feet_first2022_v2

FEET “everybody 2202 lies” *needs a guide to first year med TSRI

contents. foreward letter from the editor letter from the president letter from the program director welcome to the SMP intro to SMP week in the life COVID health & wellbeing textbooks “patients and patience” clinical schools SUMS intro to SUMS current positions SUMSed med camp med ball marie bashir address/lambie dew oration affiliated societies a final word medical school as a mature age student medical school as a non-science back- ground student

from the editor... People had likened medical school to a salad, roller coaster, and an “exotic beast” when I asked what it was like. One particularly memorable utterance is that medical school is like “drinking water out of a fire hose”. Understandably, I was not sure what to expect - coming out of those conversations more disa- ppointed with the average medi- cal student’s metaphorical capa- bilities than enlightened regarding the nature of the course. I hope to do better for you with this magazine. All the best, ARNAV SHETTY director of publications, Sydney University Medical Society “We’ve done four already but now we’re steady and then we said ‘one, two, three, four...’”

from the programme director... Welcome to the Sydney Medical Program! You are commencing your medical journey at a time when the critical importance of healthcare workers has been highlighted by the COVID pandemic. There are so many ways that doctors and medical students have generously contributed to the demands of the crisis. Our students have volunteered as contact tra- cers, vaccinators at both state-run hubs and with the Ro- yal Flying Doctor Service and worked alongside our resi- dent medical staff in the Emergency Departments and on the wards- we are very proud of their courage to step up into these positions and I’m sure you will do the same in the future, if required. Medicine is challenging and at the same time im- mensely satisfying. It can be stressful, exhilarating and exhausting. You will have the uni- que privilege of sharing in a person’s most vulnerable moments. Guard and cherish these experiences. What advice would I give you as you start your journey? 1. Be open-minded and flexible as you commence the MD - COVID has taught us that these qualities are essential 2. Don’t rely on previous study habits you used in your undergraduate degree- cramming does not work! Medicine requires an understanding of mechanisms and fundamental prin- ciples 3. Take every opportunity in the clinical setting- don’t hang back when your tutor asks for someone to take a history or do an examination. These opportunities help you to consoli- date your clinical skills 4. Ensure you balance your study and leisure. Medicine is a marathon, so you don’t want to burn out. Exercise regularly, see family and friends, do whatever restores you 5. Engage with your cohort- you will spend the next 4 years studying together, struggling with the same issues, marvelling at the same clinical experiences- your peers will be an incredible source of support both in the MD and far beyond 6. Seek help if you need it- there is a dedicated student support network on Camperdown campus and in your clinical school. Your Learning Advisor is also a source of wisdom and support. So as you start your first day in Medicine on 24th January 2022, celebrate your achieve- ment and reflect on the amazing opportunities that lie ahead. PROFESSOR JANE BLEASEL director, Sydney Medical Programme

from the president... Firstly, congratulations to everyone for your admission into the Syd- ney Medical Program (SMP). It’s a grand achievement, especially in these difficult times during the COVID-19 pandemic. More importantly, an even bigger congratulations on becoming the newest members of the oldest medical stu- dent society in Australia, arguably an even bigger honour! I’m sure many of you are absolutely buzzing to start this new and exciting chap- ter of your life, and hopefully the next few pages will give you a little sneak peak into what SUMS, and the SMP have in store for you. The medical program at the University of Sydney prides itself on the diversity of our student body, every single student is special, we come from all walks of life and most importantly, everyone has a good story to tell. THIS is what excited me most when I was but a youngling in the position you all are in now! If I’ve learnt anything in the last two years, it’s to not be afraid. Medical school is an enriching experience but ultimately it comes down to YOU, so never be afraid to have a yarn with some colleagues after an anatomy practical, to ask a tutor for some extra help or to ask a patient to have a chat. Feet First was designed to give incoming first years insight into what to expect over the next few years from the medical program, the pros and cons of our lovely clinical schools and most importantly, how to get involved in the glorious organisation that is the Syd- ney University Medical Society! From meeting new people at MedCamp to coordinating sports tournaments against other medical schools, SUMS has a great variety of opportu- nities on offer so as I mentioned before, DON’T be afraid! Whilst so far it seems like medical school is all sunshine and rainbows, I can warn you that the journey you’re about to undertake will be one of your most challenging so far. Getting into the most prestigious medical school in the country was no easy feat, so it follows that making it through will be just as tough. At the same time, I can reassure you that the last two years of my life have been by far the most rewarding years of my life, despite the difficulties of the pandemic. Medical school is a time of learning, JAYESH DUA president, Sydney University Medical Society

INTRO to the SMP Well, congratulations. You’ll thods, and heirarchies within clinical settings hear this a lot. You’ll find will make you feel firmly back in square one, more joy, however, in the eye- perhaps doubting your abilities or indeed the brows you’ll raise and the very reason you put yourself through this. impressed “Oh really? you’re a clever one!” type comments garlanded upon you when you I guess its times like these where remembe- reveal that you’re a medical student. Please ring your achievements, motivations, and all lap these up - for two reasons: Firstly, you that praise is helpful! Here are some general deserve it. Although the path that led each of points about the year. I hope that they are hel- you readers here is unique, it’s common in pful: dedication, hard work, and, sacrifice. Relish in your success, and take pride in your noble 1. You can’t know everything, avoid the ra- pursuit. bbit holes of detail lining every topic you study. Secondly, hold that positivity close to your chest when times get rough, as (though I’m 2. It’s likely that your current study methods sure you’re aware and prepared) first year is aren’t viable this year and you’ll have to not that easy. Now, every schmuck and his find newer, better ones. This is normal, - dog has something romantically tragic to say don’t be afraid to experiment. about medical school, and its always nice to be in my position having been through what 3. You really just need to pass (or “meet ex- you’re about to experience to be all blasé pected standard”). And meeting this stan- about the whole thing, but I will really try to dard is equivalent to doing “quite well” give a genuine take about the program, with in your internalised standard of achieve- word from my fellow students. Hopefully it ment. will leave you equally reassured but also re- ady for what you’re about to experience. 4. Doctors may seem overwhelmingly intelli- gent and scary, not really - they’ve just stu- So, you may be used to undergrad, where died their particular topic for their whole cramming works like a charm and clever glib- life. ness can get you through tutorials. Perhaps you’re a science nerd who enjoyed the majes- 5. Don’t be intimidated, ask questions and ty of mastering the minutae of a topic, or a seek opportunities especially in clinical professional whose stellar interpersonal skills school. You’re in a weirdly privileged po- and quick thinking saw them finely maneu- sition in first year: you have a foot in the vering social spheres and corporate ladders door, but the person inside expects nothing - medical school, unfortunately, is an exotic of you. This is a great opportunity to learn. beast (and certainly not one I’m any closer than you to taming), and your sense of self 6. Take care of your physical and mental may take somewhat of a hit. The sheer amount health, your friends, family, and pets. of content, mystery of SMP assessment me- Arnav Shetty - some schmuck.

WEEK in the LIFE This guide roughly shows you a week in the life during the se- ticular condition (e.g. asthma). The week’s teaching starts on mesters. It’s pretty self-explanatory, and it will be covered in a Tuesday, so the new topic will be broached first on the cli- detail in the intro week lectures. I have outlined some impor- nical day. The online videos introduce the topic, the forums tant points, though. expand on it, and the TBL (explained later) on the following monday tie it all up. We also have population health forums Each block is focussed on a system (e.g. Renal, Cardiovascular, every week, as well as occasional ELP sessions which are not etc.) and each week within the blokc usualyl reals with a par- assessed but require attendance.

COVID.v corona and Goliath published March 13, 2020 by Tom Janssen politicalcartoons.com covid Medical school and a pandemic are not the preferred online delivery, whereas some stayed open for chummiest of lads. Lectures and practicals in-person attendance - this will also be something played for 300+ students are a nightmare to orga- by ear. nise with the ever-changing restrictions, as is activity within the clinical school (you can imagine how It’s probably wise to expect a good proportion of your tea- groups of students jetting around the wards all day is a re- ching to be delivered online, with situations changing ra- cipe for disaster). pidly depending on state decisions. This will likely impact you as it did us, affecting your motivation, productivity, and The SMP’s response to the virus has been evolving, and wellbeing. Taking care of yourself and reaching out to our is ought to be even smoother for 2022 than it was for the wellbeing officers is important to survive the year. previous two. Your intro week will involve a detailed dis- cussion of how learning is adapted for the restrictions, so I Furthermore, although we were able to have a med camp, aim to summarise breifly how the pandemic will affect your many SUMS events that took place in the past like Block student life. Parties, the med revue, and SUMS sports were all impossi- ble with the restrictions. We will try our best to bring these On-campus teaching prioritises labs (e.g. anatomy, bio- back this year. chem, histology), so they are the last to go online. For most of last year forums (lectures) were online and labs were Making friends for us was more or less restricted to those in person, however during the delta outbreak even these we did labs and TBLs with, or were at clinical school, so were held online. The few on-campus forums last year we really don’t know each other as a cohort, but for many were strongly attended and very memorable, and we hope the friends they made were pivotal in getting through the that there are more for your cohort this year, but it’s diffi- year academically and staying motivated. There are a lot of cult to predict. Clinical school repsonses are dependant on incredible individuals in the cohort to be met, so take every the particular school and their capabilities. Some schools opportunity you can!

&WHEEALLLTBHEwith LUKE STRASIOTTO Take care of yourself socially. That might mean INGou can’t take care of others if yourself making time for friend, family, maintaining your participation in social hobbies or even just jumping isn’t taken care of. on discord to play games with your old crew. YIt’s really important to keep on top of all Take care of yourself spiritually. I can’t give you tips on this, because it will be different for every person, aspects of health and wellbeing while you study me- but find what it means to you and try to do it. dicine. A big welcome to all of our first years – while We’ve already talked about mental health but take what I say may not be ground breaking for many of care of yourself psychologically. Part of this will you, please take careful note of it because it’s one of be taking care of yourself physically, socially and the most important things you’ll hear for a while. spiritually, but the other part is knowing when you’re stressed, when you’re burnt out, if you need a break In general, studying and then working in medicine is or need to ask for help. Remember, mental health is stressful. We often “burn the wick at both ends”, sa- as much of a reason as physical health if you need crificing sleep, healthy eating, exercise, socialisation special consideration for assessments etc., and all a in the pursuit of those precious minutes of studying. doctor needs to write is that you weren’t medically fit The stressful nature of study is probably why medical to participate, not what you were unwell with. students have high rates of mental health conditions and the perceived stigma of mental health can be a barrier to students seeking help. So the first thing I want to really highlight is that COVID made all of these things harder – personally it’s ok to be not ok. We all need help sometimes during the Delta outbreak I coped by trying to get and if you’re feeling stressed, anxious, depressed myself fit. Then when I injured myself it took a much or anything else impacting your mental health, the bigger mental toll on me than injuries normally do. best thing you can do for yourself and your future Fingers crossed, Omicron won’t impact us for as patients is to seek professional help. There are seve- long or as severely as previous outbreaks. But if you ral free and confidential services around to support need to isolate, do your best to keep as healthy as you - USYD has the CAPS counselling service and you can and remember to keep in touch or reach out headspace is also phenomenal (although you need to if you just need anyone to talk to – anybody on the be under the age of 25 for headspace). SUMS Council or Exec is always there to lend an ear, as will the buddies you are hopefully allocated It’s important to remember that those ‘precious’ and the SMP Student Support Team. minutes of studying are probably doing more harm than good when we sacrifice other aspects of our Keep well, and keep in touch! health for them. If you’re neglecting aspects of your health for study, you’re probably going to be decrea- Luke Strasiotto sing your test results in the long run. Health and Wellbeing Officer Take care of yourself physically. That means get your 8 hours of sleep, make sure you exercise, drink lots of water, don’t eat out too much and try to eat heal- thily, don’t drink too much and minimise (or avoid if possible) alcohol and substance consumption.

textbooks & equipment SMP lectures cover most of what you need to dents. know and will mostly be tested on, however In terms of equipment, you’ll need a stethos- in an effort to cover everything, and to su- cope for clinical school, parading around with pplement the strengths and weaknesses of which is one of the year’s greatest pleasures. your particular background, you may wish to The medical student favorite is the Littmann supplement your learning with textbooks, for Classic III, but there are plenty of other custo- which there is a list below. You do not need misations and models for all price ranges and to buy these! There are always hard copies in tastes. Here’s a good site to get your medical libraries and at your clinical schools, and pdf stuff: medshop.com.au. versions possibly floating around. If you’re In terms of textbooks, here is a recommended looking for a hard copy, however, you can try list. studentvip.com.au/textbooks which boasts an array of second hand textbooks from stu- THE ESSENTIALS Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine Clinical Examination, Talley & O’Connor MSK anatomy MSK Systems at a Glance, C Swales, C Bulstrode. Anatomy: A Photographic Atlas, Rohen Lutgen-Dre- coll (really a holy grail for learning clinical anatomy. respiratory There are also flash cards available.) West’s Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials, John The Anatomy Coloring Book, W. Kapit, L. M. Elson B West (also check out his youtube lectures) Netter’s Anatomy & Flash Cards haematology pathology Hoffmann’s Haematology: Basic Principles and Practice, R. Hoffmann Robbin’s and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease cardiology histology ECG Made Easy, John R. Hampton Histology: A Text and Atlas, M. H. Ross, W. Paulina Pathophysiology of Heart Disease, L S Silly pharmacology Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology, H. P. Rang, J. M. Ritter Brooke Carmody, adapted by A. Shetty

Patiepnattisencea reflection about finding meaning in learning medici- & ne, and how our clinical experience echoes within our personal lives by RAHUL SOOD, MD 2 “My patience is for my patients and those in my underwear in my bedroom. In the world outside my who suffer. For the benefit of all living bedroom, it is difficult to settle into the reality where you beings.” can’t cash in a warm smile under an anaesthetic-blue mask. The last person I hugged was probably my fami- I write this little phrase most days before I start studying. ly when I left for Sydney at Auckland airport. Infection Some days it is an affirmation. Some days it is a needed rates, false positives, vaccine rollouts, traffic light systems, reminder of why I am to sit for the next hour or so. Other talking heads, ICU beds, all fall into the fractals of abs- days it is a prayer. Most of the time I forget to write it all traction as I wait patiently behind my Windows Surface together. pen. With a careful flick of my electronic pen on the god-like The most powerful lesson I learned in the first half of technology of a Windows Surface, I seek to tie the strands medical school, as the lockdowns began to descend, is to of privilege and duty. An affirmation/reminder/prayer that sip tea slowly. Tea teaches me patience. It doesn’t matter threatens ‘Dad Joke’ yet imbued with enough Buddhism which kind. Black in the morning to reflect the sun of the to set an intention seemingly larger than myself. day. Chamomile at night to flower forth dreams of the sun. Medical school in a world plunged in pandemic is stran- Sometimes I choose liquorice, with its surprising sweet- ge. During lockdowns, shielded behind the reflection of ness stolen from sugar canes and stowed in its roots. a computer screen and carolled by daily ZOOM incanta- “How many years until you are Doctor?” tions, the distance between patience and patients looms “Oh, and THEN you can specialise?” as wide as the distance between different University “Gosh that’s a lot of study!” lecturer’s video conferencing competence. The patience My patience is a sip of tea punctuating morning breaths expected of a medical student, almost a pre-requisite to and obscure liver physiology. I came to medicine based digest the mentally calorific density of textbooks, lectures on an impulse strong enough to feel like instinct (and of and online videos, has been compounded by the fear and course a GAMSAT score passing a standard based on god- uncertainty of COVID-19. knows what). My patience is for my patients, and perhaps this year, and the next, and maybe after that too, I am my “My patience is for my patients and those who suffer.” own patient. A patient to the doctor of time that muses at Patience for what? Whose patients exactly? And what me with “hmms…” “ahhhs…” as I scribble stick figures suffering? and scandalous acronyms onto my tablet screen. Part 1: Patience Part 2: Patients I stare at the wayward triangle I have drawn in the middle I remember the first week in clinical school. We went into of the screen meant to resemble the human liver. Coloured the emergency department. I expected the urgency of arrows and circular lobules fractal as I attempt to reduce emergency. Instead, there was a strange hum of stillness. the complexity of the human detoxification centre into two The whirring of the machines breathed, and monitors dimensions. Mornings like these, in the quite of my study beeped, punctuating the stale air. The robots had taken table, with the warm yet quickly cooling companionship over the job of living. of Dilmah tea, I find patience. Or rather, I test patience. It can be difficult to accept that the abstraction of liver phy- The nurse began to show us the computer system. The siology has any relevance to taking care of sick humans. It system had some clever acronym that spelled out a name. is hard to understand that I am attending medical school JONES or OLIVER, I can’t remember which. A seemingly

innocuous Christian name enveloping a long technologi- would descend. cal acronym. It reminded me of MSK block. Not the study of it – well As I linger in the hallway, still confused by the deadening maybe a little bit of the pain of anatomy – but the many silence of an emergency room, movement suddenly erupts. arthritic patients we saw in hospital. We saw a handful of The patient in the room in front of us begins to slowly wri- Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis patients. Every the. Tubes probe his mouth like aliens. Then, he starts to single one of them was a lady above the age of 45. Some move violently. His eyes are dark with shock and widen to had a long laundry list of inflammatory disease. All had a deep gaze as if they are lost in a dream. Two nurses rush had some hand deformities. One poor lady named Ruth to him trying to figure out what dose of tranquilizer will had such pain in her ankle she had elected to fuse the appease the monitors, to usher silence back into the ward. joint, trading in pained movement for stillness. “What happened to him?” I vacantly ask the JONES computer. I sit on the yoga mat at the foot of my bed. It is 10pm and “He was in a car accident” The nurse replies, also staring usually at this time I too try to welcome some stillness. But at the screen. I can’t stop wiggling my finger. Interweaving my interpha- The patient’s terrific clamours, muffled by plastic naso- langeal joints. The pain reminds me of Ruth. Ruth, and gastric tubes, suddenly make more sense. It was as if he many of the arthritic women we met on the wards, seemed was still stuck in the trauma of the accident, reaching for to have a story of suffering beyond their joints. Ruth told safety. While the robots and monitors kept the body alive, us her joints would flare up during times of stress. That the mind still was walking the tightrope between life and her first major flare up happened when she lost her child death, survival and tragedy. in a car accident. Patience. Who’s patience? The emergency department I notice that when I extend my finger there is pain which ward seemed extremely patient. The metronome of vital is relieved when I flex my finger. Holding the Gi during signs seems to patiently count points gained of life against training involves gripping material with curled fingers. death. The patient’s patience? The man whose mind still This makes me think that although extension hurts, may- mines the past trying to find a way out of chewed up car. be it is necessary to stretch my finger in this range or mo- Whose patience? The two nurses who remain in states of tion to counterbalance the hours spent with closed fists. I overslept and under-wept, trying to appease the beeps of wonder what my finger would look like under the piercing monitors by bartending tranquilizers. gaze of an X-rays. Osteophytes from osteo-fights. I knew that my understanding of patience, and indeed There is a classic Zen Koan that gently asks: “What is patients, would grow more mysterious after my first week the sounds of one hand clapping?” As I think of arthritic in the wards. I wish I could neatly package away what it hands on my yoga mat, this phrase echoes in my mind. I meant to be a medical student, or a doctor, or a patient, or remember the partners and husbands sitting at the bedside even just a human. Like the acronym of the JONES com- of the arthritic patients. They were the patient’s extra pair puter system, I hoped to give it a name. The truth is this of hands. Some had been together for 40 years. These time as a medical student on the path towards a degree partnerships were palpable amongst the obvious pain, and apparent training, is a practice of patience for further distress and suffering in the room. I can’t imagine what it mystery. I hope to remain curious, yet ignorant, in the face would mean to fuse my finger joint. Or if it hurt so much of this mystery. that I couldn’t dress myself, let alone train martial arts again. I start looking around my bedroom for an extra Part 3: Suffering pair of hands, just in case. I wonder what cardiologists think about love. Somewhere The sound of one hand clapping is silence. Until your in the fluid dynamics of blood flow, pressure mechanics hand finds the hand of the world; the hand of another to in muscled chambers and the rhythmicity of the electrical hold, celebrate, clap, hand-dance with. My diagnosis of nodes, there must be a clue of why on earth the heart is excessive martial arts leading to arthritic pain is the sound related to love. Maybe love is an arrythmia. of one hand clapping through the pain of losing someone I love. COVID-19 cut short the time we began to know Late in the university year, I developed arthritis. My left and celebrate each other. We were abseiling down the un- index finger accrued a debt from intense martial arts tra- certain rockface of romance, gently knowing we may part ining. To be more precise, my first distal interphalangeal ways when we reached the ground, but the pandemic cut joint was inflamed by repetitive stress injury from holding the cord. No one really taught me what to do in this state. Gi grips. Every day, sometimes twice a day, and especially Not at my all-boys public school, not at my college frater- during the week of KAT assessment, I would go to the dojo nity, and certainly not the cardiologists at med school. So, religiously. I was training as though I was preparing for a I resorted to cuddling on jiu jitsu mats under the pretence fight that was never going to come. Tape up the finger. of arm-locks and chokeholds. Afterwards, while in the loo or taking a shower, I would wiggle my finger and explore the inflammation. Poking I wonder if Ruth’s frozen ankle reminds her of the child and prodding. Comparing to my right finger. Clinical she lost. Frozen in time, the pain captured in stillness. and curious. As I would go to my bedroom to stretch and prepare for the unwelcoming strangles of sleep, the pain Rahul Sood | More writing at www.dialecticalthinking.net

CLINICAL SCHOOL? Your clinical school will be a (tuesday and wednesday), and you will core location during your de- attend hospital on the assigned one, and gree, representing the clinical have the other one off as an “independant side of the medicine that you learning day”. You do not need to attend learn in class. As the years go on, time clinical school on this day. spent here increases, so thinking about your clinical school preferences also in- During the welcome week you will have cludes considering where you may want lectures about clinical school, so I’ll save to move out to for the later years of your the details, rather presenting you with degree. introductions by members of the various clinical school societies this year to give Clinical schools are academic hubs within you a vibe of their beloved clinical school. local hospitals that are associated with the I hope this will be a handy guide in selec- university. There is generally a section of ting your preferences. the hospital reserved for medical students and academic staff containing tutorial You may not get your first preference, but rooms, a library, lecture halls, etc. as one please don’t be disappointed! You’ll come would find on campus, as well as a social to love wherever you’re placed as it’s the space with storage and a kitchen. There people, tutors, lovely patients, and satis- is also a range of societies run by the stu- faction of being in a doctor’s boots that dent bodies of the respective schools that really make your experience special. Very facilitate social and academic activities. quickly you will become accustomed the Most importantly, they will make you feel the commute, location and early starts, at home! and won’t look back! There are two possible clinical school days

NEPEAN When choosing a clinical school, you’re not just choosing based on location, have protected space and the building is shared with you’re choosing the school that will students from many healthcare professions. shape your education for the next four years. Nepean clinical school has some of the Nepean clinical school offers students extra tutorial nicest clinicians, academic support staff and students sessions with specialised consultants in the field that that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Regardless we are currently studying, such as radiology semi- of where you are coming from, your learning in all nars, ECG interpretation seminars, and pulmonary aspects is supported. The team genuinely cares about physiology sessions to name a few – this really helped each individual student, and this makes a huge diffe- me for exams! We also have a great student education rence when it comes to seeking academic, emotional, team, who will run extensive revision sessions before or social support. all your exams. The Nepean hospital redevelopment is a $550 million Nepean hospital is easily accessible with public trans- project that is improving the facilities not only for pa- port and is a 10-minute walk from Kingswood train tients, but also for students. Nepean is the only clini- station. There are also lots of new and affordable cal school that offers a summer surgical program at apartment complexes in the area for you and all your the end of first year, where students can opt to scrub new friends to move into in later years. into surgeries and assist the surgeon. I never thought that I would be suturing patients before my second I’d highly recommend Nepean clinical school for an- year, but Nepean not only prepared me to do this but yone who wants a supportive and low-stress environ- also made it happen. With the redevelopment project, ment, with great and unique opportunities, free par- your cohort will undertake this summer surgical pro- king, and ease of public transport. Hope to see you gram in our brand new ORs. guys there in February! There are a few great places to eat around the hos- Claire Villanueva pital, and new cafés opening in 2022. Café Upstairs, Jin Crispy Sushi and the Good Place to name a few. Another perk of Nepean is that there is an abundan- ce of street parking, I haven’t had to pay for parking once all year. One of the perks of Nepean clinical school is that we have a completely separate building for our medical students to study and undertake their tutorials, which differs to some of the other bigger clinical schools like Central, where medical students don’t necessarily

WESTMEAD Westmead! Also more commonly known Room. Ping pong table, books, board games, couches, as Bestmead. And rightfully so. It a kitchen, toilets, lockers, air hockey, bean bags- it’s a really is unequivocally the best clini- vibe. And there’s a library too, for good measure. cal school SMP is affiliated with. The other schools might have state-of-art facilities like Travel to Westmead is pretty easy. From Redfern or Northern, or a pool table like Concord, or Dr Jane Central, a train or two at most (change at Strathfield Bleasel like RPA, or Dr Karen Fisher like Nepean, but or Parramatta), should bring you to the hospital in 30- none of them hit quite the same as us. 40 minutes. Parking can be a bit tricky if you’re dri- ving, but if you’re quick enough onto it, there’s spaces At Westmead you really do get a very holistic clinical near Parramatta River, near the station, and close-by experience. Being in the Western Health District, and streets. Carpooling is ideal if you want to drive. accommodating patients from diverse populations, you will see more than you could possibly anticipate. If you ever get hungry, there’s a great food court Guided by the incredible nurse educators, the nurses near the teaching spaces, and an Oporto and Subway on the wards, and the fantastic tutors, you will be ex- across the street. And last but absolutely not least, the- posed to a wide range of presentations and conditions, re’s some of the best coffee around at Kong’s across and some of the most challenging and intriguing ca- the street too. Kick back during your breaks and grab ses. a coffee from there. You will not regret it. In Westmead resides some of the top professors, par- Welcome again to Westmead! You’ll be welcomed into ticularly in haemotology, emergency medicine, infec- a tight family, and you will be looked after very well. tious disease, respiratory medicine, and more! The- Get excited! re’s even the central unit for pancreatic transplants for the country, placed right here in our home. You Sadin “King of the Castle” Afsar will throughout your time here get a glimpse of the complex procedures’ surgeons undertake, and follow patients along in their journeys with multifaceted di- seases like cystic fibrosis or haemophilia. As far as teaching spaces and facilities go, Westmead really is ahead of the curve. With the recently opened K block, Levels 5 and 6 have been devoted entirely to USYD students, with plenty of tutorial rooms, open study spaces, a large shared kitchen and common area, seating on the balconies, and wonderful views of Parramatta, you might as well call it a second home. Oh, and the Common Room, THE Common

CONCORD Concord Hospital, the most underrated and under the radar clinical school – but it’s a tomy practical notes on Tues/Wed before your hidden gem. Located next to the bay and Thursday session. Lots of spaces in the library along the Kokoda Track, Concord is in a too, as well as private rooms if you want to study serene location away from the hustle and bustle of in between your clinical tutorials. Central Sydney. (But not too far away!) • A large and bright common room, fitted out with a ping-pong table AND a pool table. Getting to Concord is also super easy, just a 10-minu- • The café has lots of good food options, from heal- te walk from Rhodes Station, or a direct bus ride from thy to greasy and everything in between. Cannot Strathfield or Burwood Station. If you drive, there is recommend the Hot Chips + Chicken Salt + Gra- ample parking in the lot (assuming you get there be- vy combo enough. (And they now do Iced Coffee. fore 9am), and it’s $3 for the day. Otherwise, there are Finally!) plenty of side roads for parking too. • A welcoming and helpful cohort of older students, with welcome events, mock MMCAs, and a 2nd PROS: year buddy – to help you settle in and excel throu- ghout the year. • Brilliant tutors, in a “slower-paced” hospital that will always have time for students. This also Cons: means you get to spend more time with patients without having to worry about getting in the way • Get some comfortable and supportive shoes be- of actual doctors and nurses. cause the lifts are slow, and your tutor will take the stairs. (But if you want Leg Day, this is perfect • An older demographic of patients that (almost) for you.) We’re also not the biggest hospital – but always loves a chat with students. You’ll become this means you’ll less likely get lost. good at interrupting them when they go on a tan- gent about their family while you’re trying to ask • Could do with a few more plants in the common about their renal issues. room. • Shoutout to our Clinical Nurse Educators, Mi- The best testimonial I can give to you about Con- chelle, and Toni, who are two of the most patient, cord, is that my best friend listed Concord 1st on her kind, and helpful people I know. If you ever need preferences, and RPA last; she received RPA – and assistance with a procedural skill, or want to revi- swapped into Concord. If you asked her if she would se it, they will be there with tips, tricks and all the make the same decision again, she would, easily. Ab- equipment you’ll need. (Catch me trying to put in solutely zero regrets with choosing Concord, and you a cannula for the 12th time and still needing help. won’t have any either. Don’t worry, you won’t need to know how to do it in first year, we just wanted to practice.) The Vinny Nguyen, Minnie Allen - Stage 1 CCSS Reps, admin team are also super helpful and responsive 2021 too! Jessica Li – Stage 1 Student, 2021 • Free printing! Very useful for printing out Ana-

NORTHERN The Northern Clinical School encompasses common presentations. It’s currently being upgraded multiple hospitals across the Northern ne- and has fantastic modern facilities. The smaller co- twork, allowing for clinical placements at hort placed at Hornsby means you form tight bonds Royal North Shore Hospital (primarily), with your peers – indispensable in medical school. Hornsby Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Ryde Hos- pital, and even Lismore hospital up near Byron Bay. Lismore Base Hospital is a rural hospital that allows This array covers tertiary referral to smaller, more in- Northern students to attend for 8–16-week blocks in timate settings, and thus offers a variety of experien- third and fourth year. It is set in a stunning region, ces unrivalled by other schools. close to Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. The Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) is situated Clinical staff and year coordinators at Northern are in St Leonards, easily accessible by train, bus, or car extremely helpful and keen to assist students in navi- (parking is $5 a day for concession cards holders). gating the degree. Clinicians and junior staff at Nor- It is one of two tertiary referral centres for Burns in thern are less busy than other schools, and very keen NSW, the leading Spinal care centre, and also specia- to teach. Administrative staff are very competent, and lises in Neonatal ICU and high-risk pregnancies; as often we receive SMP-related news from Northern well as offering all other services you would expect weeks before other schools are advised. Northern also from a large hospital. RNSH has a world-renowned has been one of the least COVID-affected schools, hand and orthopaedic surgery departments, whilst meaning we have had greater clinical access and tea- the physician training acceptance rates are legendary. ching through the pandemic. The Northern Clinical The critical care, paediatric, and obstetric depart- School Society runs social and academic events, in- ments are also particularly strong, with world leaders cluding the annual Northern Cruise, mock MMCA holding up each of these divisions. Independent study exams, and a buddy program for first years. at RNSH is encouraged, with students able to access wards, surgeries, and cath labs in their own time – so- These aspects – access to a wide range of hospital mething many other schools do not allow. RNSH has environments, friendly staff with time to teach, easy many great food options nearby, and the friendliest access by public transport, good cafes, and a helpful staff imaginable. Every doctor and nurse I’ve asked Northern society – combine to make Northern the has a story about working at a less friendly hospital BEST clinical school (in my humble opinion). (basically everywhere except RNSH or Hornsby). Look forwards to seeing you there! Hornsby Hospital is a 15-minute walk from the tra- in station, and free street parking is plentiful. It is a Isabella Lowe smaller hospital, though possessing an ICU, busy ED, maternity, and paediatric unit. Patients here are less complex than those at RNSH, but it provides a fan- tastic opportunity to master the basics and to learn

CENTRAL Central:‘The most sought after prize!’ Right beside the esteemed Camperdown campus, As for coffee, RPA caters to a range of tastes from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is in the per- expensive bougie (Campos on Missenden Rd) to fect location for those living in the inner more modest options such as ($1 at 7/11… it’s city. The clinical school itself is the Susan Wakil buil- actually pretty good). Another huge advantage is ding. It is literally brand new and the facilities are the proximity to King street, Newtown. This area is amazing. From the rooms upstairs where we practi- known for its amazing food and most of it is actually ce procedural skills to the robotic simulation rooms very reasonably priced! downstairs, there are a lot of cool places to learn and study. Central is really easy to get to by bus to the main campus, or you can get off on Parramatta road or In short, RPA is great for three reasons: (1) abun- King street. The closest stations are Macdonaldtown, dance of patients, (2) clinical school staff/facilities Newtown, Central and Redfern. I definitely would and (3) supportive fellow students and clinicians. not suggest driving though, as there is basically Being a major tertiary hospital, it caters to patients no parking and if you do happen to get a spot it is from all walks of life ranging from the inner city to expensive. We also get access to a concession opal remote areas, people of diverse backgrounds, ages card being students, so the dreaded public transport and native languages. Hence you are exposed to a option really is the best. highly diverse range of cases. Secondly, the clinical school support staff are always there right from 7am, Hope to see you all soon! super approachable, helpful and smiley (seriously how do they do it?). Having David, former ED nurse Mollie Jane Carroll, Matt Mahjoub & Patrick and current procedural skills coordinator, makes our Gibb workshops a delight. Lastly, you can always say hello to your senior fellow students at the student lounge. A room dedicated to Med students near the womens and childrens entran- ce of the hospital. Here we have access to lounges, microwaves and it’s only a short walk to the RPA li- brary. And the clinicians? Well, they are simply ama- zing; knowledgeable, supportive and keen for you to learn, with a bonus if they are JMO/resident/interns (seem to remember what it’s like being a student). For those interested in research, there are plenty of opportunities with the USYD campus so close by.

S M U Sydney Uni Medical Society. Or as you will S know it from now till you graduate as a doc- revision sessions before exams, SUMS is like a youn- tor with the utmost gratitude for all the socie- ger sibling- you probably never asked for one, but ty and the people within it will have done for when you need them most, they’ve got your back. you over the next 4 years, SUMS. As far as student societies go, there is no other with as much as history If you want to get involved, SUMS will be hosting its or influence. I mean it was established in 1856. As Special General Meeting (SGM) in March, where Borat would describe it, it really is the King in the multiple different positions will be open for election. Castle. It is also one of the most well-established me- On the following page is a bit of a synopsis on each dical societies in the country, with strong affiliations of these positions, and what you can look forward to with other medical societies, and connections with in the roles. Beyond this, the SGM is where the goals healthcare professionals from around Australia. and objectives of the year will be discussed- and you bet these are bigger and bolder than ever. Even if During your time in SMP, SUMS will be your best you’re not thinking of running for a position, come friend you never asked for- bringing to you events, along and support your friends, and get in the know academic support, and advocating for you at every about the plans for the year. step of the way. This guide will give a bit of an over- view of the main events organised by SUMS each As someone who ran and was elected as SUMS First year, but beyond just these, there are many more Year Rep in ’21, I can safely say it was a fantastic smaller parties, academic events and seminars, and experience. I was able to advocate for the cohort, other activities to look forward to. Covid obviously liaise with the Year coordinator about practically left its very pronounced mark on what was possible everything, and bring very high-quality memes on a over the past couple of years, yet SUMS in the past weekly basis to the hungry attention of the MD1 co- year still managed to pull off MedCamp and very hort. And besides the positions, there’s always other soon, Med Ball, which is a testament to the resolve of ways to get involved. Follow SUMS on Facebook those working behind the scenes. and Instagram, check their website time to time, look out for Merch later in the year (yeh, sick!), and get Yet perhaps after all this, the most important thing excited for what we hope will be a good year. Get SUMS will do for you is advocacy. SUMS, from the keen! Executive Committee right down to the Year Reps, will constantly strive to ensure you are receiving the Sadin Afsar, King of the Castle, MD2 best possible medical education, from liaising with Faculty regarding matters pertaining to curriculum and delivery, to bringing you academic events to supplement your learning. From practice papers to

positions for election... SUMS council is made up of a wide range of positions up for grabs at the next general meeting. Get involved! Indigenous Health Officer (all stages) Indigenous Student Representative Organising “Close the Gap” day and A representative for the medical society liasing with AIDA on Indigenous issues. from the body of indigenous students at Attending regular meetings with A/Prof. Sydney Medical School. Lilion Bandler. First Year Representatives (stage 1 only, Med Ball Convenors 2 reps) A team of at least three first-year students Organise social events for your year level who will jointly organise the bigget social and report the cohort’s thoughts to SUMS and the faculty. Often one of the most hotly event of the year: the med ball. contested roles! Merchandise Officer (all stages) Producer of the Med Revue (stage 1 Organise merchandise for the society. only) Sports Coordinator (one stage 1, one Working with your cohort to organise the stage 2) Med Revue, a show that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity in the Organising sporting within the year such past. This is a significant job where or- as interfaculty sports, med1 vs. med2 foot- ganisational and people skills are key. ball, quadfac rugby, etc. Events subject to (Note: the Med Revue is not confirmed to be taking place this year given the COVID COVID restrictions. situation. This event, and therefore the IT Officer (all stages) position, is TBC). Engaging with SUMS online activities, Junior AMSA Representative including updating the website and moni- A pre-clinical student position with the toring the email. role of assisting the AMSA Representative in promoting and engaging with AMSA events on campus and nationally.

SUMSed a student-run tutorial program- me. let’s suffer together. SUMS Ed is a student-run initiative with the ANKI is a great resource for memorising large primary purpose of making your study life volumes of information and I highly recommend easier. trying it out. When you first download a deck don’t Each Tuesday we release a quiz focused be overwhelmed by the large volume of cards, you on core content from the previous week to help will need to spend a few hours going over them you keep on track with revision. If you don’t get to when they’re new but it’s surprising how quickly them that week, they are great for revision at the the information sinks in, and the number of card end of the block. Usually there is a zoom session reviews will drop. on Wednesday or Thursday evening to explain the answers and give you an opportunity to ask any Learning anatomy using spaced repetition is questions that you may have. hugely effective and having pre-made cards takes some of the pressure off to give you time for other For year one SUMS has put together practice things. exams for each of your KATs, which is extra revision on top of the ones you will get from SMP. At the beginning of the year SUMS will be run- This year we are also hoping to be able to share ning a session on what study habits have got us the various practice exams made by the clinical through the year, what resources we use, and how school societies so that everyone gets access to the to get the most out of ANKI. Emma Ping has crea- same resources. ted a written guide where students have detailed their study routines, you will find out what works After the release of the practice exam there will be for you but knowing what works for others is a an opportunity to submit questions, and if there good starting point. is a need, we will organise a Zoom to revise ques- tions that need more detailed explanations. This Finally, if you find you are really struggling with can also be an open opportunity to revise topics content, reach out to the faculty sooner rather you might be stressing out about just prior to the than later. Everyone in this course is capable of KAT. doing well, but sometimes it takes a bit of help to figure out the best way of working for you. For anatomy study I have organised my* Anki anatomy flash cards into weekly practical con- *First half of the years ANKI plus a fair bit of the rest made by Grace Mackie and tent that will be released in the SUMS Ed drive to coincide with the anatomy practical of the week. selflessly shared with me, and now the entire incoming cohort. Fran Osler, SUMS Education Officer below is a funny little excerpt from the 1986 feet first magazine (corresponding graduating class are probably easy to spot)



By now we’re sure that you’ve heard night’s themed party, learn how to play ‘Remier heaps about the amazing opportunities League - the national sport of Australian medical to get social in your very first year of the students, participate in what we’ll loosely call team SMP. On the slim chance that you we- sports, collect a tonne of merch from each SUMS ren’t already aware of it we present, quite possibly society, have a cheeky bev under the stars, and the highlight of the social experience for any year much much more. one University of Sydney medical student: Med Not only will you solidify your first year friends- Camp! hips, but second year mentors will be present to guide the weekend’s festivities, lend a helping Med Camp is the ultimate bonding and friends- hand, and answer all of your questions about year hip-affirming extravaganza of your first year iti- one and how to tackle learning medicine. Come nerary. By the time Med Camp 2022 rolls around along to learn why friendships forged in the cruci- you’ll have had the opportunity to experience ble of Med Camp tend to last beyond graduation. SUMS in all its glory, and no doubt you’ll be well versed in the SMP timetable. Our weekend long Med Camp 2022 will run from the 29th of April getaway gives you the chance to take a break from to the 1st of May so save those dates, and keep a the zoom fatigue and meet others from the chunk lookout for Launch Party in Feb, with many more of your cohort not in your prac slot or clinical deets to follow. day, in an inclusive and wholesome environment – finally put a face to the zoom comments and start We absolutely cannot wait to meet you, and we’re building a network of peers to guide and support honoured to be a part of your first year experience. you through the SMP and beyond! Much love from your 2022 Med Camp Convenors, Immerse yourself in the Mud Mania obstacle Luke van Jager, Thomas Harrington, Nishka course, throw down on the dance floor at each Pinto medcamp! a memorable weekend away in the woods.

How many times has our whole with the rest of our year to create memories cohort been together under one that’ll last longer than any TBL mechanism. roof? How many chances have We’ve all been to countless formals and balls there been to actually meet the in undergrad and elsewhere. We know the people we’ll be spending our entire careers feeling of a standard drinks package and a working with? Deprived of almost all non- three-course meal. Med Ball is not your high Zoom social events, we are possibly the most school formal. There will be no 18-year- isolated and antisocial med cohort in USyd olds trying on a suit for the first time. Med history. Ball is a collective sigh of relief from 300 people who have worked hard for a year It’s time to come together as a cohort and with no proper holidays and no way to blow celebrate how far we’ve all come in the most off steam with their colleagues. A glittering uncertain and challenging times. Before we light at the end of the tunnel and a hope for dive headfirst into another demanding year reprieve from a gruelling year. of stress and study, before we forever go our separate ways into our clinical school Claire Villanueva, Luke van Jager, Nadya groups, let’s take one night and have a drink Rykina, Emily Lee, Mohini Parmar - Med to all the zoom lectures, ProctorU tests and Ball Convenors online pracs we’ve endured together, but apart. Introducing Med Ball – the premier SUMS event of the year, now exclusively for the cohort who missed out the most. An all-in- clusive ball at a beautiful venue overlooking Darling Harbour. The best, if not the only opportunity to get a little dressed up, bring partners and friends along and mingle

On the 21st of September 2021, we had to participate in a Q&A discussion with Professor the pleasure of convening the 17th Wood. Having piqued the interests of many in the Annual Marie Bashir Address. The audience, Professor Wood was able to provide fur- prestigious Address honours Professor ther insight into her research as well as guidance The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO’s for the aspiring female surgeons in attendance. It contributions to medicine and society, and highli- was needless to say students and staff alike were ghts the achievements of women in the health very much inspired. community. The night closed with the announcement of the In previous years, this event has been held as a winners of the raffle fundraiser, held in support of formal dinner at the Women’s College, with a key- Mudgin-Gal Women’s Place and the Fiona Wood note speaker as the highlight. However due to the Foundation. Mudgin-Gal is a service run by Abo- COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held online riginal women, for Aboriginal women and aims to via Zoom and welcomed an audience of 170 indivi- provide a safe haven that supports and empowers duals across Australia. women and their young families. Additionally, the Fiona Wood Foundation facilitates the translation This year, our keynote speaker was Winthrop of clinical research into pioneering new bedside Professor Fiona Wood FRACS AM who was able treatments for healing burns and minimising sca- to call in from Perth. Professor Wood is both a rring. It was very pleasing to see the support from highly skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeon our audience and we are very happy to say we as well as a leading medical researcher currently were able to raise $1600 this year for our chosen presiding as the Director of the Burns Service of charities. Western Australia. Amongst the many achieve- ments that have made her world-renowned include As convenors of the 2021 Marie Bashir Address, her response to the devastating 2002 Bali bom- we would like to thank our peers and colleagues bings where she led a medical team to treat the for their attendance at this year’s address and we largest proportion of survivors arriving in Perth at look forward to the next iteration of this event the time. Professor Wood is also internationally re- (fingers crossed it will be in person)! cognised for her role in developing ‘spray-on-skin’ which not only minimises scarring but also impro- Jacqueline Lim, Nadya Rykina-Tameeva, Hope ves the outcomes for burns victims. Her commit- Tanudisastro, David Chen, Gerry Guo ment to working from the basic sciences through Marie Bashir Address Convenors 2021 to the highest levels of clinical care remained a central theme to her presentation and we were honoured to hear her speak. Following the presentation, we were also delighted

dlbaemiwe- otiroan The annual Lambie Dew Oration is Delivering the oration “Which lane should doc- one of the Medical Program’s premier tors swim in? Medicine is a social science”, Dr academic events. Named in honour Swan articulated the importance of public heal- of Progressor Charles Lambie and th in today’s world and ways to navigate health Harold Dew, the first Bosch Chairs of Medicine discussion in a somewhat daunting political & Surgery at the University, it has traditiona- minefield. Therein lies the argument that doc- lly been an opportunity for SUMS to invite a tors do not only have a role to play in the science speaker who has made a substantial contribu- and medical world but also social and political tion in heath. Past speakers have included Dame spheres. Marie Bashir and Dr Fred Hollows, invited to speak in the grandeur of the University’s Great In the setting of extensive lockdown restrictions, Hall. it was the first time in its history that the Lambie Dew Oration was held online for its entirety and In 2021, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr thus, we were thrilled to be joined by countless Norman Swan as our orator. Dr Swan’s career alumni who would otherwise not have been able has been bountiful and ranged from clinical to attend in addition to a plentiful student au- practice to international broadcasting – now dience. becoming one of Australia’s most well-known doctors and a pillar of reputable advice, hosting The Lambie Dew Oration remains one of the ABC’s Health Report and co-creating ‘Co- SUMS’ most revered events and it will be a roncast’ amongst his other stellar achievements. pleasure to see what the next convenors have Given the uncertainty of our currently circum- planned. stances with the COVID-19 pandemic and the plague of information and misinformation, we Nanette Chan felt that it would be incredibly insightful to have Dr Swan as our speaker.

a fsfioliactieedti e s SUMS has relationships with a diverse range of me- medical school experience. We have word from the dical societies that provide area-specific social and following societies, but there are many more! Keep academic events. Join these to explore your areas of a look out on facebook for more information regar- interest further, meet new people, and enrich your ding meetings and events. australian medical students’ association the surgical society the pathology society the psychiatry society the north american students’ association the obstetrics and gynaecology society the GlobalHOME society

australian medical students’ association The Australian Medical Students Asso- express and elevate their voices. They also offer ciation (AMSA) is the representative exam resources, clinical fact sheets and webi- body of the 17,000 medical students nars on topics ranging from financial manage- throughout Australia. AMSA is a ment to internship preparedness. student-run organisation that aims to connect, inform and represent the voices of medical stu- Events – national events are held to connect and dents through numerous advocacy, leadership empower the community of medical students in and research initiatives, resources and events. Australia. You can network, upskill, advocate for issues important to you, and make new friends There are many AMSA opportunities you can who share your passions at these events! These get involved in! include the National Convention, Global Health Conference, National Leadership Development Committees – there are various representative Seminar, National Council, Rural Health Sum- groups and initiative groups who are involved mit, and the Global Health Intensive in advocacy and diverse projects throughout the year. These include AMSA Queer, AMSA Mental AMSA Membership is only $30 for the entire Health, AMSA Indigenous Health, AMSA Gen- duration of your degree (or $10 for one year), der Equity, Vampire Cup, Code Green, Crossing and what you gain from membership far outva- Borders, AMSA Sexual and Reproductive Heal- lues that cost. To become a member and join the th, AMSA Healthy Communities, AMSA Inter- national community of medical students, visit national Students’ Network, AMSA MedEd and the AMSA Website. more! Follow AMSA at USYD on Facebook to stay in Resources – AMSA produces and publishes the loop and visit the AMSA Facebook or their numerous guides, reports, research and newsle- website to read more! If you have any questions, tters for student members. These provide stu- you can always contact Ed, your AMSA Rep, at dents with information about relevant issues and [email protected]. opportunities that arise, and allow students to

the USYD surgical society The Sydney University Surgical society prevocational surgical training, there is plenty (SUSS) is the largest affiliate socie- of opportunity to become involved. We hold more ty within SMP and aims to provide advanced skills training workshops, “Unfor- opportunities for students to train gettable Cases” presentations and run several the technical, research and interpersonal skills surgical research projects. SUSS also regularly important for surgery. Our events cater to people collaborates with RACS and other surgical so- of all levels of surgical interest, whether you just cieties to advertise and organise surgical events want to have a basic idea of how to stitch to tho- that may be of interest. se who are set on a career healing with steel. Everyone is automatically a member and the We run numerous accessible events during the best way to keep up to date with our events to year on campus, at the different clinical schools follow us on our social media platforms – Face- and online over Zoom. These events include book, Instagram and Twitter. SUSS Stage repre- regular suturing workshops to teach you how to sentatives will also be posting event notifications suture, career and network evenings, research in the relevant year pages, so keep an eye out symposiums and collaborations with affiliate for those posts as well. If you are keen to be societies to highlight a surgical perspective on a involved with the SUSS team to organise events, diverse range of issues. One of the highlights of you can get in touch with us at sydunisurgsoc@ our year is Surgical Mixer night where you get gmail.com, or turn up to our AGM in August. to network with the top surgeons in SMP to find out what a career in surgery is really like. Our Hope to meet you all at a SUSS event soon! annual Physicians vs Surgeons debate is also a blast. Danny Deng SUSS President 2022 For those who wish to go further with their

the USYD pathology society Pathologists seem to be the most mys- forensic pathologists is really like. (Surprise! It terious bunch in doctors who do most is not quite like CSI.) Throughout the year, our of their work behind the scenes. That amazing education officer Kasia also ran histo- doesn’t mean pathology is of any less logy revision sessions for first year before each importance. Whether you have absolutely no anatomy & histology spot test. These revision idea what pathology is all about or are a pro sessions have been reported to be “life-saving” at microscopy, USYD Pathology Society is the by many students, so make sure you don’t miss place for you to meet like-minded peers and get them this year if you are after a last-minute insights into the fascinating, diverse and so- cram right before your exams. mewhat mysterious field of pathology. USYD pathology society is for everyone, so whe- Last year, we held various events catering to ther you are a pathology enthusiast or just want people of all levels of knowledge or interest in to meet new people and make some friends in pathology. We started the year with our patho- med school, you are welcome to join us. logy career night which featured great speakers We will have our OGM early in the year for elec- from different subspecialties in pathology. We tions for first year rep and other roles, so stay were able to network with the practising patho- tuned to our fb page if you want to be involved. logists and find out more about their journeys We have lots of events for this year and we can’t and what careers in pathology are like. Another wait to see you there! highlight of the year was Forensic pathology casefiles where enthusiastic forensic patholo- gists from NSW Health presented cases they worked on and showed us what the daily life of

the USYD psychiatry society The University of Sydney Psychiatry which students can foster their knowledge and Society (Usyd Psych) was established skills and learn from peers and experts in the in July, 2020 with the hopes to intro- field. Therefore, we have established partners- duce medical students to a greater hips with existing Psychiatry Societies in other scope of psychiatric topics and research than is Australian medical schools, such as UNSW typically offered in standard medical education. and Melbourne University. Moreover, Usyd Usyd Psych is an affiliated society with the Syd- Psych has received event sponsorship from the ney University Medical Society (SUMS) and is a Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) of The Royal non-profit, student-led society dedicated to enga- Australian & New Zealand College of Psychia- ging medical students in the field of Psychiatry. trists (RANZCP). On an international level, It receives mentorship and guidance from its Usyd Psych is also associated with the Fulbright Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Anthony Harris, a practi- Student Project, which is an international child cing psychiatrist and professor at the University psychiatry interest group led by Dr. Anita Kisho- of Sydney. re from Stanford University in the US. Although Usyd Psych is a new society and was We welcome any interested USyd medical stu- founded during the challenges of the COVID-19 dent to get involved with our Society in any ca- pandemic, it has made great strides in providing pacity they can. We have several exciting events free educational and engaging opportunities for planned for 2022 and would love to engage medical students across Sydney and Australia. the new incoming first year medical students. In its first year of operation, Usyd Psych has In February 2022 we are holding our annual organized over six different events for students AGM, in which students are welcome to attend over Zoom, including research seminars, a and run for any open executive positions. The Pathway to Psychiatry information seminar, and positions available this year are: President, Vice the annual Careers Night event. Going forward, President, Treasurer, Academic & Research we hope to be able to host in-person events, in Co-Chair, Head on Online Marketing, and Child accordance with NSW health guidelines, and and Adolescent Psychiatry Chair. For more provide further educational events for students. information, be sure to check out our facebook page at @USydPsych. Usyd Psych also strives to provide a platform for national and international collaboration, in

the north american medical students’ association Welcome to Medical School at the (Date/Time TBD); All are welcome! University of Sydney and for those who are my fellow inter- Our message to international students: Com- national students, welcome to prising of mostly international students (mainly the beautiful city of Sydney! Our student club, from Canada and USA), we have been in your North American Medical Students’ Association shoes and know how hard it is to move halfway (NAMSA), is aimed for those students who are across the world to study medicine. It’s comple- not only interested in learning more about the tely normal to be both afraid and excited about pathway to succeed and match back to a resi- this new chapter of your life, but just know that dency spot in North America, but also for those you are not the first (nor the last) set of inter- who would like to network with current, similar national students to be in these same shoes. By goal- oriented students as well as international joining NAMSA, we hope to smooth your adjust- student alumni! If NAMSA is something you are ment to the Aussie life for the next 4 years! interested in learning more about and would be keen to join, please attend our annual general Desmond Hui (Stage 3, Year 4) NAMSA Presi- meeting in the early weeks of February 2022 dent 2021-2022

the obstetrics and gynaecology society Congratulations and welcome to SMP! to kick off this year with some amazing events First year brings with it so many including networking evenings, documentary exciting experiences and opportuni- nights, charity events and procedural skills such ties, so get ready to dive in. This year as speculum exams alongside our educational you get introduced to the plethora of specialities seminars. within medicine, so it’s a great opportunity to get involved in different societies to get a feel for Getting involved in SUOGS and other societies the different areas you and your colleagues will is a fantastic way to get further experience with be working in in the future. SUOGS is Sydney some essential skills (especially in reproductive University’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society, health) that are only briefly covered in SMP, and which is run by students for students interested meet fantastic and like-minded students across in all things obstetrics, gynaecology, and wo- all years and network with some inspirational men’s health. health practitioners who are doing incredible things in the O&G space. As a society, we believe that all individuals have the right to comprehensive and inclusive obste- We can’t wait to see you at our next meeting and tric and gynaecological healthcare. We aim to event, but in the interim come and follow us on both educate and raise awareness as for wo- Facebook (Sydney University Obstetrics and men’s health through advocacy and policy, as Gynaecology Society – SUOGS) or Instagram well as support the interests of students interes- (suogs_aus) for interesting info, articles and all ted in obstetrics and gynaecology by connecting the information on our upcoming events. Have doctors and like-minded students. an amazing first week, we can’t wait to see you soon! Despite world circumstances throwing a vi- rus-shaped spanner in the works in terms of Phoebe (President), Sienna (Vice-President) in- person events, we still had some incredible and the whole SUOGS team seminars in 2021 from notable psychologists and doctors working in women’s health. We plan

the GlobalHOME society GlobalHOME is the only student back our premier social event, Red Party, which organisation within the University of aims to raise money for HIV and STI research. Sydney dedicated to Global Health. GlobalHOME aims to educate and On top of all that, GlobalHOME is actively promote the various fields and intersections that involved in and has two representatives with fall under the topic of Global Health, from pla- the Australia Medical Student Associations’ netary health to sexual and reproductive rights (AMSA) global health division and environmen- and public health justice, just to name a few. tal division (Code Green), and sends delegates to other relevant Global Health conferences. Our organisation consists of three key pillars: advocacy, academics and social. In 2021, Glo- GlobalHOME is always on the lookout for en- balHOME was a key participant in the student thusiastic individuals, if any of the above sounds climate strikes and led a medical student con- interesting to you and you would like to take tingent. On the academics front, in past years part in the committee, then follow our Facebook GlobalHOME has hosted an elective night for and keep an eye out for our SGM in February/ those considering doing their elective placement March; we have several positions up for grabs beyond Australia. Additionally in 2021, Global- just for first year students! HOME hosted a presentation by ‘No White Sa- viors’, an aid based organisation whose goal is Pravind (President) and Erin (Vice-President) to develop community based health-aid projects. Finally, though on pause for the previous two years, GlobalHOME looks forward to bringing

a fwinoarl d medical school as a mature-age student CATHY WILSON medical school as a non-science back- ground student JACK GAN

Catherine started medical school at the age of 44. She is a Mum to two incredible young adults.fter nearly 20 years as a primary school teacher and deputy principal I had to pinch myself – was I really sit- Ating in a USYD medical school orien- tation session? As the lectures piled up and the early weeks flashed by in a blur I often felt swam- ped by the workload, suffered dreadfully from imposter syndrome, was baffled by the onslaught of medical jargon and often so tired I could have cried. Turns out this is pretty normal for most med students of any age. The benefit of having a few more years, (ok - decades), under your belt is that you’ve likely felt out of your depth before, and yet you survived. After all, look at you now, you’re a first year medical student! Actually being a little long in the tooth has many benefits of watching lectures at double speed to advantages, some of which took me a while to Anki hacks, I found it super useful to ask them appreciate. To begin with, draw strength from about study methods and Apps that had worked knowing that you are a competent, mature adult for them. who has achieved many things in life. Starting new things is difficult, but you’ve done difficult Also, having had a few more hot dinners than things before , and you will regain that sense of many in the room means us “mature-agers” self-competence and accomplishment, I promise. have developed some valuable skills that can’t be learnt from any Anki deck. Being able to For me it started to kick in right after I stopped connect with a wide range of people, juggle and getting lost on campus! Being able to put things prioritise the competing demands of family, in perspective, and resilience, are powerful gifts work, study and life in general, coupled with the usually only bestowed on those who’ve endured dogged determination it took to get this far, will life’s toughest lessons and it’s something that be more useful than you imagine. And when your younger peers may not have had the privi- things threaten to overwhelm you, reach out lege of experiencing yet. to the myriad forms of official and non-official support systems, you are never alone. Sadly, like me, you may already have lost rather more neurons than you’d care to count. This Another benefit to being older is learning how to does admittedly make learning and particular- laugh at yourself. Having made a fool of myself ly remembering the tidal wave of information over the years on many memorable occasions, a little more difficult than for those with fresh I’ve learnt to jump in feet first and have lost young brains. When it comes to actual study techniques, I found that my years of pulling an all-nighter were well behind me. Thankfully the- re are ways to get through first year med school without sacrificing too much sleep. This is where those young whippersnappers who have slogged it out though years of unbroken education can be a wealth of information. From discussing the

most of the angst that plagued twenty-something Being a first year med student is something in- me about embarrassing myself. That means credibly special. Reach out to those around you, making the most of learning opportunities, as- never pass up an opportunity to learn and use king that question, giving a (wrong!) answer, or your strengths and talents to make the most of being the first to volunteer to examine a patient. every situation. Strap yourself in and enjoy the And when your tutor takes you aside afterwards ride! to kindly point out that your stethoscope is in your ears backwards and that’s the reason you Catherine Wilson, MD2 couldn’t hear the heart murmur – or anything else for that matter – you can bounce back from the minor setback, blame an old, overtired brain and keep your eyes firmly fixed on the long view. Turns out there were a fair few of us oldies amongst the group in that orientation session, and the grey hairs and wrinkles drew us to each other like magnets. Some are juggling med school with young families, even tiny babies and toddlers – these are in my opinion particularly astonishing human beings - and it’s wonderful to have students with similar life experiences to commiserate, and celebrate, with. Once we’d all been dispersed to our clinical schools though, I looked around the room and realized that many of the students I would spend most of my time with were roughly the same age as my own adult children. I had much more in common with the (often younger than me) professors, clinicians and tutors. I’ll admit to a little jolt of loneliness. I love hanging out with my kids but they kind of have no choice but to hang out with me. Would I connect with anyone here? Would anyone want to hang out with an old fuddy like me? I needn’t have worried, I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive, friendly group to share my journey with. And even if I do sometimes have to use google translate to decipher the textspeak in the group chat, I love the energy and diverse pers- pectives my fellow students bring. My advice for any new student is this: prepare to be amazed by every fellow med student you meet. They are all interesting, talented humans with unique life experiences. And remember that you already have something in common – medicine! I’m yet to meet a fellow student who didn’t want to chat about all things medicine, share their experiences of the ward visits that day or join in a whinge about the number of online lectures for that week.

Jack Gan came into the MD with a degree in mathematics, with no exposure to the medi- cal sciences. Icame into the MD course equipped with a background in theoretical mathematics don’t either – and it is not good practice to build and quantitative finance. Of course, none up a ton of technical or knowledge debt. of this knowledge was useful in a MD Managing time will be a struggle as expected, degree that demanded heavy prerequisites in but I do urge you to try to keep in tune with skill biomedical sciences. It helps to really build a sets developed in your past life, as well as any core friendship group in 1st year, as that is what hobbies. You never know when it might come in will help get you through first year medicine. handy. Something that has really helped me, is Having final revision sessions with those from doing a time audit of how I spent my week. You biomedical backgrounds will also help calibrate will be surprised too. You have your entire life to you to the level of detail necessary for medical be a doctor, so take the chance to do something examinations. non-medicine related. For me I kept up a rela- tionship, did BJJ with friends I met in medical Just like how different professions are challen- school, and worked 30hrs a week as a data ging in certain ways, medicine is too. I found scientist – so it is certainly possible! it initially difficult to cope with the overwhel- ming amount of volume, and then being able Take care of yourself, and remember it is a to communicate the information to those with marathon, and not a sprint. This is not America different levels of health literacy. Don’t be afraid where the USMLE dictates your future – grades to adjust and experiment with the way you study. in 1st year literally don’t affect your future. Some people swear by anki, other people like myself run far away from it. I had initially tried to replicate what gave me much success in the quantitative sciences, only to realise it did not work in medicine, in part when I realised I had to actually memorise things. The pace of the new SMP is unrelenting, and it will feel like all your peers know everything. (Hint: It is not their first time learning this ma- terial). It is important to almost disregard how much everyone else knows, and focus on robust- ly learning the foundations for yourself. Yes, im- munology majors will be able to recite what each cytokine does, but it is more important for you to have a high-level overview of how the different parts of the immune system work. SMP rarely focuses on such basics, so it is up to you to seek out dumbed down explanations of difficult concepts. It also makes concepts feel less ‘rote-learning’, and there often is nice logic to things despite how out-of-context facts are introduced in your medical career. Also don’t be afraid to actually admit you don’t understand something, as chances are that other people

that’s all folks! godspeed, Arnav Shetty director of publications