INTRODUCTUS A GUIDE TO YOUR FIRST YEAR OF MEDICAL SCHOOL
MYTHS ABOUT MED SCHOOL
FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT NEWY FOOD
Bust some common misconceptions about this degree (p. 15) 1
Satisfy the inner foodie in you with these Newy finds (p. 11)
2
EDITOR'S NOTE I
n the words of Drake: “Started from the bottom, now we're here”
UMAT is done, interviews are over, and Newy awaits you. From tasting your first pie from the Uni Bakehouse, to feeling the scratchy pinch that is your inaugural Newy mosquito bite, you’ll find that the next five years will fly by. You’ll survive late nights at Auchmuty Library and early mornings at HB15. You’ll make the trek to the anatomy labs and maybe you’ll even find love in your very first PBL group. Before you know it, you’ll be taking a psychiatric history, cannulating patients and scrubbing in on surgeries. You’re in for an exciting time at medical school. However, things don't always go to plan. Like Sisyphus, who tirelessly rolled his boulder up Olympus, sometimes your hard work will simply not be enough. Or like Icarus, who burnt his wings flying too close to the sun, you’ll be brought down by your own ego. But here’s the good news. You’ve made it through the rigorous process of medical school admissions. There is a fire within you that no failure can extinguish. So, wade valiantly through the highs and lows of this degree. Be resilient. Be daring.
WHAT'S INSIDE...
President’s Address Indigenous Welcome International Welcome On behalf of UNMS, congratulations and Taking Care of Yourself welcome to medical school! We hope you O’Camp enjoy this handy first-year guide. Without Five Things I Love About Newy Food further ado, good luck freshers! Here’s to finding your feet, throughout medical Sights to Sea school and beyond! Myths About Med School Keep Calm & Do Yoga Tara Kannan, A Guide to Textbooks Publications Officer PBL tips Giving Back The Athletic Altruist Social Happenings MedRevue MedBall What Do All Medical Students Have In Common? AMSA Other Special Interest Societies 3
4 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 17 19 20 22 24 26 28 29 30 32 34
Acknolodgement: Alex Cui, In Design Assistance
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS Bella Ludbrook
W
elcome to UoN’s newest doctors-in-training!
One of the many wonderful things about studying medicine is that we don’t spend years doused in theory before being thrust into the world with no practical application. While your teachers will have many different attitudes and take many different forms, one principle tends to be accepted as universal truth- your career starts with the first day of medical school. As of right now, you are a doctor-in-training.
There will be challenges, and each stumbling block can feel like a judgement on your character, or a barrier to your career. There is not a student among us who has not experienced ‘imposter syndrome’- the feeling that we somehow slipped in unnoticed, and our secret shortcomings may be unveiled at any moment. And certainly, just like astrophysics or art history or professional juggling, medicine is not for everyone.
What does this mean for you? It means that every experience you are exposed to now has the potential to be directly relevant to your work. You can learn something from every patient interaction, every tutor anecdote, every lecturer tip-off. Your peers are now your colleagues, and your clinical supervisors are now your team. And while we are seeing a cultural shift in modern society, the community will see you differently too.
I can’t guarantee much in this career, as everyone’s journey is different. But I can tell you that however unattainable clinical years might seem right now, in a few years you’ll be having the same trepidations about internship, and then about training programs. While the systems we operate within are not perfect, they are designed to get you to the next step. You will get there. And we are here to help make it happen.
Naturally, then, it’s hard to maintain human expectations while adjusting to this new role. When you’re studying a collective pool of two and a half thousand odd years of medical knowledge, you simply can’t know it all. Did you know the average medical student learns more new words in their first year than an introductory language student? This degree, in fact this career, is a marathon and not a sprint.
If you need us, ask. If you need time off, take it. If you need to repeat a semester, you will be a more knowledgeable and empathetic doctor for it. Stay flexible, stay humble, lean in. After all, you are now a doctor-in-training. Welcome to our ranks!
4
5
INIDGENOUS
H
ello, my role aims to help blend Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture into the medical society and to bring Indigenous and Non-Indigenous medical students together through clinical teaching nights and other activities. I also represent the interests of Indigenous medical students to the Society and medical faculty. I work with the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association Representative, Josh Tobin, the Indigenous BREAATHHE Representative, Nada Powell, and the Wollotuka Institute to run events and ensure adequate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical student representation. This year we are working towards creating an interactive Bush Medicine Event for Indigenous and non-Indigenous medical students as well as other representative events. Jordan Amos, Indigenous Representative
6
H
My role as the international rep is to advocate for international students in medicine at UoN. If there are any issues/concerns/questions that international students may have I will bring them up with the Medical Society and arrange that an appropriate answer/resolution is given. I ensure that international students know about the different avenues for academic support so that they feel supported. Melissa Tosland, International Representative
7
INTERNATIONAL
i there, I am a second-year medical student and an international student from Canada. I understand firsthand the struggles and challenges that comes with being an international student. I know how difficult it can be to adjust to a new country but I’m here to lend a hand and give advice on how to transition as smoothly as possible.
YOUR T A K I N G
C A R E
O F
Nathan Ma & Ishan Barot, Your Community & Wellbeing
THE MEDTOR PROGRAM 1. What is a Medtor?
A medtor is an older person (expertly) matched with you to be a point of contact to ease you into med school and smoothen the transition. Usually, this becomes a lasting friendship beyond first year and we hope they can potentially be someone you feel comfortable turning to if you need it. 2. What can you expect from them? Textbooks, past notes, useful documents (definitely not past questions!), tips about getting around campus, living out of home, places to eat, nightlife in Newcastle (if you could call it nightlife), etc. 3. How do I sign up? Keep your eyes open for more details from us and there’ll be a google doc. 8
RSELF “I
t’s okay to be a glow stick." I bet you’re wondering what that could possibly mean but let’s put that on the backburner and revisit it in a second. Before I explain, I’d like to side-track a little bit first. I’m sure you’ve heard this already, but the next five years are exciting years, unlike any journey you’ve embarked on before. At times it can, and will be, hard; life will be even harder. Medical students, in particular, demand a lot from themselves and are surrounded by highly intelligent and driven people who do the same. They want to make a contribution to our society. But the thing is, sometimes, that creates stress and sometimes, we struggle with coping with that stress that is life plus med school. And that’s ok.
Trust me, Ishan and I have been there more times than I can even count. And while we want to try and help you minimise that stress, we’re just as concerned by the response “I’m *insert plain word e.g. fine/ok/good*”. I think I can say with confidence that we’ve all done it. Maybe you didn’t feel like elaborating. Maybe you felt like a burden. What we want to do is create opportuni9
ties and events for you to prioritise your physical, social and mental wellbeing. We want to remove that stigma and make it ok for medical students to ask for help, to talk about what’s on their mind, to not feel like they have to pretend they’re always on top of things. “It’s okay to be a glow stick. Sometimes we have to break before we shine.” I think that sums up what I’m trying to say perfectly. Don’t be afraid to not be ok and don’t be afraid to ask for help (and come to Wellbeing events!). Between friends, older students (Ishan and I included!), tutors, year managers, university services or the GP there are many ears to hear you out and a fountain of knowledge and wisdom!
10
O'
CA M P 20 19
O
’Camp is a weekend of fun, with the aim of forging great friendships and creating lasting memories. Situated in the sleepy coastal town of Harrington, 2
hours north of Newcastle, O Camp is THE event to attend in 2019. Anyone you ask will tell you that the most important thing about their time in the JMP, and at university in general, were the friends they made. At its core, O’ Camp is about friendships. Our vision for the weekend is to create a fun, exciting and most importantly safe environment to facilitate this. Everyone starts first year at different stages of their life and for many, including us, it can be difficult to find your feet. O’Camp is a crucial moment for all first years to create some shared memories, ones that will really kickstart your time at UON and allow you to immerse yourselves in the degree and life in Newcastle. ITINERARY: Friday: • Depart from uni at 2:00pm (on a coach) • Social night at Harrigans (local Irish pub), plus activity for other/underage students Saturday: • Beach, team challenges, competitions, academic introductions • Social night at Club Harrington (beachfront bowlo), plus activity for other/underage students Sunday: • Hang out and relax • Depart midday, arrive back at uni 2:00pm James, Michael and Ashad, Your O'Camp Convenors 11
FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT
NEWY FOOD
BY SOPHIE HU 12
N
The Exchange Hotel in Hamilton is known for having great deals all week: 2 for 1 Main Meals on Mon and Tues, $5 burgers on Wed and $5 Schnittys on Thurs.
1. CAFES ON DARBY STREET
4. MARKETS
If you want to satisfy your inner hipster or have a chill weekend brunch, Darby St is the place to go. Just walking down the street you will pass so many different cafes and restaurants, each with their own amazing vibe so its pretty safe to wander here without a place in mind for a good meal. Three Monkey’s Café is a must-go local favourite, Goldbergs Coffee House brings the goods with its old-timey feel and The Autumn Rooms has food quintessentially gram-worthy.
Going to the markets is one of my favourite weekend activities and Newcastle hosts aplenty. Hunt&Gather Events hold Sunset Gather and Street Feast for evening ventures. The Olive Tree Market is a great way to peruse art, homewares and more while munching on some delicious bites of food (I recommend the éclairs from Choux Patisserie) and the Farmer’s Market in Broadmeadow has a great range of fresh produce to pick from. Lots of the local restaurants have food trucks that frequent these markets, so it’s a great way to try out a bunch of places all in one go. Keep up to date by checking out their Facebook events!
finds:
ewy has a pretty exciting food scene, with a whole range of choices for the avid foodies out there. Here are a few of my favourite
2. KOTARA WESTFIELD ROOFTOP Decorated with a load of lush greenery, it’s an unlikely aesthetic to see on the top of a Westfield shopping centre. Here you’ll find a whole array of well-known restaurants like Criniti’s, Nandos, Grill’d and my favourite, Kinn Restaurant. Its right next to the cinemas and San Churro too, making it a great location for date night.
5. AND HEAPS MORE And all this is just the tip of the iceberg. Newy is also home to great fine dining restaurants (Subo, Rustica), quirky bars (Coal & Cedar, Koutetsu), vegetarian/vegan meals (Momo wholefood, Habesha) and dessert locations (Popolo, Coco Monde). If you want EVEN more options, I recommend browsing the website HUNTERhunter.
3. BANG FOR YOUR BUCK LOCATIONS Who doesn’t love a good deal? From $3 Taco Tuesday at Beach Burrito Co. to half price pizzas at Parry St Garage, there’s nothing like a good, cheap feed.
Hopefully, that gives you a taste (haha) of what’s out there, so get munching!
13
SIGHTS TO
BEACH
NOBBYS BEACH
SEA
The breakwall at Nobbys beach is great if you love to go for a scenic walk or skate. This beach is also known to be great for those who are learning to surf. In the same area, you can visit the Christ Church Cathedral and Fort Scratchley for a dose of history!
Excuse the terrible pun but this is only the first of many... BATH
BOGEY HOLE Also known as the Commadant’s Baths, this is a heritage-listed sea bath with a gorgeous view of Newcastle’s coastline. ANIMALS
BLACKBUTT RESERVE
By Farihah Alam & Prachi Sahai, Your Promotions & Merchandise Officers 14
If you get sick of walking and looking at water everywhere, it’s time to head to Blackbutt Reserve in Kotara. This reserve has nature trails and wildlife exhibits as well as plenty of areas for a cute barbecue picnic with your friends.
WALK
NEWCASTLE ANZAC MEMORIAL WALK After catching some waves at Bar Beach (or not), enjoy the ANZAC Memorial Walk. This walk will probably give you the prettiest view of Newcastle’s skyline and its waters.
There's no way you have nothing to do on a free day here! BEACH
MEREWETHER BEACH AND BATHS In 2018, this beach was named Australia’s best city beach. Take a dip in the baths or catch some waves in these stunning waters, the choice is yours!
DAY TRIP
BEYOND NEWCASTLE If you have a free weekend, there are even MORE places to visit in the Hunter region. Plan a wine tour in Hunter Valley (only a bus ride away) or explore the Stockton Sand Dunes at Port Stephens. For more beachy areas with water activities, don’t forget how close we are to Nelson Bay as well. If you’re looking for waters to fish in, Lake Macquarie is waiting for you, too.
VIEW
WARATAH LOOKOUT This lookout is so top secret, there aren’t even Google images for it! But it’s a good thing that this place is only 5 minutes from university (just past the Mater). If you’re looking for an escape with a bird’s eye view of Newcastle, this is where it’s at. 15
MYTHS ABOUT MED SCHOOL T
hinking this degree is gonna be super hectic or filled with dread? Think again. Grace Dennis and Bronwen Kirk bust some common misconceptions about the big wide world of medical school.
MYTH THREE: You will have zero social life No way! It's well known that medical school can be a challenging time, particularly when you're 3 days into stuvac and the only contact you've had is with your trusty Talley and O'Connor. Balance is key to surviving the stressful periods. So whether it's social sport with friends, seeing your family on the weekend, or remembering you have interests outside med, don't feel too guilty about taking some time away from study.
MYTH ONE: You must know what specialty you want to do Telling anyone you’re going to study medicine is usually followed with "So what specialty are you going to do then?". Don't be afraid to start med school with zero idea about where you want to end up. You learn what you do and don't like as you experience it! Likewise, if you know what speciality you're interested in don't be reluctant to say when people ask – just remember there's no set path and be open to changing your mind as you go. By the end of your second year, you might surprise yourself with how interesting GP can be!
MYTH FOUR: Jeans are appropriate clinical wear You've definitely thought that your jeans "don't really look like jeans" or "they're not really THAT skinny". Wrong. Incorrect. Try again. Trust us when we tell you that investing in a pair of nice, comfortable pants (that aren't even that expensive, because tbh Target has an amazing range) is a much better use of your time than trying to fend off the inevitable disapproving looks and comments from consultants and other med students.
MYTH TWO: You learn everything from lectures PLEASE take our word for it when we say that lectures can't teach you everything. Sure, some lecture topics may seem pretty straightforward, but they often simplify concepts in order to squeeze what really should be a semester long series of lectures, into 1 short hour (*cough* anatomy *cough*). What can really help though, is to consolidate the lecture with revision from textbooks (floating around is a hard drive with a pdf of literally every textbook ever, so don't worry about having to fork out your hard earned $$$), or exploring the depths of YouTube, making friends with the likes of Armando Hasudungan or Osmosis.
16
MYTH FIVE: Medical school is a cut-throat environment So, you've survived the long road that is the application process to get in to study medicine. Congratulations. Naturally, then, you'd assume that everyone here is so hardened from the battle, that now it's every man for themselves. A fair assumption, but luckily this could not be farther from the truth. The hard part is over, now it's time to give way to the calm and supportive world of medicine at Newcastle. The land of team study sessions, formative exams, and ungraded passes. Find a small group that you work well with, and don't be afraid to ask questions when you don't understand something – no one is going to judge you for not grasping everything immediately (and the chances are that others are in the same boat!).
“Are you stressed? Are you so busy getting to the future that the present is reduced to a means to getting there? Stress is caused by being “here” but wanting to be “there”, or being in the present but wanting to be in the future. It’s a split that tears you apart inside.” Eckart Tolle, The Power of Now. All we ever have is the present moment, so here are a couple of poses to bring more presence and awareness into the now. CORPSE POSE Lie flat on your back, with your eyes closed, palms facing upwards and relax. Then slowly bring your awareness to each part of your body – starting at your toes, then ankles, calves, thighs until you reach your head. You can do this when you wake up or before sleeping. BRIDGE POSE Lie flat on your back, bend your knees with your heels flat on the floor. Keep your arms on either side of your torso and then as you exhale gently lift your hips off the ground. Lift up until the thighs are about parallel to the floor and the knees are directly above the ankles.
KEEP CALM & DO YOGA
These postures are known to relieve tension and anxiety, helping your whole body feel energized! By Prakshi Chopra
17
Your success is our priority. We’re here for you - just a call away Have an accounting or financial question? Are you working and would like your tax return completed and lodged, for free? Do you need assistance in buying your first house?
We can help you achieve your goals As your career grows, our in-house banker and finance division will nuture your long term goals whilst assisting in your day to day banking needs. Credit cards Everyday banking Premium 24/7 telephone banking Motor vehicle finance Home ownership Flexi loan
We’ve been helping clients in the medical profession since 1953
Your journey to financial security starts here
Powered by Cutcher & Neale
At WealthStart, we are dedicated to providing tailored and practical financial advice to Doctors in Training. The early stages of your career are where some of the most important financial decisions will be made, that is why we are here to guide you every step of the way. Your tax return completed and lodged
$100 dollars off your AMA (NSW) Membership
Get in touch with our award winning team. 25 Bolton Street Newcastle, NSW, 2300 p. 02 4928 8500 cutcher.com.au
Expert advice on salary packaging
Tailored wealth creation strategy
A GUIDE TO TEXTBOOKS Parvathy Ananthan, Your Education Convenor
H
ey everyone, I am an avid Friends fan, who absolutely loves trying new food and travelling. Education Portfolio aims to guide you through your medicine journey with various events including Elective Night, Mock OSCEs & Clinical Night. But, for now, let’s talk textbooks and other handy resources.
grams and accompanying text to understand key features. PHARMACOLOGY Medical Pharmacology at a Glance provides a quick summary of drug groups within a few pages. For further in – depth details pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical uses I would reach for Rang & Dale's Pharmacology.
PHYSIOLOGY & BASIC ANATOMY Tortora & Derrickson’s Principles of Anatomy and Physiology or Martini & Nath’s Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology are great for understand new ideas in simple terms with visual aids and establish a solid foundation. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology is the go-to textbook for physiology, presenting in – depth physiology in a straightforward and concise manner. The Physiology Review is a chapter – wise collection of questions, to test yourself. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is also good. Online, Osmosis, Armando Hasudungan, Dr Najeeb and Khan Academy are great for visual learners. Online question banks such as Pass Medicine, Amboss and AMSA MedEd Modules are effective.
PATHOLOGY The Pocket Companion To Robbins And Cotran Pathologic Basis Of Disease – Baby Robbins is a nice summary of the pathology, highlighting the key points. To further understand the finer – details and extend your pathology knowledge, Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease – Big Robins will do the trick. Also, The Calgary Guide to Understanding Disease which is online has amazing flowcharts! CLINICAL MEDICINE Talley and O'Connor's Clinical Examination will be your medical bible for clinical sessions and OSCEs. It has clear step by step approach to physical examinations and highlights the clinical significance. Mechanisms of Clinical Signs & Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine are also handy. Online, OSCE Stop and Geeky Medics are incredibly useful.
ADVANCED ANATOMY Gray's Anatomy for Students or Moore & Dalley’s Clinically Oriented Anatomy have great diagrams. To test yourself I suggest, Netter's Anatomy Flash Cards (with beautiful images) and Rohen & Rokochi Color Atlas of Anatomy (labelled specimen photographs). Online, Acland’s Anatomy and Anatomy Zone are helpful.
Don’t forget UptoDate (American), British Medical Journal (British) & eTherapeutic Guidelines (Australian) which are online database for pathologies, symptoms, management protocols, drugs, research evidence, etc.
HISTOLOGY Shotgun Histology (YouTube channel) will prepare you for labs; while, Wheater’s Functional Histology, A Text and Colour Atlas has labelled dia19
V
TWO STUDENTS, ONE PBL AND A BATTLE... SAMUEL SEBASTIAN
THEEPIGA (PIGGY)
WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO PBL? Try and get a holistic understanding of the case. So by the end of the week, the physiology, biochemistry and anatomy should piece together to form the bigger picture for that week’s PBL.
WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO PBL? Read the learning points ahead of time and do a little research. If you have no idea about what the PBL topic is, ask questions. On the other hand, if you are super experienced in a particular topic or area, allow your other group members the fiddle around and figure out a possible solution before you step in to explain something.
WHAT IS THE KEY FOR MAKING GOOD NOTES? In Semester 1 I found that the PBL learning points only covered some of what we discussed in PBL. So for Semester 2, I decided to handwrite notes during PBL and then summarise the whole case into a few sentences. I also drew flowcharts and diagrams onto A2 size charts to cover my bedroom wall - a really simple way to summarise complex physiology.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO MAKING GOOD NOTES? Research your learning points ahead of your open PBL and make notes using reliable sources. Avoid copying chunks of information. You want to understand the information because there will be a lot of questions related to PBL in your exams. Also, continue to make notes during all the PBL classes. Some relevant information is discussed during the class but is not covered by a learning point. You can share the workload of making PBL notes with your PBL group. Just make sure you do your part!
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR FIRST YEARS? Get involved. It’s not only about having the right answer, because trust me, as a high school leaver I was very rarely right. Instead, your tutor will appreciate it if you speak up, make mistakes and ask questions. It’s also important to stay up to date with lectures, because if you can apply the knowledge to Middle and Close PBL, you’ll learn actively.
ARE THERE ANY THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T DO? Don’t feel the need to have your laptops out and google every single thing you discuss. Don’t rely on tutor to give you all the answers. Your tutors are there to guide you and your group and tug at the leash when you stare at each other for too long.
WHAT DID YOU DO IN PBL MIDDLE? Middle PBL depends solely on your group. In Semester 1, my PBL group decided to focus only on topics we found challenging. In Semester 2, my PBL group decided to work through the Middle PowerPoint slides. Both methods had its merits, but I preferred the latter because I found that if we didn’t do all of the slides, I would miss important information that may not have been covered in Open or Close.
WHAT DID YOU DO IN PBL MIDDLE? We presented our learning points as a powerpoint presentation during middle which would take 30 minutes. Then we would cover all the middle tasks. We found that the learning points covered most of the middle tasks anyway! 20
Your Academic Convenors
Avant student membership. By doctors, for doctors. Helena Qian Avant member
Free student membership and insurance with Australia’s leading medical defence organisation (MDO) Dr Neelam Bhardwaj Avant member, VIC
Your free student membership benefits include: medico-legal advisors, available 24/7 in emergencies, to offer advice and support evidence-based insights from our medico-legal experts including, case studies, videos, checklists and more student eNewsletters and communications opportunity to network and be part of the Avant Student Advisory Council access to a unique student placement program with Interplast
Helena Qian Medical Student New South Wales
Join the MDO more doctors choose
1800 128 268 avant.org.au/student IMPORTANT: Professional indemnity insurance products are issued by Avant Insurance Limited, ABN 82 003 707 471, AFSL 238 765. The information provided here is general advice only. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs before deciding to purchase or continuing to hold a policy with us. For full details including the terms, conditions, and exclusions that apply, please read and consider the policy wording and PDS, which is available at avant.org.au or by contacting us on 1800 128 268. 2237.6 01/19 (0950)
21
GIVING BACK
Jason Huynh and Matt Mew-Sum, Your Charities Convenors
22
H
ey there, welcome to first year from your friendly neighbourhood charity convenors! We’re Jason and Matt and we’re running the charity portfolio this year.
UNMS is supporting Fair Go for Kids this year which is a super great organisation which aims to provide ongoing community and business support to raise funds to help children in need. With the generous donations they receive they pay for essential services for children in need such as medical procedures, early intervention programs, therapy, and equipment. We’ve got a whole bunch of super cute and exciting activities lined up for your first year aimed at maximising both donations for Fair Go for Kids and fun for everyone involved! In the first few weeks we’ve got the charity party – get ready to have a fun time with the rest of UNMS and get lit for charity lol. Then there’s the charity trivia night – grab your friends and your thinking caps to answer some fun questions for a chance to win cool prizes (and obviously to support charity too)! We’ll also be organising a team for the World’s Greatest Shave 2019 – come talk to us about joining the team to shave or dye your hair or even just to get around supporting those who are. We’re also organising a team for the City2Surf 2019 – get keen to run with the rest of UNMS! Throughout the year we will also be running the charity raffle, selling tickets throughout the year and at all events for a chance to win big prizes with the winners to be announced at Medball. We will also be running a bunch of barbeques at Bunnings – come grab a sausage or come join the Charity subcommittee to get involved! First year is a super fun time and we really encourage y’all to really get involved with UNMS but obviously we’d especially love to see a bunch of y’all in the charity subcommittee! Feel free to pop up to either of us about anything charity or non-charity related!!
23
THE ATHLETIC ALTRUIST
O
n behalf of UNMS Sports we would like to congratulate you on receiving an offer. Welcome to your new home for the
next 5 years! The UNMS Sports portfolio caters to every year group within the Joint Medical Program. From the fresh faces of first year, to the battle hardened fourth and fifth years.
There are plenty of benefits to playing sports with UNMS. It is an awesome way to keep fit and stay active. Playing sports also provides the opportunity for interaction with students from other years and is one of the easiest ways to make friends! All of our sports teams are inclusive, and composed of students from various years. We have a range of Social Sport events that run throughout the year as well as inter faculty competitions. 24
SOCIAL SPORT Social Sport runs for the duration of the year. The sports are hosted at the university gym on different nights during the week, so there is no limit to the amount of sports you can sign up for. The range of social sports on offer include Touch Footy, Netball, Basketball, Volleyball and Futsal. Is there a better way to embody the motto, “work hard, play hard” than sports?
INTERFACULTY SPORT Interfaculty Sport events run as standalone events throughout the year, and are a great opportunity to meet people from other faculties and represent UNMS. After a stellar 2018, UNMS are the current holders of the 3 interfaculty trophies that were contested. Keep your eyes peeled for details regarding these competitions throughout the year. We would love for you to get involved!
•
Med vs Law Rugby
•
UON Interfaculty Cup
•
NSWMSC Sports Day
There are plenty of sports on offer and plenty of reasons to sign up. All news and updates will be posted to ‘UNMS Sports’ group on Facebook. Feel free to contact either of us if you have any questions.
Kajanan Nithiyananthan and Chris Gaya, Your Sports Convenors
25
L S A G I N C I O N S APPE H
O
ur opening, introductory social event for the year is called 'First Incision'. This will take the form of a cocktail party and be held within the first few
weeks in the 1st year calendar. There will be drinks both included and available as well as some food included. The main goal of First Incision is to provide an opportunity to allow first years to meet people in other cohorts within the JMP program, as well as for other years to meet new students in the JMP. In our calendar, the next event will be a themed pub crawl. Again, this is a great opportunity to both build and solidify friendships while enjoying the Newcastle nightlife. For our pubcrawl, we will visit several pubs with discounted drinks before finishing the night off at one of the main clubs in Newcastle. The pub crawl will take place in one of Newcastle's nightlife hubs; namely Hamilton or Newcastle City. Halfway party will, surprise surprise, take place around the middle of the year at one of our favourite Newcastle clubs. The aim of this party is to provide a highly enjoy26
able night out with the excuse being our 3rd years being halfway through the degree, as well as celebrating everyone's survival of semester 1. The final and most iconic UNMS party of the year is 'ER party'. ER party will take place towards the end of the year, again in one of our favourite clubbing locations, for a sublime night to cap off the UNMS social year. This is without doubt nearly everyone's favourite night of the year as it is one of the more rowdy nights on the calendar and has an amazing vibe to it. Part of this vibe can be attributed to the fact that everyone wears scrubs to the party but ultimately ER party is too amazing to sum up in words, so make sure you come and see for yourself! The Newcastle night life is fairly vast, with common uni targets being Customs Hotel on a Wednesday night, the Jesmond Hotel on a Thursday night and SJ's (Sydney Junction Hotel) on Friday and Saturday nights. Argyle House and King Street Hotel are also popular. In terms of bars, Queens Wharf Hotel is very popular on Sunday night. A plethora of bars are busy and fun on a Friday and Saturday night in the city and Hamilton. Adam Perkovic and Harish Kamalanathan, Your Social Convenors
27
MEDREVUE
M
ed Revue is the largest creative activity of UNMS – a Broadway-scale stage production acting as an extravagant display of the incredible creative and performing talent interspersed amongst our cohort. Med Revue is a full-length musical production written by the students for the students, with auditions for acting, singing, dancing, orchestral, production, and behindthe-scenes roles early in the year. In recent years cast and crew has been almost 100 people, making Med Revue one of the best ways to make friends across year groups and score yourself an invite to the best party of the year! We'll be convening Med Revue this year. Wrivu will also be Director, and Jamie will be Musical Director. We are both 5th years and are happy to answer any questions about Med Rev, or med school life in general! This will hopefully be our 5th and final time on stage in the Griffith Duncan Theatre, and we want to make it a spectacular showcase of what Med Revue has come to means to us: an incredible creative mixing pot; a space to meet like-minded individuals; a production that is the envy of other medical schools; and, ultimately, the most honest feedback that the faculty gets regarding the student experience of the JMP. Jamie Bulman & Wrivu Martin, MedRevue Convenors
28
W
e're Tom, Caroline and Katie, we're all second years, and we're super excited to be your Medball convenors for 2019! We're stoked you guys could join us in the JMP - as, I'm sure, are you.
Medball is the biggest party (you'll get used to those in this degree) of the year and is always a great night. It'll be held around the middle of the year and everyone from first to fifth year is invited to come for a meal, a couple of drinks if that's what you want and to party! It's also the dressiest event, so be prepared to pull out a suit or fancy dress and you can bring a date. You'll receive more information later in the year but, for now, enjoy settling in, meeting new people and enjoying the other events UNMS has planned! Tom, Caroline and Katie, Medball Convenors
MEDBALL
29
WHAT DO ALL MEDICAL STUDENTS understand. Remind yourself every now and then that it’s okay to not know everything. As a first year, your lectures are a really good guide of how much you’re expected to know – I can’t emphasise how important it is not to burden yourself trying to understand things that are beyond your level!
W
e’re insanely time poor and most of us are usually scrambling to get our life together. Whilst I am most definitely not a model student, I have had a lot of experience juggling commitments and these are some of the things I’ve learned on the way.
3. TAKE A BREAK FROM MEDICINE Shockingly you might find that your family doesn’t really want to talk about anatomy of the knee joint at dinner. It can be so easy for medicine to become your life, which makes it that much more important to do things outside of medicine. MedSoc is a really great place to start – there’s heaps of events to get involved in from charity runs to cocktail parties, so there’s sure to be something for you. It’s also okay to take an actual break from medicine. Sometimes life happens and things can get too much. Your wellbeing should always take priority and sometimes that means you just need some time for everything to go back to normal.
1. PRIORITISE This is by far the most important skill you will learn as a medical student. There will be times when you’re faced with multiple things that you need to do at once. One really (eye-rollingly) simple thing to do is to take a step back, evaluate all your tasks, categorise, prioritise, and then take on one thing at a time. You will be surprised how much simpler and how much easier those tasks become. Check out the Eisenhower Decision Matrix if you're keen! 2. IT’S OKAY TO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING It is so easy to go down rabbit holes of information where you find yourself spending far too much time reading things that you barely
30
6. YOU’RE NOT ALONE Imposter syndrome: a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud". This is a feeling that pretty much EVERY medical student has had. There will be moments where you will feel extraordinarily inadequate and somehow everyone else knows things that you don’t. But trust me, they’re feeling the exact same way. You are allowed to be confident in yourself! You’ve made it into the program and that’s enough proof that you deserve to be here.
4. MAKE TIME FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY Keeping in touch with people gets harder and harder once you leave high school. Make the time and effort to keep in touch with people who are important to you. As amazing as med school is, you will undoubtedly face really hard times and that’s when the support of those friends and family is invaluable.
We’re a community here in Newy, and we’ve got each other’s backs. You’ll get to meet some incredible people throughout your degree, and make connections that you’ll treasure for life. These next five (or so) years will be tough, but they will also be some of the best years of your life. I hope some of this was useful, and I wish you all the best!
5. MAKE YOUR BED EVERY MORNING So I don’t mean literally make your bed (though that’s also good) –this is more a philosophy of life. If you can make your bed today, you can make your bed tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that; and even if you had a bad day at least you can come home to a nicely made bed. Routine is a difficult habit to get into, but it makes a world of difference to your health and productivity. Make your bed every morning, after a week it’ll be muscle memory and you’ll be thankful for it. Apply this philosophy to anything you regularly need to do and what used to be a burden is now second nature.
HAVE IN COMMON 31
?
By Olivia Chang, Vice-President Internal
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL W
elcome to Newy, you beautiful brighteyed bunch of future doctors! Our names are Rhiannon and Fi, and we are stoked to be your AMSA Reps! Our job is to enhance your student experience by equipping you all with the amazing opportunities AMSA has to offer to medical students. WHAT IS AMSA? The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) is the peak representative body for Australian medical students. AMSA is here to inform, connect and represent all 17,000 medical students across Australia and this is achieved through phenomenal events and projects, put together by med students for med students. AMSA is an overflowing pool of sensational opportunities and ANYONE can get involved. If you have any interest in upskilling in advocacy and representation, Global Health, Rural Health, community and wellbeing initiatives, writing publications or just wanting to meet and work with other med students from around the country, then definitely GET INVOLVED! EVENTS CONVENTION 7-13 July AMSA is renowned for hosting world-class events, and the AMSA Convention is the largest national event. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Known to be the largest student-run conference in the world, Convention is an extraordinary week jammed packed with a rewarding academic program and social nights you have never experienced anything like before. This year, it’s in Hobart. Meet other med students from all over Australia. Get inspired by incredible plenary speakers. Attain new skills in amazing workshops. Come join us and your fellow Newy delegates as we take on Hobart together!! UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL AND GET AMONGST IT. 32
STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION
By Fiona Lieu & Rhinnon Stewart, Your AMSA Rep and Junior Rep GHC 16-19 August If Hobart is a little too far, then no fear! The Global Health Conference, which is a smaller scale event, will be hosted in Sydney this year! Motivational from start to finish, GHC is all about showing you the endless possibilities in global health. Another event we also highly recommend! NLDS 11-15 May Upskill in creating change and political advocacy at the annual National Leadership Development Seminar, hosted in Canberra. A seriously great weekend with amazing speakers and workshops. ADVOCACY Aside from some of the best events you’ll ever attend in this degree, AMSA is also all about representing YOU. Three times a year, AMSA Reps, Medsoc Presidents and anyone who is keen on juicy policy chat gather at Council to discuss and debate what and how AMSA advocates on behalf of all medical students. AMSA is your platform to speak up about issues that are important to you and medicine. HOW TO GET INVOLVED? • JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP: AMSA@ UNMS • BECOME AN AMSA MEMBER. Head over to www.amsa.org.au, sign up and pay a small fee for a membership that will last your whole degree. This membership will give you access to all events run by AMSA. • COME UP AND SAY HI. We love having a chat and answering your questions. You can also contact us on amsa@unms.org.au, or jramsa@unms.org.au
33
SPECIAL INTEREST MEDICAL GROUPS
PETER LIN
MADELINE TEMPLE
JOCELYN LEDGER
GABBY CULLEN
Hi, I'm Peter. My role is to represent UNMS at external associations we are affiliated with (with the exception of AMSA). Primarily this includes the New South Wales Medical Students Council (NSWMSC), the Australian Medical Council (AMA), and the Pacific Medical Students Association (PMSA). The bulk of my time is spent on the NSWMSC, the peak representative body for medical students in NSW. They represent the interests of students to major stakeholders, including the state government and HETI (the ones who give you jobs at the end of this journey you've begun). In addition, they run events throughout the year, including the annual cocktail night where you can meet your future co-workers from across NSW, as well as educational sessions.
On behalf of the University of Newcastle Surgical Society (UNSS) we would like to congratulate you on being accepted into med at UON! We look forward to getting to know you throughout the years to come. Our society hosts a variety of events that will help you learn new skills and meet new faces. These events range from talks by renowned surgeons to workshops that guide you through basic and advanced surgical skills! UNSS is not just a society for those who want to be surgeons, it’s for all students that want to improve their general skills, learn from practicing doctors, enjoy hands-on activities, and network across all years. If you see any of us around come and say hi - we would love to get to know you and welcome you to the family.
BREAATHHE promotes rural and remote practice to members through information exchange, placement opportunities, support and advocacy. We have a multi-disciplinary focus with members from Medicine, Medical Radiation Science, Nursing, Nutrition & Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Oral Health, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Psychology, Social Work and Speech Pathology. Why you should join us – we have the cheapest first aid courses on campus! We run information sessions for scholarships by students who have become John Flynn students, Bush Bursary scholars or RDN Cadets. Other key events include multidisciplinary skills nights, a soiree, as well as our Close the Gap day and NAIDOC week.
You’re finally in medicine, and you’re ready to change the world! But if you’re not sure exactly where to start, look no further - WakeUp is the solution to all your altruistic needs. As UoN's global health group, WakeUp is here to channel your passion to help you make change in the global sphere. WakeUp’s events and initiatives cover a wide range of global health inequities through education and fundraising, as well as specific events aimed at equipping our members with the knowledge and tools they need for a future in international health. Our events are engaging as well as impactful, ranging from charity parties to picnics with refugees, and everything in between! Check us out at our first event, Birthing Kit Night, which exemplifies everything Wake Up is.
UNMS External Liason
UNSS President
BREAATHHE President
34
Wake Up President
JAMIE BULMAN
GEORGIA BROWN
WRIVU MARTIN
VID PREMKUMAR
JMP Critical Care Society is the peak organisation run for and by JMP medical students with the aim of promoting and supporting student interest, exposure, and education in the areas of Anaesthetics, Intensive Care, and Emergency Medicine. Despite our focus on ‘critical care’, the core of these fields are skills and knowledge that are useful for handling emergencies in any field of medicine, and at any stage of training. We welcome everyone from across all years to join us, whatever your interests! Events for the year are yet to be finalised, but keep an eye out for brand new ultrasound teaching, simulation events, and a seminar series on the basics of ‘critical care’ that every junior doctor needs to know in preparation for the Emergency Department and the wards!
DEA UoN is a society part of the national organisation Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a network of medical professionals and students actively engaged and advocating for climate action for the benefit of public health. We provide a platform for health students to raise awareness, be engaged, and to work towards a more sustainable campus and community. We run skills workshops for tangible change; social activities; networking events; conduct primary research; liaise with politicians; and lead campaigns. Last year, we influenced UoN to be the first Australian university to use 100% renewable energy.Anyone is welcome to get involved, just shoot us a message via the DEA UoN facebook page or email dea. uon@gmail.com.
We’re UNOGS - a society dedicated to Obstetrics and Gynaecology. We’re super passionate about women’s health and we’re here to turn clever MD students such as yourself into Australia’s best Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. One of our most popular events, the Basic Skills in Obstetrics and Gynaecology night, runs twice a year where participants practice surgical skills like suturing, perineal repair and knot tying, as well as practicing instrumental deliveries and pelvic examinations. We also have a Pathways to O&G night, where we invite specialists and trainees to share their experiences and spill the beans on how to get onto the training program. This year, we’ll also be launching our website, where you can access a vast array of resources.
Hey I'm Vid, the President of the Society of Medical Innovation and Technology (SoMIT), and I'd like to invite you all to be a part of our new society that we started in 2017. We are a multi-disciplinary group aiming to bridge the gap between engineering and the health sciences. Our goal for medical students is to encourage them to not just be clinicians, but also researchers and innovators who are equipped to build and engage with the technologies and systems of healthcare in the future. We'll be having many events across the year ranging from hackathons to workshops to pub crawls. If you're keen to join us, feel free to like our Facebook page and stay in the loop. Welcome to medicine and I hope you enjoy your time here.
JMP CritCare President
UNOGS President
DEA President
35
SoMIT President
EXECUTIVE President: Isabella Ludbrook VP Internal: Olivia Chang VP External: Anika Birmingham Treasurer: Marcus Tan Secretary: Corey Morgan Sponsorship Officer: David Ngo EXTERNAL LIAISON TEAM AMSA Rep: Fiona Lieu Junior AMSA Rep: Rhiannon Stewart External Liaison Officer: Peter Lin Immediate Past President: Ravi Naran INTERNAL PORTFOLIOS TEAM Academic Convenors: Samuel Sebastian & Theepiga Ramachandran Charities Convenors: Jason Huynh & Matthew Mew-Sum Community and Wellbeing Officers: Ishan Barot & Nathan Ma Education Officer: Parvathy Ananthan Indigenous Rep: Jordan Amos International Rep: Melissa Tosland (Mary) IT Officer: Randy Tjang Promotions Officers: Farihah Alam & Prachi Sahai Publications Officer: Tara Kannan Social Convenors: Harish Kamalanathan & Adam Perkovic Sports Convenors: Christian Gaya & Kajanan Nithiyananthan SPECIAL EVENTS O'Camp Convenors: Michael Bishop, James Williams and Ashad Issah MedBall Convenors: Caroline Barton, Katie and Thomas MedRevue Convenors: Jamie Bulman & Wrivu Martin
36