Maybe you've been following BMJ Student for a really long time, or maybe you're new to following us. Perhaps you only know about Sharp Scratch, or you've written and worked with us before. However much you know about BMJ Student, we hope this episode from our archives will be a look behind the scenes at what it means to work at The BMJ.    This episode from 2023 brings together four former editorial scholars, ready to talk all about their experiences of working at The BMJ, as well as how you can get involved via the Editorial Scholarship, the Clegg Scholarship, Sharp Scratch, and wri ..read more

With the rapid unfolding of recent events in medicine, from low pay to staffing crisis’ to the rapid changes to the face of our postgraduate training, it can be easy to lose all hope for the future - but is this really the case? A recent BMJ research paper found that cancer survival has doubled in the last fifty years, and that's one reason to be hopeful.   In this episode, the panel talk all about hope. What does 'hope' really mean? Is there any hope for a better future?   This week, the panel are joined by Anna Baverstock, a consultant paediatrician and wellbeing lead based in Some ..read more

Parenthood and medical school are two very different, each noble, roles. This week, we shed some light on the experiences of those medical students who are parenting at medical school. What is parenthood at medical school like? What challenges do parents encounter at medical school? What can friends and colleagues do to support parents at medical school? Éabha and Judy are joined by Maz, a medical student and mum, and Luke, an FY2 doctor who became a dad while at medical school.  Apply to be the next Editorial Scholar, and host of Sharp Scratch, now: https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q6 ..read more

Perfectionism is medicine’s favourite flaw. It seems that all too often, the very traits that we entered this profession for; wanting to be the best, wanting to do the best by our patients and colleagues, can often lead to burnout, to loneliness, to all those negative consequences we have discussed in previous episodes. In this episode we look a little more at perfectionism; what it is, why we medics are so partial to it, and how we can use it to our advantage rather than falling victim to it. This week, the panel are joined by expert guest Dr Thomas Curran. Thomas is  a BPS chartered psy ..read more

Medical school seems to be synonymous with hard work, from long hours at the library to long shifts at the hospital, with little room to just be and little time for daylight, especially during the long winter we've just lived through. Past episodes of sharp scratch have touched upon elements of burnout that we experience during and beyond our studies, but in this episode, the panel talk all about academic burnout at medical school. This week, we welcome back consultant clinical psychologist Ian Smith from Lancaster University. Keep in touch, we would love to hear your thoughts on the show. You ..read more

This week, the panel explore the dynamics of the multidisciplinary teams that come together to look after patients in hospitals and in the community. Building on previous episodes which have explored the idea of teamwork and multidisciplinary teams from the perspective of medical and nursing students, this episode broadens our horizons and tries to understand a little more about multidisciplinary teamworking. Expert guest Samantha Holmes is a head and neck cancer specialist speech and language therapist, currently working at The BMJ as the Chief Sustainability Officer's clinical fellow. You ca ..read more

We’ve all had those placements where we’ve felt like a real part of the team, where we’ve felt really valued and included, and that we’ve got to know our colleagues even in our short time in a given area. Even in my experience, I know the opposite can also be true. We sometimes experience friction or conflict within and between teams on placement, and that can really impact on our learning experiences and perceptions of placements and even of entire specialties.   In this episode, we talk about what makes a good team, how we as medical students can help to integrate ourselves into teams a ..read more

  Morale has been low in medicine recently. With ongoing industrial action and the recent AIMS study finding that almost ⅓ of us students plan to leave the NHS within two years of graduating, it can sometimes be difficult to remain optimistic about the future in medicine.  But it is a brand new year, and so in this week's episode we start the year reflecting on the things we love about medicine. From patients and colleagues, to the breadth of work we are able to do, there is still so much to love.  This week, Éabha is joined by panellists Anna, an obstetrics and gynaecology trai ..read more

The festive season is officially here! This time of year is all about spreading peace and goodwill, and if you’re looking for good will, one place you’re almost certain to find it is the NHS.    While working throughout the Christmas period is often an intimidating prospect for new doctors, and often we would rather *not* spend our holidays at the hospital. Yet, the wards are a pretty unique place to spend the holidays, or at least some of them, so in this Christmas special episode we could talk to some of our panellists who have already been doctors for a Christmas (or more) about t ..read more

  In medical school, it can all too often feel like everyone knows what they’re doing except you. Some people always seem to have this err of confidence to them. But does anyone really know what they’re doing?    In this episode, we talk all about times when we have felt like everyone has ‘got it’ except us, how and why we might fake it until we make it, and some tips on building this confidence in our clinical and academic lives, with some guidance from expert guest, Órla McGovern.   Órla McGovern is a storyteller and actor living in Galway, Ireland. An award-winning story ..read more