drive to help others that makes it meaningful
