FeetFirst

Feet 2F0ir2s0t THE SYDNEY UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SOCIETY GUIDE FOR FIRST YEARS

Feet First 2020 A guide to incoming students of the Sydney Medical Program Copyright 2020, Sydney University Medical Society Director of publications: Brooke Carmody Design and layout: Brooke Carmody Cover photo courtesy of the Sydney Uni Medical Revue

Contents. A letter from the Director. 4 A letter from the President. 5 A word from the Program Director. 8 The SMP in Brief. 10 Student Snapshots. 12 Clinical Schools. 20 An Introduction to SUMS 27 Sydney Uni Medical Society: SUMS - Your Society. 28 Med Camp. 32 SUMS Sports. 34 Med Ball. 35 Medical Revue. 36 Affiliated Societies. 41 Other Musings. 53 How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the SMP. 54 AMSA Convention & Convention Culture. 56 Living in Sydney. 58 SUMS Guide to Your Mental Health. 60 A Final Word. 65 FF20 3

A letter from the Director Welcome to all the wonderful incoming first years opening this document in the hope it might explain what exactly you’ve gotten yourselves into. Within, current students share their experiences, favourite resources, clinical day tips and, of course, where to get the best coffee on campus. Feet First is your initial insight into the Sydney Medical Program and I truly hope it helps calm some of those natural anxieties we all have when facing something new and uncertain. My best days so far in medical school, however, did not come within the pages of Talley and O’Connor (a name you will soon learn to revere). They came from the wonderful opportunities that are uniquely presented to medical students; AMSA national convention, Global Health Conference, getting involved in various student societies, acting in the Med Revue, making new friends at med camp and just getting around what was thrown my way made for a phenomenal first year. Starting medicine is terrifying; this is why myself and all the contributors to Feet First 2020 have poured so much love into getting you started in an informed manner. So welcome once again! I hope you study hard, get involved and learn to love the weird and wonderful medical community just like myself and my peers have. Brooke Carmody Director of Publications 2020

A letter from the President It is my greatest pleasure to welcome and congratulate you as our newest members of Sydney University Medical Society (SUMS) and for starting your journey in the Sydney Medical Program (SMP)! The beauty of the SMP is in its diversity. Some of you were working, some of you just finished a degree, some of you are international, interstate, ru- ral… and some home-grown in Sydney. We are such a unique mix of students from all walks of life, and over the next few years you will learn just as much from the course as each other. But no matter where you were, med school is a whole new ball game and you will start with a clean slate. So – who will you be? What will you do? Where will the next few years take you? As you read these next pages, you might start to get an inkling of the answers to these questions. There is so much that outside of the course to get involved in, and it all begins with saying YES to new things and new experiences. We hope it helps give you an idea of all there is to offer, and don’t worry if the information is a little overwhelming – you’ll hear everything in this booklet again and again. Undoubtedly, the next few years will be some of the most challenging and re- warding years of your life. Your biggest sources of support will be your peers – and that includes us in the years above. I hope you are looking forward to meeting each other, and starting to create friendships and memories that you will have for life. Get excited, and I’ll see you soon! SUMS President 2020

Welcome to the SMP. In this section: 1. A Word from the Program Director 2. The SMP in brief 3. Student Snapshots 4. Equipment essentials 5. The Clinical Schools

By Toby Hudson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8121656

A word from the Program Director Dear SMP Class of 2023, It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Sydney Medical Pro- gram, in its new revised form, “MD2020”. The academic and professional staff at Sydney Medical School and all the clinical schools have worked tirelessly to produce a program which is at the forefront of medical edu- cation. We were thrilled that the Australian Medical Council, who accred- ited the program, commended Sydney Medical School with the following statement: “ The School, and its leadership, are to be congratulated for establishing an ambitious, informed and coherent plan for the training of the next generation of University of Sydney medical graduates” You are beginning a journey into medicine which is both hugely reward- ing but sometimes challenging. We are confident that the MD2020 will equip you with the clinical, communication and critical thinking skills to pursue a career in whatever area of medicine you aspire to, from research to education, public health and health policy and of course clinical spe- cialties that will suit each of your strengths and interests. You can special- ise in a large teaching hospital or have the immense satisfaction of medi- cal practice in metropolitan, rural or remote communities. You will meet many inspiring people (staff, students and patients) who will guide you- directly or indirectly – in your future career path. The next four years will be exciting and stimulating, but also at times stressful. FF20 8

Medicine is a career that requires stamina and a commitment to lifelong learning. I encourage you to look after yourself and keep things in per- spective- there is life outside the Medical Program. Make sure you have a group of friends or family with whom you can share your experienc- es, as most likely others will be feeling the same things you are! Be kind to yourself and others, and above all, seek help early if you are finding things difficult- there are staff members at the university and the clinical schools to provide support. As Director of the SMP, my role is to oversee the Program, evaluate what works well and what not so well and improve how we help you make the transition over 4 years from student to doctor. We have explicitly de- signed the Program to have earlier clinical exposure so you can immerse yourself in the clinical environment in year 4 with the entire last 12 months as “Preparation for Practice”. The academics at SMS and the clinical schools meet regularly with stu- dents during the year, and greatly value any feedback you would like to provide. We have a collaborative approach to education at Sydney Med- ical School and look forward to meeting you during your time with us. Welcome to the medical community! Jane Bleasel 9 Director of the Sydney Medical Program FF20

The SMP in Brief. Some History. The Themes. The Sydney Medical Program was estab- The SMP doesn’t have traditional subjects, lished in the very recent year of 1883. It rather, you are enrolled in units that reflect may well be worth remembering this as themes taught over the year. it has come up in at least one trivia night in the past year. We swapped from an Basic and Clinical Sciences: This is the undergraduate program to a graduate majority of your content. It’s the anatomy, program in 1997 and from an MBBS to an biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, MD in 2014; since then the program has genetics and other assorted meaty content continued to change and grow, with the that you can use to flex on your non-med new class of 2023 about to experience the friends once you learn it. “Did you know newest update to the program. alcohol is absorbed via zero order kinet- ics?” You say to your friends on a night out. Basic Course Structure. Where’d you learn that, they ask. Basic and Clinical Science theme, that’s where. This content also makes up the majority of your You are the first cohort who will cover all multiple choice exams. basic science themes within your first year. This may seem daunting, but in reality it Population Health: This theme focuses makes more room for clinical experience around medicine and how it can be contex- which is wildy important for your future tualised on a societal level. Epidemiology, practice as a doctor. In order, you will medical inequity, health law and screening tackle foundations, respiratory medicine, programs all fall under this umbrella. It cardiovascular sciences, musculoskeletal has its own special MCQ exam in second medicine and immunology, endocrine and and is assessed in your bigger multiple nutrition, sexual health and reproduction, choice exams throughout the year. gastroenterology, and lastly, neuroscience. If you’re reading this from a non-science Clinical skills: Most of this content is cov- background (or a rusty science back- ered at clinical school and relates to how ground!) never fear; there are weekly non we interact with patients. This includes science tutorials held to cover some of the procedural, examination and history-tak- core concepts in more detail to help you ing skills. The OSCE tests this theme by get it. Each week you’ll have a number of putting you in a clinical scenario and get- online and in person lectures, labs (usually ting you to demonstrate those skills you’ve anatomy, pathology or biochemistry) and been getting on clinical days. Team Based Learning classes. FF20 10

Ethics, law and professionalism: This theme covers all things ethical and profes- sional , including things like attendance and how to act in a way that's appropriate to the hospital. Research, evidence and informatics: “Patients don’t put their This covers your research element in the trust in machines or course. In modern medicine, research is devices. They put their becoming more and more entwined with trust in you.” clinical practice and is incredibly import- ant for furthering critical thinking skills. - Margaret Hamburg The remaining themes: the other themes you’ll cover are diagnostics and therapy, Indigenous health and inter pro- fessional teamwork. With a new head of Indigenous health in Dr. Peter Malouf, this is an exciting time for the SMP with the revitalising component of the course. Clinical Days. One day a week will be spent at your allo- cated clinical school during first year. Here is where you’ll actually talk to patients, visit the wards, observe procedures and get a glimpse into life after the degree. First year tends to cover the fundamentals; hand hygiene, taking vital signs, venopunc- ture, history taking and basic examination skills. Use your spare time to visit a few ex- tra patients; it’s usually a lot more helpful and memorable than reading a few extra pages of your textbook that day. By Brooke Carmody FF20 11

Student Snapshots. We surveyed the students of the SMP to create a more accurate representation of what to expect from the program. This is what they had to say. Best Coffee on Campus Coffee tends to be important for med students - mostly because we're addicted to it, but some of us like the taste. Here's where some current students think you can get the best cup on campus - apologies in advance to the tea drinkers.

Best Coffee at Clinical Concord. Sydney Adventist. Medicos Karoo on Fox Valley Road Vietnamese coffee at Thursday markets Fox valley cafe Tulip shi Northern. Central. Jm coffee Team coffee @ Hornsby Campos on Missenden Flying Egg @ St Leonard's station Nepean. Mandesa florist Westmead. Kongfucious Zouki

Best Study Apps Studying is hard - these are the resources that made it a little bit easier, as ANKI recommended by those Geeky Medics who've been in your position before. Osmosis AMBOSS Pass Medicine Acland's Anatomy Armando Hasudungan on YouTube USMLE Step 1 BMJ best pracice Sketchy Medic One thing you wishTaylleoyuankdnOe'Cwonnoonr day one of medical school? It's all about balance - take the time to study, but also take the time to socialise and to look after yourself physically and mentally. We're so used to being at the top and now we're surrounded by other people who are also at the top. The assessments can be demoralising but it's really ok as long as you know that you have the clinical skill and knowledge to be a good doctor. Just relax, all you have to do is pass. Enjoy the new friend- ships and socialisation because these are the people are that will get you through exams and the tough stuff.

Clinical Day Advice • Wear comfortable shoes. • Talk to your senior years. • Be prepared but most importantly be brave and volunteer to take the histo- ries or do the exams, it is the best way to learn . • Do some prep beforehand - read Talley's for that block, be willing to volunteer to take histories or exams, don't hang in the back of your group waiting for some- one else to go every time. Ultimately this strategy will not serve you well when it comes to OSCEs and stage 3. • Genuinely most people are not going to judge you if you make mistakes. People are way more concerned about their own mistakes than yours. • Doctors (and older year students) are just people so don't be intimidated, they'll universally get around you if you're friendly/polite/interested and no one will scold you for not knowing some- thing. • Your clinical school days are usually based around learning how to take one history and one physical exam, plus oc- casional other procedural things. Look these up on Geeky Medics the night be- fore, it literally takes 20 minutes to watch the relevant video and read their guide. • OSCEs assess you on everything and you get zero revision. Once week 1 is past, you'll never get a chance to revisit that content. • PREPARE BEFORE CLINICAL DAYS.

Favourite Stage One Event Med Revue AMSA convention and global health conference Red Party Med Camp Med Ball Northern Cruise Block parties Best Friday lunch spot Indian food from the wentworth building Ralph’s pasta Pizza and pasta from Courtyard Newtown thai spots Baguette from taste Pork rolls from delish - Sushi on campus Hobbies Outside of Med Exercise Chess Social sport Chilling with friends Video games Reading Exploring food culture in Sydney Rock climbing

Support Systems Family Regular GP Close friends both medical and non medical Interstate and international students staying in contact with family Partners On-Campus mental health services Summarise med school in one sentence? \"I aged 5 years but it was totally worth it.\" \"I have no idea what I'm doing, hopefully no one else does either.\" \"I said yes to every co-curricular I could and now I'm very happy and very tired.\" \"Enjoyable rollercoaster\" \"It's socially, emotionally and intellec- tually stimulating year that's incredibly rewarding so embrace it to the fullest but remember to look after yourself.\"

Textbooks and Equipment. SMP lectures cover most of what you need to know and will mostly be tested in exams. However in an effort to cover everything, and with a wide variety of basic knowledge at the student levels- sometimes you will need to supple- ment your learning will be with text books. You don’t need to buy them, your clinical or the university library will have several copies, and there is always the odd pdf version floating from hardrive to hardrive in the cohort. Yet, if you prefer an old fashioned hard copy, try textbook exchange (https://stu- dentvip.com.au/textbooks) for an array of second-hand books sold by past students! A word of advice: beware the rabbit hole. There is a lot to know about every- thing. We don’t spend decades training to be specialists for nothing. So when you are using textbooks remember to keep the revision anchored to what has been covered in lectures, though wide reading is helpful and will never be a bad thing, med school is also about prioritising your time. In terms of equipment, a stethoscope is essential for clinical days. The fan favourite is the Classic III and this will suit your clinical days just perfectly. If you want to opt for a more expensive model the cardiology IV is also great, but avoid an electronic stethoscope (at least while you're in med school). Medshop (www.medshop.com.au) usually does Littman at a good price with free name engraving included. You may need a pen light at some point, but you normally get one free with stethoscope purchase (or handily as free merch during orientation or med camp!). It isn't essential to start out with extra equipment like reflex hammers and your clinical schools will have a lot of the equipment you need provided for you. FF20 18

The Essentials List. Textbooks you’ll use forever (buy these). Clinical Examination- A systematic guide to physical diagnosis, Talley and O’Connor The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine Foundations Basic Immunology: functions and disorders of the immune system, Abul K Abbas Clinical microbiology made ridiculously simple, M Gladwin (as much as you will hate yourself for admitting it, the ridiculous drawings actually help) MSK MSK System at a Glance (these are available for all the subjects), C Swales, C Bulstrode. Respiratory West’s Respiratory Physiology, The Essentials, John B West (also check out his YouTube lectures from the father of resp med himself) Haematology Hoffman’s Hematology : Basic Principles and Practice, R. Hoffmann Cardiology ECG Made Easy, John R. Hampton Pathophysiology of Heart Disease, L S Lilly Anatomy The Anatomy Colouring Book, Wynn Kapit, Lawrence M. Elson McMinn and Abrahams Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy, P H Abrahams Clinically Oriented Anatomy, K L Moore, A F Dalley, A M R Agur Netter’s anatomy flash cards, J T Hansen Pathology Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 9th Edition Histology Histology; A Text and Atlas, M H Ross, W Pawlina Pharmacology Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology, M M Dale, D G Haylett FF20 19

Clinical Schools Navigating clinical schools can seem tricky from an outside perspective. Each school has its pros and cons and here we aim to give you all the information you need to comfortably sort out your preferences. We are lucky to have such quality teaching hospitals, so no matter where you end up, you know you’re in good hands. It is important not to have your heart fully set on one school; no matter your preferences, you really can end up anywhere! FF20 20

NEPEAN Nepean is consistently given a tough time Stage 2s and 3s also run revision sessions in preferencing, but it has one big perk in the lead up to our exams, and are just that other clinical schools can't offer - its exceptionally nice and generous people in size. Nepean is one of the smallest clinical general. The teaching staff are incredibly schools meaning that we aren’t just class friendly and willing to give you additional mates but genuine friends. As a cohort, help if needed, particularly Narelle, who we've had a welcome dinner, a picnic, is in theory the procedural skills tutor, but post-exam celebratory barbecue, weekend in practice more like a second mother to Blue Mountains trip, and a Christmas par- every Nepean student. ty to name just a few. Although on a map Nepean looks very far The small cohort also means smaller from civilisation, it is actually one of the clinical groups (usually 4 people), which easiest hospitals to access on public trans- means more personal attention from your port, only a 10 minute walk from King- tutors and more chances to practice your swood station, or a 10 minute bus ride clinical skills. Unlike at other hospitals, pa- from Penrith station. Nepean is also very tients aren't annoyed by a constant stream car friendly and many of us participate in of med students, so you'll always get the car pools. The new M4 WestConnex tunnel chance to see the most interesting cases. has also drastically cut down the travel time. Student support is also a massive perk of Nepean. Stage 1 students are paired with Finally, there is a Gelato Messina only 10 a stage 3 buddy from the start of the year, minutes away by bus! meaning that we always have someone to bother with the most basic of questions. - Charlotte Haunton and Izzy Nilson FF20 21

WESTMEAD that you might not get to see at other hos- Welcome to Westmead, Bestmead or Bat- pitals (gouty tophi, clubbing, scleroderma, tlestar Westmead as it was initially known oh my). (because it had automatic doors, seri- ously). We’re a big, close cohort, in part It is also where the experts are, particular- because of the shared experience of the ly in haematology, emergency medicine, Westmead timetable, but also because of infectious disease and respiratory medi- the common room where many of us hang cine. It is incredible to see these special- out between classes for lunch or a fierce ists in action, many of whom will be your game of ping pong. tutors. For conditions like cystic fibrosis or haemophilia, specialists have often worked There is a 24hr library, USYD internet and with the patient to manage the condition printing for the study inclined, a bunch of over many years, and we’re lucky to peek great societies, especially EMIG for emer- at the process. gency medicine, WSSA for surgery and Westsoc which puts on educational ses- Getting to Westmead is simple - a 30 min- sions before big exams. From 2020 West- ute direct train from Redfern station or mead will be a USYD campus, which may change at Strathfield from surrounding mean the chance to get to know students suburbs. Parking around the hospital fills from other courses. up quickly, so expect to add a 15 minute walk on top of the Sydney traffic. Carpool Westmead has an incredibly diverse pa- with friends if you can. Grab a coffee at tient population, with some of the sickest Kong’s while you discuss which tutor was of the sick and nurses that will helpfully on last night’s episode of One Born Every direct you to amiable patients on the ward. Minute and prepare for another exciting That means as a student you are exposed day at Westmead. to a wide range of signs and symptoms FF20 - Winsome Goldfeder 22

Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School The support staff is one of the best parts of is based at the San (short for the Sanato- the San. The cohort is small and you get to rium), one of two private hospitals part- know each other, the educators and super- nered with Sydney University. The San visors extremely well; they will look after has high quality equipment and facilities a you! The staff is dedicated to ensuring you lot of which is accessible to the students. get through all the content you need to nail There are two towers of medical wards, the OSCEs. Clarke and Clifford, one of the best cancer centres in the country and a large surgical The small groups at the San have plenty centre. The Clinical Education Centre is of upsides, the most important of which also newly built and has many different re- is how close you will get to your clinical sources available for learning your clinical friends. The San Fam will always be there skills. The teaching staff are highly quali- for you and you will get to know people in fied in simulation teaching and there are your year as well as the years above. The many opportunities for training in simula- students in the later Stages are often inter- tion of medical and trauma emergencies. ested in teaching newer students in order to revise for their own exams and lead re- Since the San is in Wahroonga it can be a vision sessions and mini-tutorials. Patients bit of a pain to get there from near Sydney are far less likely to get “student fatigue” at Uni Campus. If you do want to catch public the San due to how small we are! transport, a train to Turramurra and then the 573 to the hospital is the best option Overall, the San will welcome you to the from the city. If coming from Hornsby family and give you all the learning you or Thornleigh station you can also catch need, I encourage you to seek out all the the 589, which takes you directly to the additional experiences you can at this Clinical Education Centre. By far the eas- unique clinical school! iest way to get there is to carpool and the admin staff is aware of this and are quite - Spencer Ferrier flexible around carpooling groups! SYDNEY ADVENTIST FF20 23

CONCORD Do you wish to be a part of a great teach- Cons: ing hospital, with supportive staff and a • The lifts are rather slow, so stair climb- nice mix of both the fast paced and idyllic? Or perhaps a place where you can practice ing is a must, even during hot summer your Greek and Italian you’ve saved up all days. these years? If neither of those, then may- • The hospital is not aesthetically as be a nice caramel slice? For all of these, modern as the new ones springing up look no further than Concord Repatriation around Sydney, but construction is un- Hospital. derway to rectify this issue. • Construction sites around the hospital “Concord, the place to be!” makes for some inconvenience. • Thursday markets will drain your wal- Pros: let. • Leisurely mix of both fast and slow • Many hours will be wasted playing table tennis and pool in the common paced life at the hospital, with plenty of room. teaching support to allow for copious amounts of practice for OSCEs and real Concord is a fantastic clinical school, with patient interaction alike. an easy commute, a great culture (not to • Thursday markets will leave you yearn- mention they rank highly in physician ing for more days at the hospital training!) and awesome staff. If you’re • Exposure to a wide variety of condi- looking for the best all rounder hospital tions to start building your clinical then Concord really is the place to be. exposures from day 1 with extremely helpful tutors who are on top of their -Bryan Kong knowledge FF20 24

The Northern Clinical School is a diverse It is a smaller hospital, though possesses an school ranging across campuses at Royal ICU and busy ED, maternity and paediatric North Shore Hospital, Hornsby Hospital and unit. Patients here are less complex than the Northern Beaches Hospital. It is a fantas- those at RNSH, but it provides fertile ground tic place to train and by including hospitals for mastering the basics and learning stan- that cover both tertiary referral and smaller dard presentations. It is currently going hospitals without high-level specialist care, through an upgrade, including one of the clini- it offers a variety of experiences unrivaled by cal school! other schools. Northern Beaches Hospital is the new kid on The Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) is sit- the block, with students only slated to start uated in St Leonards and is easily accessible this year. It is a semi private semi public ven- by public transport. Students are also eligible ture, and the high consultant to student ratio for parking discounts ($2.50 a day). It is a ter- means the learning experience here will likely tiary referral centre for burns, Neonatal ICU be excellent. and high risk pregnancy and offers all other services you would expect from such a large Clinical and administrative staff at Northern centre. It has a world renowned hand sur- are extremely helpful and keen to help you gery and orthopaedic department, whilst the navigate the degree. Clinicians and junior physician training and BPT acceptance rates staff at Northern are less busy than some of are legendary. The critical care, paediatric and the other schools and keen to teach, reflected obstetric departments are also particularly by the fact that in Stage 3 many of the physi- strong, with world leaders heading up each cians running the GP and PWH block are from of these divisions. As a tertiary training cen- Northern. The Northern Clinical School Soci- tre, numerous training courses and learning ety is also designed to run social events such opportunities take place at the hospital which as the annual cruise, facilitate your transitions students are welcome to attend. through the years, and provide teaching and mentorship to the younger years. Hornsby Hospital is a 10 minute walk from Hornsby and Waitara station. Street parking is We look forward to seeing you at Northern! also free and readily available. - Gareth Crouch NORTHERN FF20 25

CENTRAL Hidden in the quaint soy latte-abundant, Lastly, you can always say hello to your kombucha-ridden inner city of Sydney lies senior fellow students at the tearoom, the Royal Prince Alfred with all its glory. treasure troves of knowledge and support. While the building of clinical school may And the clinicians? Well, they are simply resemble a crumbled WWII bunker with a amazing; knowledgeable, supportive and fresh coat of paint, it makes up for it with keen for you to learn, with bonus points if its people, clinical expertise and diverse they are JMO/resident/interns (seem to selection of caffeine stations (aka café). remember what it felt like being a student better). For you more research-minded In short, RPA is great (fact) for three rea- nerds (like me), there’s plenty of opportu- sons: (1) patients, (2) clinical school staff nities to get involved with the advantage of and (3) supportive fellow students and cli- having USYD campus nearby. nicians. Being a major central tertiary hos- pital, it caters to patients from all walks of As for coffee, RPA caters to a range of life ranging from the inner city to remote tastes from expensive bougie (Campos on areas, people of diverse backgrounds, ages Missenden Rd) to more modest ones ($1 at and native languages. Hence, you are ex- 7/11 … it’s actually pretty good, serious- posed to a highly diverse range of cases. ly!). Secondly, the clinical school support staff are always there right from 7am, super ap- Downsides ... well, the microwave line can proachable, helpful and smiley (seriously, get really long, and then there's the WWII how do they do it?). Having David, former bunker issue . ED nurse and current procedural skills co- ordinator, makes our workshops a delight. -Matt Mahjoub & Patrick Gibb FF20 26

An Introduction to SUMS 2020 is an EXCITING year to be starting medical school. From over half a decade’s worth of feedback from previous students, the new curriculum has been re-imagined to align with what students have wanted (more clinical experience, dedicated re- search time, and more tightly knit learning resources) while keeping the best parts of the SMP intact. With any new curriculum though, there are bound to be some teething issues. This is where SUMS, your student represen- tative body and direct link to Faculty comes in. We are here to support you, to advocate for you and to run the BEST events for you – and soon enough, you will elect a first year rep. For all the questions you might have now, reach out to one of the executive members (we are all on your Class of 2023 Facebook page) or send me a message directly. We’re here to help. - Cathee, SUMS President 2020 In this Section: 1. SUMS - your society 27 2. Timetable 3. Med Camp 4. Sports 5. Med Ball 6. Med Revue 7. Marie Bashir Address 8. Lambie Dew Oration 9. Affiliated Societies FF20

Sydney Uni Medical Society: SUMS - Your Society. SUMS is one of the largest and most ‘Your society, well-established student societies in Aus- tralia, and has strong links with faculty, run for you, medical professionals and other medical student societies throughout Austra- by you’ lia. It will be the most important society throughout your time in the SMP. SUMS constantly strives to ensure that you This guide covers but a few of the big are receiving the best possible medical events organized by SUMS over each year, education, by organizing academic events but cannot hope to cover all the smaller and constant communication with Faculty parties, academic grand rounds, sporting about the bad (and the good) in the curric- and social events that occur throughout ulum. the year thanks to the hard work of many If you want to get involved (and I strongly motivated and talented individuals. How- encourage you to do so), then come along ever, it says nothing of arguably the most to the AGM in March, SUMS has a number important aspect of SUMS, its advocacy. of meetings throughout the year and the AGM is the biggest of them all. Aside from updates about the various activities of SUMS, the AGM is where the majority of SUMS Council positions are elected. Some positions are elected prior to the AGM via online voting, you will be notified of this, so fret not. Even if running for a position is not your cup of tea, come along to the AGM to sup- port your friends, eat some free food and meet new mates from the older years. Lastly, as someone who ran for multiple positions unsuccessfully at my first AGM, I can assure you that missing out on a Coun- cil position is not the end of the world. There are plenty of other opportunities to contribute to SUMS throughout the year so make sure you get amongst it! FF20 -James Bergfield 28

Positions for Election. SUMS Council is made up of a wide range of positions and there’s something to suit everyone’s skill set and schedule. The positions up for grabs at next general meeting are: Education Advocacy Officer (all stages) First Year Representatives (stage 1 only, up to 2) The Education Advocacy officer works with our VP Advocacy to advocate for stu- Organise parties for your year level and dents to Faculty. They may have to attend report their thoughts to SUMS and facul- faculty meetings and liaise with students ty. Often one of the most hotly contested to improve the education experience. roles! NSW Medical Students' Council Repre- Producer of the Medicine Revue (stage sentative (all stages) 1 only) Attending MSC meetings to discuss policy, Working with your cohort in organising initiatives, the cocktail party and sports MedRevue, a show that has raised tens of day with reps from the other NSW medical thousands of dollars for charity in the past. A huge job where organisational and peo- schools. ple skills (not necessarily creative air) are Indigenous Health Officer (all stages) key. Organising “Close the Gap” day and liaising Junior AMSA Rep with AIDA on Indigenous issues. Attend meetings with A/Prof. Lilon Bandler. A pre-clinical student position with the role of assisting the AMSA Rep, Illie Sports Coordinator x2 (one stage 1, one Hewitt, in promoting and engaging with stage 2) AMSA events on campus and on a national Organising the sporting events throughout level. the year such as Med1 vs Med2 soccer, in- terfaculty sports, Quadfac rugby and many Indigenous Student Rep more. A representative for the medical society from the body of Indigenous students at Merchandise Officer (all stages) the Sydney Medical School. Organise merchandise for the society - Med Ball Convenors hoodies etc. You will be working with the A team of at least three individuals from current Merch Officer, Saniya Massey. first year who will work together to organ- ise one of the biggest social events for first year; the med ball. FF20 29

A Typical Week in Stage One. Is there really such thing as a \"typical week\" in the SMP? Not really! Here's a snapshot of what your timetable might be looking like in stage one. MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 8:00 AM Strand A - Clinical Day or Strand B Strand B - Clinical Day o Independent learning day to go A ILD 8:15 AM prepare for Thurs/Frid Pt-Dr tutorial 8:30 AM To introduce students to the principles of history taking, in 8:45 AM respiratory disease. Introduction to respiratory 9:00 AM examination Clinical / procedural skills 9:15 AM Oximetry, Peak flow metres and inhaled medication devices 9:30 AM /spirometry 9:45 AM 10:00 AM 10:15 AM Measuring health and disease in 10:30 AM the population 10:45 AM 11:00 AM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 11:45 AM 12:00 PM 12:15 PM Lunch 12:30 PM 12:45 PM 1:00 PM 1:15 PM 1:30 PM TBL - infection TBL 1:45 PM 2:00 PM 2:15 PM 2:30 PM 2:45 PM 3:00 PM 3:15 PM 3:30 PM Management session 3:45 PM e.g. integrated treatment 4:00 PM approaches - pharmacology, non- 4:15 PM pharmacology 4:30 PM 4:45 PM 5:00 PM 5:15 PM 5:30 PM 5:45 PM 6:00 PM

Y THURSDAY FRIDAY Anatomy - Upper respiratory (John M) + histology LINKS BETWEEN ALLERGY AND 8:00 AM 8:15 AM of respiratory system (Suzanne O) ASTHMA -Rob Loblay 8:30 AM 8:45 AM Lung function tests: Normal physiology and Respiratory signs/symptoms, 9:00 AM airflow obstruction (physiology/pharmacology) - disease diagnosis, normal X- 9:15 AM Ray (Greg Fox or Paul Hamor) 9:30 AM Rebecca Mason and Brent McParland 9:45 AM 10:00 AM lunch 10:15 AM 10:30 AM Anatomy prac - Histology prac - lunch 10:45 AM Upper Histology of 11:00 AM or Stream Respiratory Pathology prac - 11:15 AM Respiratory - system pathology of 11:30 AM nose, sinus, airways 11:45 AM 12:00 PM larynx, 12:15 PM 12:30 PM Anatomy prac - Histology prac - ELP session 12:45 PM Upper Histology of Respiratory Pathology prac - 1:00 PM Respiratory - system pathology of 1:15 PM nose, sinus, airways 1:30 PM larynx, 1:45 PM 2:00 PM Anatomy prac - Histology prac - Pathology prac - 2:15 PM Upper Histology of pathology of 2:30 PM Respiratory airways 2:45 PM Respiratory - system nose, sinus, 3:00 PM 3:15 PM larynx, 3:30 PM 3:45 PM microscope FDS 4:00 PM 4:15 PM 4:30 PM 4:45 PM 5:00 PM 5:15 PM 5:30 PM 5:45 PM 6:00 PM

Med Camp. You’re probably reading this mag- So what happens at the camp? From azine and thinking; yeah, I get it, a wild slip and slide to an onslaught medicine is hard, it’s cool I got in but of competitions for the sports and what I really want to know is how non sports minded, there is some- do I make friends? We’re here to tell thing for absolutely anyone at med you there is only one way. Med Camp. camp. Come meet the second years Med camp is love, med camp is life, and the club executives whilst having and med camp is one of the funda- a classy, or not so classy, beverage by mental experiences for first year the river. Most importantly, its time medical students in the SMP. to get to know your cohort in a pres- sure free, anxiety free environment. Med camp is a weekend long extrav- Many older years will tell you the aganza of bonding, competitions, friends made on med camp last the parties and relaxing. It’s THE best entirety of the degree, and beyond. way to get to know your cohort and it’s reserved solely for you lucky first Med camp will run from the 14th years. to the 16th of February this year so keep the dates free! Launch party There will be stage 2 mentors pres- will be on the 7th of February with ent to help you with activities during the brand new amazing scavenger the weekend and also give you the hunt running after class on Monday opportunity to ask any burning ques- the 10th. tions you may have about the course and medicine in general! Stage 2 is We can’t wait to see your smiling there to help you out - we’ll brush faces on the 14th and your exhausted over the part where they’re also (still smiling!) faces on the 16th. This there to relive their awesome experi- med camp will be one to remember. ences from our own med camp Love from your conveners, Brooke Carmody, Joshua Merritt and William Pamment FF20 32

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SUMS Sports There are few times in medicine where With sports from soccer to rugby, netball we truly get to let everything go and feel to tennis, swimming to dodgeball, cricket the wind through our hair, but if you want to basketball, there are options for abso- to catch as many of them as possible get lutely anyone to get involved. So whether involved with the numerous sports that your experience is as a State Rugby player happen throughout the year. Organised by or as a hometown Wii Bowling participant, SUMS, these sports options are focused on come and throw yourself in to the sports just having fun and trying new things, giv- that are on offer. Information about the ing you new experiences to bond over with upcoming sports will be posted to your your new med buddies, and of course keep year’s facebook page, so keep an eye out us from being hypocrites when we tell a for the first events of the year in cricket & patient they need to exercise more. There swimming. are weekly sports on Wednesday morn- ings against the other faculties at USyd, -Josh Merrit some bigger events against select faculty Sports rep 2019 rivals (Law, Dentistry, Vets), opportunities for chill sport bonding seshes, and the cen- trepiece is a year long competition against our fellow med students at the University of Notre Dame. FF20 34

Med Ball is one of the premiere events of the SUMS social cal- endar. In 2019 we danced up a salsa storm at the Shangri-La, with the latin themed \"Valsalsa Maneouvre.\" It was a night of fantastic company, great food and amazing tunes. Med Ball is a celebration of what we've achieved to get here; and there's no doubt we've all deserved it! This years Med Ball will be even further catered to our incom- ing first year cohort due to the changing nature of your pro- gram. We are looking out for some conveners at the first gen- eral meeting, so if you think you can put on a spectacle, come along to that first meeting. The theme, the venue and the music is all up to you first years. We can't wait to see what you dazzle us with! -Brooke Carmody Med Ball FF20 35

Medical Revue Want some positive procrastination that Commitment is needed much more than doesn’t involve being glued to your chair? skill – so we’d highly encourage anyone to Want a chance to really bond with other join in even if you’ve never sung, danced people from your cohort? Want to end the or acted in your life. Rehearsals provide a year with fun stories to tell your grand- prime opportunity to hang out with your kids? Want a chance to raise some money classmates outside a stuffy lecture hall. and give back to a good cause? Weekly rehearsals might seem a bit daunt- ing, but because you’re doing the same de- Then MedRevue is gree, they’ll all be organised around your just the thing for schedule. you! If you’d like to get even more involved, re- member that first years make up the exec team as well. Important roles to fill include the producer, secretary, treasurer, spon- sorship officer, promotions officer and backstage manager. MedRevue is a comedy skit show that is On the creative side you also have the directors, dance directors, music director! produced, directed and performed en- These jobs take up a bit more time, but it’s tirely by first year medical students! The all worth it for the pride of producing an show is entirely what you guys make of it amazing show! – whether you want it to be a dance-filled extravaganza, an improv fest or an operat- ic drama! If we’ve not convinced you yet just think Skits can be medically focused or about about this – when you finish your degree any topic that’s at least a little bit funny – and talk to old friends, you don’t want to but they’re all written by you guys over the just be talking about the times you spent course of rehearsals. The shows are per- stuck studying. Get a couple of good sto- ries under your belt and make the best formed on a professional stage at the Sey- choice of your first year. mour Centre and ticket sales go towards a donation to a charity of your choosing. -Ailise, Anj and James FF20 36

sydney university medical revue society presents... A REGISTRAR ISUSYD MED REVUE BO2019RN

Marie Bashir Address This year we had the pleasure of conven- Dr Kadota’s insightful key- ing SUMS’s premier academic address in note speech explored her honour of Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO. own story and addressed the The respected event is a celebration of the key role of mental health in progress women have made in medicine the workplace, for which we and aims to focus on the steps that the health care field is taking toward inclusivi- were very grateful. ty and equality. She also spoke about the power social me- According to longstanding tradition, the dia had in her own advocacy and its abil- address was held at The Women’s College, ity to bring about change for doctors and University of Sydney where Dame Marie students in the future. Her talk was both Bashir resided throughout her medical enlightening and humorous – sprinkled schooling. Our keynote speaker this year with light-hearted memes and Twitter was Dr. Yumiko Kadota, who previously hashtags (which probably confused a few worked as an unaccredited surgical regis- of the Consultants in the room). trar in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Sydney’s Bankstown Hospital. Dr. Kadota is best known for her viral blog Overall, we felt that the night was a suc- entitled “The Ugly Side of Becoming a cess. The best part was the extremely en- Surgeon”, which laid bare her harrowing couraging feedback we received from our experiences facing the workplace bullying, guests as we were returning their coats. It racism and pressure entrenched in the was extremely gratifying to see that every- surgical training pathway. one got something out of the night. The event went better than we expected! As the conveners for the Marie Bashir Despite the heavy rain, the turnout was Address 2019, we would like to thank each worthy of all our work, and there was a and every one of our friends and col- wonderful mixture of doctors, medical leagues who took time out of their evening students and nursing students which to attend our event. We are grateful for made for a surprisingly packed and lively your presence this year and we look for- pre-drinks session. The warmth and ener- ward to seeing you at next year’s address. gy throughout the room was heartening to We definitely wouldn’t miss it! see. - Saniya, Shemani and Asheka FF20 38

FF20 The academic program of the medical society is highlighted by the Lambie-Dew Oration, which provides a chance for stu- dents and alumni to be inspired by a world leader in the field of health. The event is named in honour of the school’s first two full-time Professors in Medicine and Sur- gery, Professors Lambie and Dew, who both retired in 1956, and aims to continue their educational legacy. Held in the University’s Great Hall, pre- vious orators have included Helen Clark (former NZ Prime Minister), Dr Rowan Gillies (youngest ever President of MSF), Prof. Ian Frazer (inventor of the HPV vac- cine) and Dame Marie Bashir (former Governor of NSW and Psychiatrist). Despite the grandeur, the event is always more than just a big name. Past events have varied in their focus on the histori- cal, the technical and the humorous, but all speakers have passed on a taste of the wisdom that has allowed them to excel in their careers. 2016 saw a well-renown Emergency De- partment director, Senior Australian of the year Professor Gordian Fulde deliver an oration titled ‘The Meaning of Life’. Pro- fessor Fulde was passionately outspoken about the scourge of alcohol-fueled vio- lence and its impact on Australian hospi- tals every week. -David Townsend Lambie-Dew Oration 39

At the end of a block SUMS throws a Block Party. Usually themed, often pun-tastically so, the Block Parties are a great social occasion to let down your proverbial hair and have a good, non-study related time with your new friends, before you scatter for a well earned break. FF20 40

Affiliated Societies In this Section: 1. Australian Medical Students Association 2. Sydney Uni Surgical Society 3. Mirage Rural Health 4. General Practice Students Network 5. GlobalHOME 6. North American Medical Students Association 7. Sydney Uni Critical Care Society 8. Sydney Uni Paediatric Society 9. Sydney University Obstetrics & Gynaecology Society. FF20 41

Australian Medical Students Association. The Australian Medical Students Associ- Publications: AMSA produces a number ation (AMSA) is the representative body of publications for distribution to students for 22 medical schools and 17 000 medi- and key stakeholders, allowing students a cal students across Australia. The aim of chance to have their voice heard, as well as AMSA is to connect and inform medical providing a platform for informing stu- students on issues that affect them, and dents about key issues and opportunities represent us as a whole. that are relevant for them. AMSA does this through a highly organised Projects: AMSA volunteers are involved in student run organisation that you can be a various projects and initiatives, allowing part of by putting your hand up for various students to connect and advocate for is- opportunities throughout the year! Here sues they are passionate about. Initiatives is a short summary of a few key things cover highly topical areas in health and are that AMSA does so you can get a little taste active in informing students about the is- before beginning your journey in medical sue and how to take action. These include: school. AMSA Queer, AMSA Mental Health, AMSA Indigenous Health, AMSA Gender Equity, Events: AMSA hosts national events for AMSA Vampire Cup, AMSA Code Green, students to come together and share a pas- AMSA Crossing Borders, AMSA Reproduc- sion for medicine, up-skill and meet new tive Rights and AMSA Healthy Communi- friends. These include: AMSA National ties. Convention, AMSA Global Health Confer- ence, AMSA National Leadership Devel- You can get involved by keeping an eye out opment Seminar and AMSA Rural Health for posts from our AMSA at USYD Face- Summit. book page or myself on your year group pages, or check out AMSA website or Face- Special interest groups & Advocacy: spe- book pages! cial interest groups in Global Health, Rural For any more questions, contact Illie your health, International Student Network and AMSA Rep at [email protected]. MedEd. Each of these has unique role in au advocacy at various levels, research and - Illie Hewitt, 2020 AMSA rep informing students about issues that will affect them as future doctors in our com- munity! FF20 42

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Sydney Uni Surgical Society. The Sydney University Surgical Society Everyone is automatically a member and (SUSS) is the largest affiliate society within the best way to keep up to date with our SMP and aims to provide opportunities for events is to follow us on our Facebook/ students to train the technical, research Instagram/Twitter pages. Year represen- and interpersonal skills important for tatives will also post sign-ups for events in surgery. Our events cater to people of all the relevant year pages. If you are keen to levels of surgical interest, whether you just be involved as a SUSS executive, you can want to have a basic idea on how to stitch get in touch with us at sydunisurgsoc@ to those who are set on a career healing gmail.com, or wait until our AGM in Au- with steel. gust. We run numerous accessible events during Hope to see you at a SUSS event soon! the year on and off campus, including regular suturing workshops to teach you - Gareth Crouch, President of SUSS how to suture, career nights, research symposiums and collaborations with affil- iate societies to show the surgical side on a diverse range of issues. A highlight of the year includes the annual City2Surf fun- run, where you and your mates can run in scrubs in a SUSS organized team to raise money for Interplast. The yearly Physi- cians vs Surgeons debate is also a blast. Those who wish to go further with their prevocational surgical training are also welcome to become involved in our more advanced skills training during our regular journal clubs, held monthly. We also field two Golden Scalpel Games teams during the year to compete in an inter-university surgical competition, which students are encouraged to take part in Finally, we also run mentoring programs to assist in career development, and adver- tise other RACS or affiliate surgical society events that may be of interest. FF20 45

Mirage Rural Health. A warm welcome to the class of 2023 from Cans in the Stands – free food and tons of MIRAGE – USYD’s Rural Health Club. information on rural health opportunities as a student and beyond. So what is MIRAGE? Rural Health Night – a multidisciplinary Multidisciplinary Interest in Rural & Gen- presentation on where rural and remote eral Education (MIRAGE) is part of the health is in 2020 and where it is headed in National Rural Health Student Network the future. (NRHSN), which encompasses 28 Rural Health Clubs at universities across Aus- Rural High School Visits – an annual trip tralia. As our name suggests, we focus on to rural high schools to encourage stu- multidisciplinary health education, but we dents to pursue careers in health. also play an important role in rural health advocacy. Indigenous Health Night – bringing to- gether health workers from across Aus- We hold several activities throughout the tralia to provide insights into indigenous year which range from career nights to health. rural and remote community engagement. Financial Student Support Scheme – offers MIRAGE members up to $500 of funding to These activities offer MIRAGE members; help attend rural health conferences. • First-hand understanding of opportuni- -Angus McGinness, ties and challenges in rural and indige- MIRAGE President 2020 nous health • Networking with clinical and communi- ty leaders in the sector • Experience engaging in rural communi- ty service • Professional and academic develop- ment through subsidised conference opportunities Some exciting events and opportunities in the works for this year include: Rural Health Symposium – a collabo- 46 ration with Rural Clubs from UNSW and UNDS in the form of workshops and ques- tion panels from community leaders, spe- cialists, rural generalists and trainees. FF20

General Practice Students Network. Who are we? – General Practice Students How can you get involved? – Swing by Network (GPSN) is comprised of a close- and say hi at the GPSN table on Orienta- knit, fun student group that aims to foster tion Day where we’ll be giving away free- the interest of medical students in the bies! We’ll also be on the look out for First diverse specialty that is General Practice. Year Reps – find out more by chatting to us at the stall (we’re a pretty friendly bunch!) What do we do? – Each year, our society puts on a variety of awesome nights, rang- I wish you all the best with your upcoming ing from a suturing skills workshop to a exciting medical journey, and I look for- casual trivia night for everyone! Last year ward to seeing you at our events! we co-organised First Steps, our first ever https://www.facebook.com/GPSNUSYD/ joint NSW state-event that gave students the chance to learn and practice their oph- -Danny Zhang, GPSN President thalmoscope, reflex testing and otoscope skills. We also give students the opportu- nity to hear from many GPs with decades of experience, who will give you a glimpse into the life of a General Practitioner and the challenges that it encompasses. Why is this important? – The general assumption is that GPs merely deal with coughs and colds, tears and smears. This couldn’t be further from the truth! As a GP, you are at the front line when people seek medical help, and the first point of call for thousands of people. You'll have to be well practiced in developing differential diag- noses to solve the patient's problem, and this is developed from the range of expe- riences you have during your flexible GP training pathway. Given the growing demand for astute and competent GPs in our community, GPSN strives to teach important skills and pro- vide clinical opportunities for budding medical students. FF20 47

GlobalHome. GlobalHome is USYD’s only student led global health organisation and in 2019 continued its great work in leading a range of social events and seminars from leading individuals working on reducing inequities in international health. We kicked the year off early with a red week which helped raise funds for EndingHIV and included a seminar from people living with HIV, a “dodge the STI” dodgeball tournament, bake sale and culminated with our annual red party. We also were able to hear from influential speakers from the WHO, MSF (doctors without borders) and Interplast on issues concerning reproductive rights, global sur- gery and our premier academic seminar “stories from the field”. This was also the first year we collaborated with the Ahlul- Bayt Islamic Society to bring a discussion on the Yemen Crisis. On an advocacy front many of us also at- tended the Climate strike. Past events have also focused on planetary health (code green), refugee health (crossing borders), access to essential medicines, internation- al health law and much, much more. With the most positions of any society open to first years, keep an eye out for our elections early in the year or be sure to come along to one of our amazing events to get involved. -Puneet Nanda Vice Chair 2019 AMSA Global Health Representative FF20 48

North American Medical Student’s Association. The North American Medical Students’ • Advocate to create more relationships Association (NAMSA) is a student-run with Canadian and American medical organisation at the University of Sydney. schools, to allow opportunities to do Our goal is to support international stu- electives or rotations more easily. dents throughout their medical degree and • Work with the NSW rural doctors net- provide evidence/resources to help them work to allow international students to achieve their dreams. We listen to medical do rural placements (which is currently students about their concerns over inter- not offered). national student welfare and plan to ad- • Continuing to create a mentor-ship list dress any issues that arise. of USyd alumnis that is available for all We advocate for international students NAMSA members to the faculty, we try to create the best • Get discounts from programs such as resources for the USMLE/MCCQE, and AMBOSS, Canadian Qbank and other we provide mentor-ship at each stage to resources to help make additional re- ensure international students have all the sources more affordable information necessary to be successful wherever in the world they are. My goal as president this year is to ensure Our aims for this year include: that international students have the most • Continuing to provide updated resourc- enriching academic experience throughout es for the USMLE, MCCQE, electives, their MD program, while also providing a residency, Australian internships, SMP supportive forum, adequate resources and resources and anything else needed to information to help everyone thrive. help international students. • Creating international student orienta- -Tatum Mitra, NAMSA President tion and other events such as hiking to create a tight-knit support network • Working with the faculty to determine what is happening with Pacific Bridge Initiative and streamline the process for students FF20 49

Sydney Uni Critical Care Society Medical School is hard, but never quite The highlight of the year is the annual in the way that people seem to think it is. Emergency Medical Challenge, in which Sure, there’s plenty of studying and work- one team from each clinical school com- ing to do, but there’s also a lot of juggling petes to win the shield in simulated clini- to do, which can be quite overwhelming. cal scenarios where your knowledge and In no time at all, you’ll be thrown into the skills will be tested! world of OSCEs, TBLs, Clinical Days, RSAs, Though the EMC is the flagship event for DREs (hah), and a host of other unpleasant SUCCS, we also run workshops to prac- acronyms. tice hands on skills such as protecting an There’s no doubt these things are all im- airway and much more, talks from a host portant, but when there’s so much stuff of very talented doctors, plenary sessions going on, it can be easy to lose sight of why and educational events throughout the you came to medical school at all. year. When you’re feeling a bit disheartened, We want to emphasise that SUCCS is for SUCCS is here to put you right into the everyone rather than for only those inter- action. ested in critical care. We believe that the knowledge skills we learn in SUCCS will be important as doctors because critical care medicine can happen in all settings throughout the hospital rather than just departments like ED. Come learn, practice, and get inspired! - Alice Song, SUCCS President & Paul Rozenbroek, SUCCS VP Not many years ago, Sydney University 50 Critical Care Society (SUCCS) was created by a group of keen medical students when they noticed a lack of opportunities to en- gage in critical care medicine. Now SUCCS aims to provide learning opportunities and facilitate student engagement and enthu- siasm for all things critical care, including Emergency, Intensive Care, Trauma, and Retrieval Medicine. FF20