nuig medsoc newsletter february 2014
DESCRIPTION
NUIG medsoc newsletter 2014TRANSCRIPT
NUI
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EDDS
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N EW SLETTER FEBRUA RY 2014
In this issue
C iaran Twomey Memorial So you want to do research?
A cademy in focus: Ballinasloe and Portincula A cademy in focus: C astlebar So you want to do research? Applying for Erasmus Surgical Soc iety Masquerade Ball Sports and medic ine C PshchI Summer S chool 2013 Jigsaw G alway SFHE: an update IMO student debates Medball 2013 How to survive exam season S lainte Soc ’s Teddy bear Hospital A day in the life of: A G P IMU students – top tips Medcest: An worrying epidemic Agony Aunt: D r. O Mantic Upcoming events
Like the newsletter? Submission for articles for the next edition is now open. Articles, abstracts, ideas and comments are all welcome! E-‐mail [email protected] for more details
Ciaran Twomey Memorial
The annual Christmas soccer tournament in memory of Ciaran Twomey took place on 20th December this year. We were honoured to be joined by Ciaran’s dad for the event. The terrible weather conditions were enough to keep the first and second meds away from the Drom pitches. The first match was between the pre-meds and the third meds. The third meds took the lead early on with goals from Eoghan O’Conor, Shane Irwin, Brian Gaffney and Jennifer Byrne. The pre-meds made a good effort to come back making it 5-2. However, the third years always seemed to be well ahead and finished the match 8-3 with goals from Conor Waters, Barry Harnedy and Diarmuid O’Conor. The next match was a very competitive game between the fourth and fifth meds. The fourth meds showed why they were reigning champions and put in a powerful performance with goals from Neil Hyland (2) and Ciaran Hayes (2). The game finished 4-1 and so it was the fourth meds versus the third meds in the final. The weather conditions seemed to get worse but both teams battled hard to take home the cup and more importantly take it to med ball. The third meds took the lead just before half time with a smashing strike from Shane Irwin. The fourth years made it 1-1 just after half time with a great goal from Donal O’Malley. The two teams were very evenly matched but the third meds were next to score. Brian Gaffney hit in a great corner and Jennifer Byrne headed the ball into the net to give the third meds a 3-1 lead. The fourth meds never gave up though and they pulled a goal back through Conor Murphy. They pressed on to get an equaliser but the third meds held out and took victory for the first time. All in all, despite the weather conditions, the tournament was a great success. Huge thanks to UEFA B licence referee Vinnie Griffith for refereeing the games and organising the tournament. Jennifer Byrne
W inning team Back row: Jennifer Byrne C onor W aters D iarmuid O ’C onnor Brian G arrney Shane Irwin Front Tow: Eoghan O ’C onnor Vinc ent G riffin (Referee) Barry Harnedy
So
You
Want
To
Do
Research?
How to get the most of your research
• Find something your passionate about! Research is way more enjoyable when you are actually interested in what your doing and excited to see your results!
• Talk to your supervisor!! Let them know how much you are willing to commit before hand and make sure everybody is on the same page before the hard work begins.
• Apply for all available funding! Be wary of due dats, times needed for postage – there’s no point going to the effort of filling in the forms if you submit them too late tobe successful!
• Spend your first few days getting to know people, and be sure to make a good first impression – it may sounds obvious but you would be surprised how far politeness and willingness to help will get you!
• Money, money, money: While research is generally all about the experience, cash never went astray either! We will cover the two main sources of funding in more detail but there are other sources available!
Other sources of funding:
• Anatomical Society offers funding to a small number of applicatants working in the field of anatomy over 4-10 weeks.
See http://www.anatsoc.org.uk/Awards/GrantsandPrizes.aspx for more details
• NUIG can offer funding to a limited to a small number of students. Contact the university for more information about this!
Show me the money: how do I get funded research? Health Research Board
Who can apply? Anybody studying a health related discipline, provided they are not in final year. Your prject must fall into one fo the following research areas: clinical research, health services research, population health sciences that focus solely or predominantly on basic biomedical research are not eligible. When do I apply? Late January, generally the week after matchings of researchers and students are announced. How much informat ion do I need? Short answer: LOTS. A lay summary (a summar for those with no background in science), 1,000 word project description, details of your supervisors research experience, a letter of support from your supervisor and a detailed description of your exact role in the project. You will also be responsible for submitting a report to HRB after the project is completed. HOW MUCH??! €250 a week, for a maximum of 8 weeks.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted online, and there is no facility for posting your
application in.
More informat ion? https://grants.hrb.ie to apply, http://www.hrb.ie/research-strategy-funding/grants-and-fellowships/hrb-grants-and-fellowships/grant/67/ for more information about applications
Wel lcome Trust
Who can apply?
Medical students finishing 2nd,3rd or 4th med. Students who have completed an intercalated degree can’t apply, and graduate entry medical students with a previous degree in a science related subject are not eligible. If you have been awarded a grant for a summer research project already, you will not be considered. The project must also fall into the areas of population health, infection and immunobiology, genetic and molecular sciences, neuroscience and mental health, genetic and molecular sciences or cellular developmental and physiological sciences.
When do I apply? Mid February – it’s due date this year is the 14th! How much informat ion do I need? Description of the proposed project (including project’s background, aims, objections, experimental design and method and an outline of a timetable of work, a recommendation from one of your current academic tutor, details on your career intentions (at the moment), and an explanation on how your project will contribute to animal or human health. HOW MUCH??! €220 a week, for a maximum of 6 weeks.
How do I apply?
Applications must be hand signed and posted to England!
More informat ion? Application forms and more information availabe on: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Biomedical-science/Funding-schemes/PhD-funding-and-undergraduate-opportunities/wtd004448.htm
By Pishoy Gouda
A few years into my medical training I had the opportunity to start
applying for electives and research positions. In each of those
applications there was a heading where you were meant to add all
your research and publications. Unfortunately, I had to leave this
box blank for the first 3 years of medical school, something I am sure weakened my
applications. Now medical writing in itself can be a daunting experience, so I’ve put
together some tips on how you can get started.
1. Blogs
If you are a little intimidated by the whole academic writing scene, this might be a
great place for you to start. Blogs are an informal way of sharing your experiences,
opinions and ideas to the rest of the world. They are short and sweet and don’t take
too much time or effort to write, but that doesn’t limit their impact. The medsoc
blog is a great place to start. You’ll get feedback on your writing and your blog will
be published on the medical society website (www.nuigmedsoc.com). We are
currently accepting guest blogs, so be sure to check it out. If you are looking to
reach a broader audience, publishing on the student lancet blog is also a great idea
(www.studentlancet.com).
When trying to think of ideas for your blogs, think of highlights during your training
such as dreading your first digital rectal exam or scrubbing into your first surgery.
But they don’t have to be just clinical experiences, they can be about the panic
attack you had before your first spot test or the anatomy cadaver memorial
ceremony. Regardless of what topic you choose, don’t just write for the sake of
writing… try and actually share an experience that learn from and it will be well
received.
2. Student journals
There are a few student journals out there that routinely publish the works of
medical students. One of the most well known is the
studentBMJ (www.studentbmj.com). This is a great
journal that publishes all sorts of pieces including
personal views and experiences. That being said it is
probably the hardest medical student journal to get
published in. They usually require you to submit a pitch
(a summary of what you want to write about) to the
editor, who will then guide you in deciding whether
they might be interested in the piece or not. Don’t be
discouraged when they don’t reply (or say no) to your pitches, just keeping sending
them ideas. Even when they do like your idea, the studentBMJ has a massive
backlog, meaning it can take up to 6 months before they reject/accept your article.
Some other newer journals that I would recommend are the International Journal of
Medical Students (www.ijms.info) and the Medical Student Research Journal
(www.msrj.chm.msu.edu).
3. Actual research…
Up until now, we have only discussed writing opinion pieces and experiences….
Which is nice… but not really research. So what is the best way to get involved in
research? It would be great if I could just say, “Find something you are passionate
about and then contact a researcher in that field”. The reality of the situation is most
medical students don’t have a notion what they are interested in! I found myself in
the same position when I was applying for my first research job, so I just fired off a
CV to every researcher at my university. I got lucky and ended up with an amazing
supervisor who was enthusiastic and loved teaching. So I guess if you have no
preference in what you are doing research in, find someone who you can relate to
and has time for you and approach them about doing a summer research project
with him or her.
I have seen a summer of research make student hate even the thought of ever
having to do research again. An easy way of preventing this is a frank discussion with
your supervisor before you even begin. Find out what the project it, what your role
will be, what your day to day routine might be and what will you get out of it. These
are all fair questions and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask them.
4. Letters to the Editor
All the journals that we have mentioned so far accept letter to the editor, these are
short communications that are usually written in response to an article in a previous
issue. Sometimes journals also accept stand-alone letters which are meant to spark
conversation or raise awareness of a particular issue (Check out the February edition
of the Irish Medical Journal for an example www.imj.ie
There are frequently articles published about medical students and medical
education that fail to look at things from the perspective of medical students. This is
a window of opportunity for students to reply, via a letter to the editor, to share their
insight. These are usually referenced and require a little bit more work.
I hope that you know have the tools and resources to go out and start sharing your
research, opinions and experiences with the rest of the academic community. If you
have any questions or are looking for ideas feel free to drop me an email
Happy writing,
Pishoy Gouda
Conor Palmer 3mb winning poster from the Undergraduate Research Day 201
Portiuncula Hospital:
This 9-ward, 210-bed hospital is home to both the University of Limerick and National University of Ireland, Galway medical students and staff. Although, we are not always together in during the rotations, we will sometimes be on the same team (UL program is significantly different than ours). In total, each NUIG medical student must go through 6 rotations: GI, Cardiovascular, Care of Elderly, Respiratory, Medicine/Surgery, Perioperative Care/Critical Care. This year, Care of Elderly and Perioperative rotations were moved to the Roscommon hospital. The academy provided the students transportation to the hospital each day. The 2014 Ballinasloe NUIG Medical students had 15 students, one of which was on Erasmus for his rotations. This allowed for small teachings and ward groups of a maximum of 3 students.
On a typical day, we would meet the teams at the designated time (usually 9 AM) and ward location to receive the list of patients under the team’s care and review any events during the previous night. We would then round with the team to each ward, reviewing the case with each patient. Each team’s case load is different than the next: some teams only have 6 patients to care for, while others have more than 15. There usually is a teaching set by the medicine or surgical tutors which can include classroom teachings, NUIG video-link lectures, bedside tutorials and/or case presentations. On some occasions, we may take part in surgeries or procedures which are vital to the patient’s care and a great learning point. There are also journal clubs are also scheduled on a weekly basis. Finally, the consultants have out-patient clinics in which you play a vital part and where your 2.5 years of theory get to work and I cannot stress the importance of taking advantage of this opportunity. You will interview and examine the patient as per taught. Then, you will present your findings to the consultant who will make the final recommendations. We have the opportunity to practice the gained knowledge into a real life situation. Finally, students have the opportunity to go alone on wards to take histories and perform examinations both for practical and official purposes.
October 2014.
Academy in focus: Portiuncula and Ballinasloe
Omar Mansour
To do in Ballinasloe
Pitches: The city has several pitches and courts to play on. Opposite the hospital, sits a community with 2 football pitches, several tennis and other courts, and a children’s park. The main arena is located within walking distance of the hospital.
Gym: Need for some physical training? Look no further than Kingfisher gym and Carlton Shearwater Hotel Gym & Spa. Both gyms are about a kilometer from the Portiuncula Hospital (15 min walk). The Kingfisher Gym boasts an exercise room with free weights, weight machines, variety or treadmills and cycles. Also included is access to a pool and sauna. Several classes, both in pool and exercise room, are available. The Carlton Gym has much the same but has the spa and restaurant in the same location.
Food: Cooking at home? Tesco and Aldi are 15 min away from the hospital and Supervalu just opposite the hospital. Want to go out instead? Not the same variety of choices as in Galway but still open to Chinese, Kabab, and Supermac’s & Papa John’s (and others of course). Sit down dinners are mostly in the hotels around the city.
Pubs & Nightclubs: Pubs are the same as in Galway and only 1 or 2 nightclubs are open here
Festivals & Fairs: The biggest festival in town is the October Horse Fair. Every year, this fair attracts many thousands of visitors to the town. We have yet to enjoy the opportunity but are looking forward to it in October 2014.
Travel: One great advantage of being in Ballinasloe is the bus route from Galway to Dublin. The X20/20 route has 2 stops within the city (one at the hospital and another in downtown). This same route also passes through Athlone which seems to be the place to go in your free time for shopping and other (the city is ~30 min by bus).
Other: The town is also known for its equestrian activities, horse and pony riding, and shows.
Academy in focus: Mayo General Hospital
Clodagh McDermott
Mayo General Hospital (MGH) has been an exciting experience for all us students. On our first day, we were welcomed by the Director of the Galway-‐Mayo Medical School, tutors and the secretary and advised of the do’s and don’ts of placement.
Small groups of no more than 6 students attend daily tutorials and ward rounds. Medical tutors, Hospital Doctors and Nursing staff are interested, enthusiastic and keen to teach. While there is lots to do and learn, this is made easy by the excellent teaching skills of the tutors and doctors in the hospital. They are always available, approachable and helpful as well as being up for banter!
We’ve been provided with personal lockers and have access to the hospital library and their computers with internet access. Unfortunately there is no WIFI on the hospital grounds but this is available in the GMIT (approximately 1 minute away, where our tutorials/lectures are held).
MGHs canteen facilities are excellent and provide an ideal meeting spot for all students.
As for Castlebar, there isn’t a lot to do when compared to Galway. There is however, a cinema, leisure facilities, bowling alley, shops, quaint cafes and enough pubs to keep one from getting too dry! I have to admit, it’s the people that make Mayo Medical School such a great experience. There’s a friendly, chilled atmosphere about the place and great camaraderie between students and staff. The hospital is a hive of activity with medical students, nursing students and lots of eligible young doctors and nurses!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone is very supportive; helping find accommodation, identifying interesting patients suitable for history taking and examination and even averting mini-‐catastrophes.
I am glad I have come to Mayo General Hospital.
How To; Apply for an Erasmus Semester
Caoimhe O’Sullivan
1. You start to apply for an Erasmus placement for semester 3.2, while you’re in semester 2.2.
2. The countries currently matched with NUIG include Germany (Bochum), Switzerland (Lausanne), Sweden, and France (Grenoble, Montpellier). Other than in Sweden, where everything is taught through English, it’s EXTREMELY advisable to speak the language (French/German). Medicine is confusing enough without a significant language barrier added in to the mix!
3. The School of Medicine usually sends out an email during 2.2, asking you to express an interest in the programme.
4. They’ll probably hold a meeting, giving you the basics of what you need to know, how to apply and what you can expect. Some previous Erasmus students might be there to tell you about their experiences.
5. THE MAIN THING TO KNOW IN ADVANCE; if there are more people applying than there are places, they are assigned based on grades. Specifically, your grades in 2MB. So pull up your socks for that year if you think you want to experience medical education abroad!
6. You’ll be told whether or not you received a place after your summer examinations in 2MB, and depending on the country/university you’re heading to, the process from here on may be a little different.
7. Basically, NUIG will have to register you with the host university, but you’ll more than likely have to get in contact with the administration yourself as well.
8. You’ll need those health forms from 1st year filled out, and an in-date passport. You may also need some form of private health/travel insurance depending on the requirements of your host university. There are also a million other non-specific forms that need filling out, and you’ll need to organise with your host university what modules you’ll do while on placement there. Ideally they’ll match closely with what will be covered by your classmates in NUIG, as you sit your exams back here, but this isn’t always completely possible.
9. To apply for an Erasmus grant, the deadline is usually around October/November, and the International Office here in NUIG can help you with that. What you’re awarded is based on the cost of living in the country of your host university.
10. You’ll also need to sort out where to live while you’re abroad; talking to students who have previously gone on Erasmus is probably the most sensible way to get started on this, as they can tell you where they lived and whether or not they’d recommend it.
11. The process sounds long and tedious, but the most helpful thing is really to talk to older students who have travelled abroad for a semester already - it makes life MUCH easier, and they’ll probably be dying to tell anyone who’ll listen about what an experience it was. The medical school, administrative staff, and the Erasmus Co-ordinator (Dr. Yvonne Finn) here at NUIG are also really helpful, and will put you in contact with the necessary people abroad, as well as previous Erasmus students if necessary.
12. And if you manage all this and catch that plane abroad during 3.2, have a ball - it’ll probably be the experience of a lifetime!
Caoimhe O’Sullivan
Be sure to check out our next issue, where we hope to publish the diary of an
Erasmus student!!
NUI Galway Surgical society
2013 saw the foundation of NUI Galway’s Surgical Society. Comprising of medical students and doctors the society aims to introduce students to surgical skills and specialties. The society’s aim is to equip students with basic surgical skills at an early stage fostering their interest in surgery as a potential career option. Our hope is that every student will graduate with, at the very least, the ability to suture – a vital surgical competency.
Ready and eager to share our keen interest and hopefully, spark off new interests in surgery, we planned a series of surgical workshops, which covered two basic skills – Simple Sutures and One Handed Surgical Tie. Through them, we aim to introduce the preclinical years to the surgical field at an early stage, to nurture budding surgeons-‐to-‐be while also continuing to guide the clinical years towards key practical techniques, allowing them to hone and master these essential skills.
Our first workshop was held on the 18th of October with demand far exceeding the 15 places available. Having watched a brief demo video, students took to their skin pads and began to put their skills to the test, only after successful attempts to put on their surgical gloves without getting fingers stuck in awkward positions. Armed with their needle holder and forceps, the students began to diligently close up the “wounds” before them. One might wonder, what about the left-‐handers? Aren’t we lucky to have Gerard Browne always there to make sure left handers don’t feel left out!
Under the watchful eyes of Dr. Dara Devitt and Mr Peter O’Leary, students successfully closed the wounds. And not forgetting to take snapshots of their neatly placed stitches and Instagram them later. Riding high on the excitement and enthusiasm, Dr. Devitt proceeded to demonstrate how to tie knots single handedly. What sounded like a string of incomprehensible Greek, coupled with the occasional “Heaven”, “Hell” and “Rabbit Holes” soon made sense after repeating the steps over and over. Voices of exasperation quickly evolved into laughter and smiles as students learnt yet another valuable surgical skill! Acknowledging the overwhelming demand for these skills, we have since followed up our pilot workshop with two further, equally successful events!
Seeking to establish NUI Galway Surgical Society on a national level, we looked to the 8th Annual Intercollegiate Case Competition organized by the RCSI Surgical Society. On the 28th of January, the 2014 NUI Galway Collegiate Surgical Case Competition was held at the CSI. Shortlisted medical students individually presented case reports of their choice to Professor Michael Kerin and a panel of consultant surgeons. The winner, Ali Esfandiari, will be representing NUI Galway with his case report titled “Tangled” at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland’s, Charter Day on the 6th of February 2014 in Dublin. We wish him the very best!
Our continued success is due to the outstanding support that we have received from the surgical departments of Galway University Hospital and NUI Galway and for this support we are incredibly grateful. Of particular mention are; Ms. Carmel Malone NUIG’s Senior Lecturer in Surgery, who has provided support and guidance since the society’s earliest days. Dr. Dara Devitt (GUH Intern Co-‐ordinator) who at each skills session has applied exceptional levels of patience and diligence to the task of teaching our members and Ms Una Courtney (Clinical Nurse Manager 2 Orthopedic theatre) who has kindly liaised with the society extensively and ensured a valuable working relationship with our nursing colleagues at UCHG.
To all those named and unnamed we would like to express our thanks.
One final mention should be given to NUIG Student Union’s Explore initiative (http://www.su.nuigalway.ie/index.php/explore-‐home) which has financially backed the Undergraduate Surgical Training Programme for the academic year 2013/2014.
We can only hope 2014 will bring the same level of success as we enjoyed in 2013. Some of our plans include:
• Laparoscopic skills workshop
• Basic surgical skills 2 – Mattress suturing and insertion of chest drains
• Workshops on correct scrubbing technique for students recently commenced on clinical placements
• Trip away to UCC’s surgical seminar • Regional Surgical Skills Competition (Winner to represent NUIG in the RCSI on 15th April 2014 to be crowned with the title of ‘best undergraduate skills in Ireland’)
We have a committee who work hard to ensure that you, the students of NUIG, have your surgical needs and interests met. If you want to get involved contact a member of the committee, like our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NUIGSurgSoc ) or send us an email at [email protected] . Also, feel free to give us any suggestions on surgical skills or any surgical-‐related topics that you would like to learn more about and we will do our best to facilitate that!
By: Tingyi Koh
Vice Auditor NUIG Surgical Society 2MB
Surgical Society Committee 2013/2014:
Auditor: Dómhnall O Connor 5MB
Vice Auditor: Koh Tingyi 2MB
Secretary: Keunjae Ahn 1MB
Treasurer: Ger Browne 3MB
PRO: Louise Curtis 2MB and Darrell Martin 3MB
Resource Manager: Stephanie Bollard 4MB
Clinical Advisor: Yasir Loai 5MB
OCM: Sarah Chiu 4MB
Masquerade Ball 2013
What a night! The 5th annual Masquerade Ball was held on Saturday October 19 and this was its best year yet. Over 200 young medical students and doctors turned up to the magical Markree Castle in Sligo, for a great night of mystique and dignified debauchery. A four-course meal followed a champagne reception and the crowd was kept on their feet all night to the musical stylings of Queen Bee Sligo and Michele Feeney. The NUI Galway Medical Society, who was voted “most improved society in Ireland and Northern Ireland” at the 2013 annual BICS awards, hosted the night. Over €3,000 was raised in aid of Voluntary Services Abroad. VSA is a charity
run by NUIG medical students, who raise money to deliver medical aid to the developing world. All money raised goes towards buying medical equipment and medicines for hospitals in need. The students also volunteer their own skills and experience by working in these hospitals during the summer months. NUIG Medical Society would like to extend a massive thank-you to all who supported, donated
and made the night such a huge success. "We are especially grateful to all our generous sponsors in Sligo, without whom we could not have raised so much for VSA. Well done to all MedSoc and VSA committee members for organising the event. Here's hoping to seeing you all at Markree again in 2014 for an even bigger and better night.
Sports and medicine – a balancing act Carl Byrne
Sport; a fond past time of many, a dreaded fitness regime for some, and a damn good work out for all! Many of us hold a sport close to our hearts, whether it is a casual sunday game, a weekly fitness programme, the occasional national competition, or even travelling abroad for the fiercely competitive amongst us! But the major question for those involved in sports when they come to study medicine, ‘where the hell am I going to get the time?’.
Managing your training times and dreaded study regime has been a huge challenge for anyone who loves competing, however is there an easy way to fit sports in? Time management: The ultimate lifestyle survival technique! Get out a sheet of paper and write out a timetable! Unlike the familiar Da Vinci Code esk timetables we are all used to for college a short simple time table can show you the gaps in your day when you can best fit in study. Whether its before you grab food for the evening, or fitting in a sneaky run after your day at college, it is doable! Don’t forget to keep it simple, Having a schedule you can’t follow or remember will frustrate you more than a first year biochem assignment. Gryffindor £ green 5...... ‘oh! time for a run!’ Make sure its something you love! Ok you have your plan, you have a spare hour for a run, and........... the couch is looking awful comfy...... Doing something you don’t enjoy will make lazing out more attractive than Scarlet Johansen’s lycra suit. If you don’t love it, you’re not going to do it! Don’t like running? what about a spin class? Don’t like weights? what about joining a club? Find an activity you love and getting off the couch is going to be so much easier! Last but not least. Don’t over do it at the beginning! You have a lot to fit into your week, doing too much training week one and feeling like your legs have been replaced by columns of jelly is going to be off putting, especially if you have only just begun! Keep it sensible. You know your limits, so test yourself, but not so much that you won’t do it again the next week! Hopefully these small tips can help break out that Olympic athlete in all of us! But ‘Wait!’ i hear you say. It’s all well and good on paper but realistically can a med student actually keep a sport up while in college? For all of you into rugby, the next time you are watching the rugby keep an eye out for Welsh International Jamie Roberts. Med student extraordinare Jamie Roberts. Jamie finished med school in Cardiff University last year, all while maintaining his place on both the Welsh, Lions, and Cardiff Blues squads! Some med for one med!
CPsychI Summer School 2013
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland ran their 3rd successful Summer School again this year. Organised by the Trainee Committee of the College, it was aimed at medical students and interns interested in a career in psychiatry or who simply want to find out more about the work psychiatrists do. The Psychiatry Summer School was held in Galway for the first time on Wednesday, 21st August. The dynamic one day programme included interactive seminars with consultants, trainees and psychiatry interns, talks from service users and team members and tours of psychiatry facilities, emphasizing cutting edge science and psychiatric sub-specialties. An evening reception was held following the summer school and there was ample opportunity throughout the day to informally meet with current trainees, consultants and other students.
The interesting and stimulating aspects of Psychiatry (that are not covered in a standard undergraduate Psychiatry placement) were highlighted through the day. Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive, and The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland was proud to showcase the multifaceted and varied aspects of Psychiatry. A great day was had by all.
Jigsaw Galway and the YAP Caoimhe O’Sullivan
Jigsaw Galway is a free and confidential service supporting the mental health and well-being of those aged 15 – 25 in Galway city and county. It is a partnership between Headstrong, Mental Health Ireland and the HSE, but is also funded by the Western Region Drugs Taskforce.
Over the last 3 years, it has experienced a 63% increase in its service use, having served over 3,500 young people since its beginnings in 2008. Many medical students and faculty members will already be aware of the fantastic service that Jigsaw provides for young people in this area, and many of you may have seen that it celebrated its 5th birthday last month.
I was originally made aware of Jigsaw in 1stMed, when I was lucky enough to be assigned to a Special Study Module through the NUIG Medical School, called “Mental Health in Young People”. Part of the module involved a trip to Jigsaw, where we were given a short talk about how the service worked and what it aimed to provide. From everything we saw, it was clear that all the staff really cared deeply about providing the best possible support for young people to take care of their mental health, and were very interested in moving the service forward, and ensuring access for all those who could possibly benefit from it.
A very interesting aspect discussed was the level to which Jigsaw Galway involves young people in the development and design of the service. This is achieved through the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), which is comprised of a group of young people from across county Galway who advise Jigsaw on providing and developing support services for young people. They are a core element of Jigsaw Galway and are fundamental to everything they do, from the design of the building to the interviewing of potential staff members.
When I saw last summer that Jigsaw were seeking applications for new members of the panel, I applied straight away, and after a short interview with two of the staff members, I was delighted to hear that they wanted me to contribute to the service through becoming a member of the YAP. Our role is simple - to represent our own views, as young people in Galway; to represent Jigsaw within our own community and to make joint decisions on the running of Jigsaw’s services
We meet at least once a month as a group, and also have interim meetings with committees, fundraising events, and for various other reasons. The staff members attend these meetings too, and I honestly cannot say I have ever met people so enthusiastic, open, friendly and dedicated. Each time we meet, I feel that we come away with new skills, knowledge, and a broader outlook on a range of issues. Every member of the panel comes from a different background and point of view, and I think this is what makes the YAPs contribution so successful, as it really does represent young people of Galway city and county.
Although our medical curriculum aims to ensure that we are all well-rounded, competent and capable doctors upon graduation, I think it is only through experience that we’ll eventually understand how best to provide healthcare, to promote health (both physical and mental health), and how to make services accessible to those who need them most. The YAP has, more than anything else, helped me to understand the importance of prioritising access to services for those who will benefit from them – and how all aspects of the services provided must be taken into account from the perspective of potential service-users, in order to maximise positive outcomes.
The YAP has really helped me to consider mental health in a far wider context than I would have previously done, and has enabled me to become more comfortable discussing how important it is for us all to look after not only our own mental health, but also that of those we care about. 1 in 3 young people experience mental health difficulties – it isn’t something rare, far-away, or uncommon. Both already and in the future, we’re going to experience such difficulties ourselves, amongst those dear to us, and throughout our careers as medical professionals.
In conclusion, from everything that I have seen of the service, Jigsaw really is a vital asset to Galway’s young people, and I am very proud to say that in some small way, I can represent the service and all it stands for.
For anyone who would like more information about Jigsaw, log on to www.jigsaw.ie/galway.
Students for Health Equality (SFHE): An Update
Laura Reynolds, vice-‐auditor SFHE
We we delighted to welcome a guest speaker, Vanessa Lacey, from the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) on 25th November. She spoke movingly about the health needs and challenges facing this unique cohort of patients. This is definitely something we were interested in and looking forward to as, I'm not sure about ye, but this was an issue I'd never given consideration to before and think there were lots of gems to be learned. Vanessa was a fantastic speaker and a great evening was had by all.
Also in November: SFHE was also excited to sit on the steering committee to help organize a conference hosted conjointly with Irish Forum for Global Health, Gender Advanced Research Consortium, and Development Studies Association of Ireland on 28th November at the Galway Bay Hotel.
Haven’t heard of SFHE?! Say wha’?!
SFHE was originally set up last year by Manisha Sachdeva (third med) as an Explore-‐funded student ‘Think Tank’. It has since become a new society in college. It was set up with the intention of bringing awareness to the role health and medical students have in advocating for issues in social inequities and sustainability of the environment alongside faculty advisor Dr. Diarmuid O’ Donovan. Its goal is to draw students from all backgrounds to contribute to participating in the grander
processes that affect us all, including but not limited to climate change and human rights. Committee members are from second and third med but we welcome students from all disciplines.
Other events we’ve taken part in so far:
In April, took part in the Making Time National Global Health Debate, hosted by the IFGH, in the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin. The motion for the evening was “This House believes medical aid should prioritise equity of access above outcome”.
Nobel Laureate Dr Harald zur Hausen, who received a Nobel Prize for cancer research, chaired the event which involved four third-‐level teams from around Ireland. Third med students Laura Reynolds and David O’Reilly proudly represented Connacht in the debate.
SFHE also had a booth set up at the annual Health fair in February and at the TED Med event in April.
Our first event of this semester took place in September. We played some interactive games that introduced themes such as gender inequality and global health with some free pizza and “fact-‐wrapped” goodies for good measure!
SFHE sent a team to the “Hack for Help” Hackathon in Dublin this October. SpunOut.ie partnered with Facebook and CoderDojo to host this event at the Facebook headquarters. We're excited to announce that we were the official WINNERS of the hackathon! The team developed an iOS app called "MoJo" (My Own Journal) featuring a daily log that tracks mental health status in youth. The team received 1200 euro of Facebook advertising, 800e of which went to SpunOut.ie and 200e to 091 Labs Hackerspace in Galway, and the remaining 200e to us! We are official recipients of Facebook funding!
"This House proposes that cannabis be legalised for recreational and medicinal use"
Results of IMO Medical Student Debate 2013
The IMO medical student debate was held in the
RCSI on the 7th December 2013. Two teams went
head to head debating the motion ‘This House
proposes that cannabis be legalised for recreational
and medicinal use’
Proposing the Motion: Gavin Tucker (Trinity), Simon
Neary (NUIG) and Elizabeth Ahern Flynn (RCSI)
Opposing the Motion: William Court ney (UCD), Sanskriti
Sasikumar (UL) and John Campion (NUIG)
Both teams delivered their arguments with great fluency
and content and the judges noted a very high standard overall. The Opposing Team were
awarded winning place by the adjudicating panel.
Overall outstanding speaker was awarded to Elizabeth Ahern Flynn from RCSI. Ms Ahern
Flynn was commended for her quick rebuttal
against the opposing team’s claims and her
great descriptive imagery to present her
argument. Elizabeth was presented with the
IMO student debate medal by IMO president
Dr Matthew Sadlier.
Medball 2013 The circus rolled in to town on December the 20th, for Med Socs annula 2013 Med Ball. Guests were treated to a champagne reception with all the trimmings of the circus – from candy floss to ticket booths and
clown noses. After being entertained by the jugglers it was time for a wonderful meal before dancing the night away to the sound of Big Generator and DJ Byrno. With Photobooth occassions photo booths and Peter Harkin photograpy offering a more sophisticated shoot, there were plenty of opportunity to document the night. The sweet cart even helped to stave off the 1am munchies.
College bar and Carbon played host to the next days activities, where another great night was had. Definitely a med ball to remember!
How to survive exam season Conor Murphy As the dreaded exams draw nearer, it’s safe to say that the habits of med students definitely change. Procrastinatory trips to the Bialann can become either more or less
frequent, the reading room becomes a hot spot of panicked studying (and microbial activity, yuck.), group study no longer equates to a large number of people sitting around some flashcards in Smokeys, hoping that by some osmotic miracle the information will enter the brains of all present. All supplies of any caffeine-containing drinks in a five-mile radius have long been bought up and devoured in the hopes of staying up that extra hour to finish a criminally horrible biochemistry/molecular medicine/drugs and disease lecture. The inarguable sense of a good night’s sleep somehow becomes unintelligible to us and we start to forget to look after our poor, tired, freezing cold brains. Everyone is, or at least a majority of us are, guilty of having at least one poor study habit. Mine used to be energy drinks the night before an exam. That glorious Red Bull would become the new deity I worshipped come exam-time and although I don’t think I ever gained anything from it except a dodgy tummy, I still kept up this ridiculous habit. One night, I decided I didn’t need to take that trip to the all-to accessible 24hr Tesco for my fix of caffeine sugariness. Instead, I went outside for a quick walk. Nothing ridiculous, mind you, just a quick stroll around the street where I lived and back again. I felt way better than I ever did after downing an energy drink in two huge swigs, I’ll tell you that! I could actually sit and pay attention to what I was reading, refreshed by the cold, fresh air, rather than lost in a pretend buzz of caffeine-induced concentration where I was reading the words but not actually making any sense of them, let alone learning anything from them. As intelligent as we all like to think we are, we are human and many of us succumb to nerves around exam time, which can lead us to make pretty stupid choices (in my first year of college instead of looking over a vital lecture in physics, I decided to watch Scream 4. Smart, right?). We consistently ignore the advice given to us by the powers that be about getting AT LEAST a good six hours’ sleep, eating healthy and exercising to keep ourselves sharp. An old saying comes to mind: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. These tips are clichéd for a reason - because they work. So give it a try this month; when that little voice of common sense is telling you to go to bed, listen to it. When it tells you to step away from the energy-drink section of the supermarket, turn around and run! Your body and brain will thank you, not to mention your future self, laying on a beach on the J1 you got to go on because you didn’t crash the night before and oversleep the day of the exam.
Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic
Lisa Flynn
In a society filled with waiting lists, hospital trolleys and harassed doctors and nurses, a place where over 1,000 happy patients can be seen and treated over the course of two mornings a year seems too good to be true. Yet that is exactly what the good people of Sláinte Society have managed to do for the last nine years with their annual Teddy Bear Hospital.
The concept is simple. Every year Sláinte Soc send out invitations to primary schools all over Galway, inviting their junior and senior infants to bring their sick teddies to visit the (highly trained) staff at the Bailey Allen Hall. After an initial consultation, it’s off for an X-ray, M.R.I or ultrasound to determine if the initial diagnosis was accurate enough. From broken hearts to seasick dolphins,
coughed up lungs to broken bones all injuries and illnesses are accommodated. While some wounds may be challenging enough to warrant surgery, others are deemed fit enough to head straight to the pharmacy where prescriptions for
fruit and cuddles are the order of the day. While the teddies have an opportunity to recuperate, their (much relieved) owners have an opportunity to celebrate with bouncy castles, face paint, jugglers, songs and games.
The overall aim of the day is undoubtedly to show children that hospital – and the doctors, nurses, radiographers and pharmacists who work there! – Are not to be feared. Throughout the consultation periods, children were given the opportunity to discuss the times they themselves had been in hospital and how they felt about the day. Anybody who was lucky enough to volunteer over the two days undeniably enjoyed themselves more than the children themselves, while developing the communication skills that will become pretty essential when it comes to studying paediatrics in 4mb (It’s as good an excuse to take a morning away from the library as any!)
The success of the event is undoubtedly down to the hard work of the committee in the months leading up to the event. Fundraising is always a major challenge, as the society has never charged schools for their attendance at the event (Obamacare for the masses). Thankfully the dedication of fundraising officers, the organisation of a charity night in Electric and some very generous sponsors paid off! Due in no small part to the hard work of the 2013/2014 committee, it seems clear that Teddy Bear Hospital (and Sláinte Society overall) deserve that reputation it has earned. There can be no doubt that the next years 10th annual Teddy Bear Hospital will be the best one yet.
2013/2014 committe
Photos courtesy of Eibhlín Seoighthe
Career in Focus: GP
Dr. Peter Hayes
What made you decide to be a GP?
I felt that patients can for the most part be cared for within their own communities in a primary care setting, and that was an attraction for me. I also believe in the doctor-‐patient relationship being the pinnacle of successful health care and being built over many years. This I feel leads to greater patient satisfaction and outcomes. It is a career choice that allows training usually within your home region (Provided you apply and are successful on competitive interview for the training scheme). The necessity to move home yearly for different layers of specialty training did not appeal to me.
What other career paths did you consider?
I liked internal medicine. I incorporate this into my daily practice to some degree. I also worked as a registrar in Geriatric/Stroke Medicine and this is still a big interest to me. I do not like to be boxed into a speciality as I have dual training in both internal medicine and GP. I may in time, work in a hospital again for a set period, but I will work predominately as a GP/Medical Educator.
How did you go about becoming a GP?
I did my intern year in the Mater in Dublin and Limerick University Hospital. I then spent a year in Melbourne working in AE, but came back for a few weeks mid-‐year to interview for the GP scheme. I then spent 2 years rotating through the medical, Obstetric, Psychiatric and Paediatric specialities on the GP scheme. I spent a year in General /Respiratory medicine and Haematology specialities during this period. I then spent two years as a GP registrar, in a rural practice in Miltown Malbay Co Clare with Billy O Connell and a city based practice in Kings Island in the heart of Limerick City with Richard Murray. I learned the tools of the trade here really. Over the last number of years I have largely worked in GP and Education but also worked in Stroke medicine.
Describe an average day/what would an average day entail?
Start at 8.50AM and see 6-‐8 patients / coffee 5 mins/ see a further 6-‐8 patients/ lunch 40 mins/house call 20-‐30 minutes/ afternoon session see a further 12-‐16 patients/finish 6 PM. The cases can be anything in any of the text books and the complaints/issues to be dealt with, usually come in threes or fours. I am also a social worker, state welfare officer and a public notary for legal purposes.
Camera
Shy!
The day can be simple with uncomplicated cases or on a bad day: a heart attack in the surgery, an acutely ill patient of unknown cause, a psychiatric emergency house call and a very sick baby. I cannot tell. I’m certain though with me, it’s either a very simple day or a very complex day, there seems to be no in between.
What is your favourite thing about being a GP?
The patients are great fun largely. You get all the news! There is limited GP on call work also, maybe one evening or night a month
And what do you find most difficult about being a GP?
There is limited access to X-‐Rays or basic imaging and this leads to my clinical calls being based on blood work and my own clinical judgement. It can take a few weeks to get an X-‐Ray report. Ultrasound is not a tool I can order publically. The cases can be complex and there is always an uncertainty in GP work, whether you are correct. Speciality referral where the diagnosis is unclear or the symptoms not text book, can have a waiting time too.
What do you consider to be the characteristic required to make a good
GP?
‘Patience and patients’. You have to like people and if uncertainty at times freaks you out a little, maybe this is not the one for you.
If you could describe the job in 3 words, what would they be?
Stories...illness..wellness
Eat. Pray. Love (NUIG version): A guide for international student!
Chloe Wang, International Representative
Galway -‐ The city takes its name from the river Gaillimh (River Corrib) that formed the western boundary of the earliest settlement, which was called Dún Bhun na Gaillimhe. Gaillimh means "stony" as in "stony river. The city also bears the nickname "The City of the Tribes" (Cathair na dTreabh) because of fourteen tribes of merchant families that led the city for a period of time. The merchants would have seen themselves as
Irish gentry and loyal to the King. They later adopted the term as a badge of honour and pride in defiance of the town's Cromwellian occupier.
Eat:
There are tons of lovely restaurants and cafes for the food lovers out there. Just to name a few would be Kai Café, Ard Bia, Cupan Tae, Corrib Tea Rooms, Java’s and a whole lot more. There’s a wide range of selection from Moroccan food to Thai food. A picnic by the Spanish Arch on a nice summer day is one of the best experiences I’ve had.
Accommodations:
Galway is generally a very walk-‐able city. Places aren’t too far from each other. However, you might want to look at places around Shantalla/Lower Newcastle for convenience sake. Please don’t fret if you can’t find a place before you arrive. My housemates came a few days in advance to go house hunting as one of the policies in most real estate companies here is for you to personally view the house. There is plenty of “Bed and Breakfast” for a temporary roof over your head. That’s what we did before we got a proper place.
Miscellaneous:
Other than that, look up the prearrival guide from NUIG. It’s very extensive and ALL you need to know is in there. They have done a fantastic job with it. As for your Garda applications, you’ll need to request for a bank statement at least a week before your appointments as the statements are only released and mailed to you from Dublin Headquarters.
On a side note, weather here can be unpredictable. So bring or buy a STURDY umbrella/raincoat. You’ll need it. Enjoy Galway! It’s definitely a beautiful place to be! On a serious note, Irish people are the nicest bunch you’ll ever meet. Be excited for your new adventures ahead. It will definitely leave a footprint in your lives.
MEDCEST – An Emerging Epidemic, with a worrying prevalence in the West of Ireland.
It has come to the attention of the relevant authorities in recent times, that a new and transmissible variant of Medcest has been identified and isolated in patients in the Republic of Ireland.
Outbreaks have occurred in all medical schools nationwide, with particularly widespread epidemics in the medical school in NUIG. Naturally, health care workers are becoming concerned, not only because relatively little is known about the aetiology of Medcest, but also because it appears to be resistant to most treatments currently on the market (eg. Lovedopa, Chlorpromanticazine, and Lovenox).
Aetiology of the disease is believed to be complicated, with poorly understood and wide-‐ranging influencing factors, some of which are described below. However, it is important to note that these factors, while proven to be associative, have not been found to be causative – ie. Association is NOT causation.1
Firstly, all outbreaks have occurred amongst medical students, there have been NO recorded cases to date occurring amongst non-‐medical students in any geographical location.
The disease appears to be highly contagious, and always occurs in pairs of patients, although higher numbers of simultaneously affected patients have been recorded, usually precipitated by events commonly referred to as “threesomes”or “three-‐way-‐shifts” by the general public2. It is as yet unclear as to whether some microbiological entity in the environment affects the students involved in an outbreak, therefore causing them to immediately display certain signs recognisable to the medical profession. Some possible organisms include L. confusus, L. salivarius, R. slithyformis.
Although EBV is associated with Medcest, it is believed that it is more of an opportunistic infection in this setting. “Cooties” have also reportedly been associated with the condition, although these cases have yet to be histopathologically confirmed (see attached Immunohistopathology slides).
Medcest appears to have a seasonal outbreak pattern (again see graphs), with the highest numbers of outbreaks occurring immediately in the post-‐examination period towards the end of each semester. It has been hypothesised that medical students suffer weak immune systems and general health around this time, and also a lack of interaction with the general population. In particular, the very close contact with their contemporary
1 On this note, it should also be useful to recognise that antibiotic prescription is NOT a form of self-‐expression. And that doctors may occasionally be called upon to treat sick people, some of whom have disease. Oh, and that magic is a dominant hereditary trait with variable penetrance. 2 For instance, 3 patients suffered from simultaneous medcest during the NUIG medical ball of 2011 – patients names have been omitted for confidentiality reasons, although photographic evidence of the outbreak was captured and may be printed in future issues of this publication
medical students and lack of contact with the “real world”is believed to be a key factor in Medcest spread – it appears to exert neuro-‐psychological effects upon med students, possibly leading them to delusional beliefs regarding the attractiveness and mating suitability of their fellow med students.
It is also widely held that alcohol plays a pivotal role in the medcest contagion – due to its well-‐recognised effects on the CNS.
Finally, the “exam-‐beard” phenomenon is believed to have some sort of pheromone-‐inducing effect on medical students, disproportionate to the effect on the general population. This may be due to male medical students’ “exam-‐beard” reaching lengths that their equivalents studying arts etc could never hope for – ie. Level of attractiveness is proportional to the length of the stubble. Alternatively, these male med students may appear less like their usual selves while sporting such facial hair, thereby leading to confusion as to their identity, causing female students to display all the symptoms of Medcest.
Symptoms of the disease are wide-‐ranging and can in some cases be quite shocking, even to medical professionals, although this does depend on the pairs of patients affected – both their personalities and physical attributes. A list of recorded symptoms follows:
1) Delusion – the student believes that one of their fellow medical students would be their optimum life partner/ love of their life/ pookie bear/ they would have beautiful babies together. Almost inevitably, these delusional beliefs are transient and have vanished by the following morning, although they have been known to be very powerful at the time, and tend to lead to further symptoms, such as;
2) Blepharospasm (excessive blinking/ “batting of eyelashes”) – most commonly seen in female medical students, excessive blinking can occur at rates of higher than 300 per second.
3) “Tonsilar Tennis” – a symptom quite unique to the condition, seen widely and which may induce nausea in bystanders. It is associated with increased risk of EBV, along with a number of other infectious diseases.
4) Palpitations 5) Cardiac arrest has also been recorded in patients whose
delusional state corrects “mid-‐medcest” – the shock of what the disease is causing them to do appears to induce severe atrial fibrillation, and in some cases, may lead to death if not defibrillated rapidly enough.
The role of the medical profession is controversial in treatment and management of the disease. It has been argued that by increasing contact with medical students, there is an increased risk of higher medcest incidence amongst qualified doctors also.
Removal of the limbic system may be successful in treating any emotionally-‐based needs behind disease symptoms. Electric shock therapy has also been suggested. However, it has been proposed that the symptoms of Medcest may, partially at least, be learned behaviours. In this instance, the author recommends that television shows such
as “Grey’s Anatomy” be immediately cancelled internationally, as a matter of vital public and global health importance.
In an effort to both decrease Medcest in NUIG, and to further understand this terrible affliction, further coverage of the disease with in-‐depth case reports may be included in following issues of this publication.
Dr O’ Mantic,
February 2014
Appendices:
Correlation between Non-‐Med Interaction, Incidence of Cooties, and Incidence of Medcest over time:
LM Slide, with possible evidence of “cooties”
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
First semester Post-‐First Semester Exams
Second Semester
Post Second Semester Exams
Interaction with Non-‐Med Students
Medcest
Incidence of Cooties
Dear Dr O’ Mantic…..
Hello my darlings, and welcome to the Valentines issue of the Medsoc newsletter.
I’d like to extend a warm (and cuddly) welcome to our new editor, Ms. Lisa Flynn…. No doubt you’ll all get to know her very well over the next few months ;) Due to my profound and wide-‐ranging expertise on all areas of lurrrrrve, I have been asked to be the presiding medical expert for this publication, a role I am more than happy to fulfil. As president of the “Heal with Love Association”, I feel that my presence will be beneficial to both medical students and faculty members alike.
So, the following are a few of the problems which I have received over the past month. Should any of you wish to submit a problem for the next issue, please contact [email protected].
Dear Dr. O’ Mantic,
I have a thing for men in power. At the moment I have my eye on a Canadian who likes to make educational videos in his spare time (when he’s not running the Medical Society). I have them on repeat on my computer.
Should I tell him I want to have his babies?
#hungryforpower
Well #hungryforpower,
This really is a bit of a stickler. I understand your lust for authority, and dayum we’ve all been head over heels with a Medsoc auditor at some point. But in this case I really think you should leave well enough alone and just continue to drool over his YouTube escapades.
Realistically, he’s going to head back to Canadia next year, and if you really want a committed relationship, I feel that this might be an issue in your magical future together.
However, if you feel he really is the one for you, why don’t you offer to be a “patient” for one or two of his videos…….? ;) A bit of practical anatomy is never a bad idea!
Love,
Dr O’ Mantic
Dear Dr. O’ Mantic,
I've been crushing on this guy in the reading room since pre-med. I'm now in 4th med. How can I get him to notice me before I graduate next year?
#HopelesslyInLuv
Well #HopelesslyInLove,
You’ve had 4 years. Sorry to break it to you honey, but if it hasn’t happened by now, it’s never going to. Move on. I hear there’s plenty of cute first meds around this year. Some of them are even over eighteen…….
Love, Dr. O’ Mantic
Dear Dr. O’ Mantic,
I’m currently a final Med. You’d think that fact alone would ensure I have amazing tales when it comes to all the lady med-students, but unfortunately, I’m just an unlucky guy. You see, I have the misfortune to be in the same year as the bearded twins, also known as Mr J. Campion and Mr C. Harrington….
All the girls from 2nd med upwards (even I’m not desperate enough to hit on the pre-meds) have been crushing on them so badly for the last few years, that I never even get a look in. And my Mum always says I’d be a great catch cos I’m such a handsome fella, so I just don’t understand. What can I do to rectify this situation other than committing murder?
#TheBeardlessMan
Well my beardless darling,
I think the answer here is obvious? If in doubt, grow a beard. I believe this situation is known as the “mid-med crisis”. The solution is ALWAYS to invest in some good old-fashioned facial hair. And since you’re classmates with the bearded twins, what’s to stop you becoming the bearded triplets? Stop holding yourself back Beardless, you’re the only one preventing you from becoming the best you that you can be!
P.S if you have either of the bearded twins’ significant digits, feel free to pass them on, along with photos of your new facial accessory!
I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Dr. O’ Man
But Wait!!! There’s more !!! Upcoming events
Medfest;
Thursday the 6th of February, Small Lecture Theatre, CSI.
Medfest is an international medically themed film festival that was established by Psychiatry Trainees affiliated to the RCPsych (PTCUK). NUIG MedSoc are delighted to be hosting Medfest in Galway for the first time this year.The event
will be followed by FREE WINE AND PIZZA! A selection of short films, clips and animations will be shown and discussed by a the panel and audience.
Visit http://www.medfest.co.uk/ or our facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/404037369731323/ for more details!
Blood Pressure clinic in aid of Galway Autism Partnership!!
Friday 7th of Febrauary, Eyre Square Shopping centre
Practice your clinical skills and raise money for a worthy cause! Shifts available from 9am – 5pm, see our facebook page for more details.
TED MED 2014 – Returning this November!!! Stay tuned for more details!
8 Gold medals for dummies:
Monday the 10th of February, Large lecture Theather, CSI
Med Soc are hosting an interactive Q&A OCSE preparation night hosted by Gerard Flaherty. He is willing to answer any questions and address any concerns people may have! We know many of the years have OSCEs this semester and hopefully this will be helpful! Any year from premed to final med are welcome to attend!
https://www.facebook.com/events/367834296665120/
Promoting good mental health in secondary schools across the nation!
March the 12th! More information coming soon
MEDICAL INTERVARSITIES – APRIL 5TH!!!! More information coming soon!