The
Auricle September 2015
ACT Medical Careers Expo Which career is for you?
Med Ball 2015
Midnight in Paris - re-live the glamour!
AMSA Convention
Find out if the rumours are true...
“What’s On” Notice Board
Events you don’t want to miss!
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From the
Dear Students,
President
September is upon us and with it a return of that funny feeling in your gut. The feeling that tells you that playtime is coming to a close… But fear not, there remains time and I trust that the adventures of Scrubs Crawl and the bruises from dodge ball will have kept your spirits high! This year’s Winter Ball surpassed any before it so I do hope you will agree that your MedSoc has delivered on our promise to entertain! This is a promise we will continue to pursue right through to Graduation Ball in December, an event that mark’s the culmination of four years of dedication for our graduating class. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind people that this event is in no way exclusive to the fourth years, all are welcome and all will enjoy. Ticking off other big boxes this year has been the academic support of our newly reinvigorated MOSCEs and the launch of the ACT Careers Expo, a project born out of our relationship with AMA ACT and a recognition of the need for more information for our student body. In closing, I’d like to remind each of you that the greatest attribute of the ANUMS is the camaraderie that is so embedded within our student body. I’d like to ask each and every student to remember that we are all here for each other so please ensure that as exams draw closer, you recognise that we each need the support of those around us. Good luck friends. Best, Chris Wilder President
Welcome to the third issue for 2015!
Editors’ note
Spring is FINALLY here and while rugging up in boots and scarves and indulging in comfort foods has been great, I for one am ecstatic that the warmer, sunnier and longer days are on their way! Unfortunately though, this does mean end-of-year exams are near so massive thanks again to all those who managed to squeeze in the time and contributed to this issue! There’s only one more issue for the year after this one, which is due out the beginning of December, so if there’s anything you’d like to write about, or have any suggestions for articles to be featured, then don’t hesitate to contact me (anumss.publications@gmail.com). In the meantime, I wish everyone all the very best for exams! Happy reading! Sarina Gloeckl Publications Officer The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
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ACT Medical Careers Expo Sunday, 25 Oct 2015 8:30am - 4:00pm ANU Medical School, The Canberra Hospital, Building 4, Level 2
Cost: FREE What the event will include: — Dedicated time with all Colleges in attendance. Participants will rotate through in small groups, allowing for the opportunity to hear from all Colleges and ask questions. Think of it as group “speed dating” with the Colleges and further time for mingling and questions at lunch. — Information from a wide range of Colleges:
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Including Paediatric and Child Health and the Faculty of Public Health Medicine
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Australian Royal College of Rural and Remote Medicine
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
— Information from the AMA and ACT Health (MOSCETU) regarding CV building as well as rotation and streaming opportunities for junior doctors. — Food!
Inclusive of morning tea and lunch for participants
— Networking Opportunities:
Maximise your time with College representatives at lunch and during planned breaks
Join us after the event at a local Canberra venue to kick back, relax, and get to know your colleagues
Registration required as spaces are limited. Register at www.anumss.org/events Questions? Contact: ACTCareersExpo@gmail.com Proudly sponsored by:
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The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
Merchandise
Officer Update ANU Medical Society merchandise will be available for the first time in 2015! Pre- orders will take place very soon, so keep an eye on the MedSoc Facebook page for more details. The three styles available are: ANU Medical Society merchandise will
1. Unisex College Jacket $50 (Black / Dark Grey)
3. Tee Shirts $20 (Black or Grey Marle)
2. Unisex Hoodie $40 (Black or Grey Marle)
be available for the first time in 2015! Preorders will take place very soon, so keep an eye on the Med Soc Facebook page for more details. The three styles available are: 1. Unisex College Jacket $50 (Black / Dark Grey) 2. Unisex Hoodie $40 (Black or Grey Marle) 3. Tee Shirts $20 (Black or Grey Marle)
NB: Prices may change slightly from those listed. Please contact me if you have any questions or feedback. Cheers, Penny Allen Med Soc Merchandise Officer 2015
NB: Prices may change slightly from those listed. Please contact me if you have any questions or feedback. Cheers, Penny Allen
Med Soc Merchandise Officer 2015 Australian National University Medical Students’ Society ANU Medical Society merchandise will be available for the first time in 2015! Preorders will take place very soon, so keep an eye on the Med Soc Facebook page for more details. The three styles available are: 1. Unisex College Jacket $50 (Black / Dark Grey) 2. Unisex Hoodie $40 (Black or Grey Marle) 3. Tee Shirts $20 (Black or Grey Marle) NB: Prices may change slightly from those listed. Please contact me if you have any questions or feedback. Cheers, Penny Allen
Med Soc Merchandise Officer 2015
The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
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AMSA
Convention W
e’d heard the rumours, we’d heard the stories, but when it came to actually attending AMSA Convention 2015, nothing could prepare us for what we were about to experience. As a first year student (or so called ‘Convirgin’), a week down in Melbourne with a bit of medicine thrown in initially just sounded like a fun way to spend the first week of our mid-semester break. However, upon arrival we were stunned by the atmosphere generated by over 1000 excited, passionate medical students gathered together for 7 days of doing what we love best – learning how to use our knowledge and skills in order to improve the health and wellbeing of others (and of course, socialising). With so many amazing guest speakers, panel discussions, practical skills workshops and information sessions on offer, it soon became a matter not of ‘what am I interested in doing today?’, but of ‘how can I cram as many of these sessions into my day as possible?!’. From discussions about refugee health, to presentations on the future of robotic technology in surgery, to a day in the life of an emergency services worker, and how to enrich our practice of medicine through pursuing our own hobbies and passions (think magic tricks and fishing blogs…) – this immersive experience provided us with the opportunity to consider healthcare outside the context of textbooks and lectures. It made us realise that in order to become the best doctors we can be, we need to integrate our experiences and knowledge from all aspects of life – a life that we can still balance with our passion for medicine. Jess Weber Year 1 Medical Student
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The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
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SCORA Workshop
I
t’s caused more than 30 million deaths worldwide, it originated in monkeys and it won Tom Hanks the Best Actor Oscar in 1993. That’s right, you guessed it. Lets talk about HIV/AIDS. The inaugural SCORA – ANU workshop kicked off on June 24th with a bang, drawing a substantial crowd of sex(ual and reproductive health) maniacs to discuss, debate and delve into the sociocultural, medical and political issues associated with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Enticed by pizza and the promise of controversy, a crowd of eager students filled the room. The always charismatic, always charming, Prof Bowden, came by to entertain us and facilitate conversation regarding issues including the use of HIV prophylaxis, so called “Truvada Whores” and also debunk some of the myths behind HIV/AIDS transmission. Discussion flowed following Epidemiologist, Elizabeth Pisani’s, TED Talk on the rationalities of HIV. Some interesting points on health bias and perceptions of people with HIV/AIDS, particularly amongst doctors, raised questions and got people thinking about our own personal, unconscious prejudice and how this has evolved since the discovery of HIV. The last activity of the night was splitting into groups to tackle some of the barriers to HIV prevention and treatment, with some creative and innovative ideas emerging. Thank you all for coming, we hope you had a fantastic night and look forward to more SCORA workshops next year! Katie Burkitt Year 2 Medical Student
The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
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Surgical Society S
Update
ince our last Auricle article the ANUSS has had a jam-packed year. We finished the first semester with our biannual Women in Surgery evening, hosted generously by Dr Carolyn Cho at her home. This was an informal evening aimed at allowing female students the opportunity to engage with, and listen to the life stories of female surgeons in the ACT. We were extremely lucky to also hear from two surgical registrars, who gave invaluable advice on the challenges women can face when juggling a demanding surgical career with their home and family. We look forward to running this event again in two years’ time. The second semester started with a bang, at the exhilarating five days, four nights IASSS (International Association of Student Surgical Societies) Symposium hosted at University of Queensland, Brisbane. A fledgling society that began from the dreams of a small group of students in South Africa only last year, IASSS is now the largest student surgical conference in the world. We were blown away by the incredible range of surgical workshops, inspirational speakers from both Australia and abroad, and a fantastic social schedule every night finishing with the magical Gala Ball on Saturday night. Despite the flights and buses to Brisbane, ANUMS was proud to have had students from all four years representing the school at the symposium, mingling with hundreds of like-minded students from across the world! Our enthusiasm was not to be curbed and we had another excellent turnout at the Introduction to Trauma and Surgery Conference held over a weekend in Sydney very shortly after that. Back home in August ANUSS hosted its own annual symposium at The Canberra Hospital, titled “The Shifting Tides of Surgery in a Globalised World”. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery has recently highlighted that 5 billion people in our world lack access to safe surgical care, and the importance of funding surgery as an assistance to global growth. Every year we have used the symposium as an opportunity to encourage students to think about what a career in surgery can mean both inside and outside the theatres, and this year for the first time we streamed the symposium to include our rural colleagues. We were delighted to welcome Prof Klaus-Martin Schulte, our new Professor of Surgery, as the opening speaker. We were very fortunate to have also had Dr Chris Roberts (Orthopaedics), Dr Charlie Mosse (Hepatobiliary), and A/Prof David Croaker (Paediatrics), who all shared their perspectives on how surgeons can make a difference both at home in Australia and abroad. A career in medicine and surgery is made far more fruitful by the connections we make, and the knowledge we share with our peers and our community. I urge you to begin feeding your curiosity even while you are a student. “Innovation stems from the willingness to dream big.” – Dr Fiona Wood, IASSS 2015.
10 The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
Luzinda Lo Year 3 Surgical Rep
ANU Surgical Society
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Med Ball 2015
Midnight in M
Paris
idnight in Paris, the ANUMSS ball for 2015, went off without a hitch! Minus some decorations who had a mind of their own, who drastically wanted to end up on the floor, no matter how persuasive we tried to be. A three course meal was enjoyed by all, a Photo Booth whose costumes dwindled by the end of the night, and a stunning band and DJ who jazzed tirelessly until the clock finally hit midnight (or more rightly 11pm). The buses were filled and off to our after party destination we went. Monkey bar was of course the host for the night, playing our favourite Tay Tay as we entered ready to dance the night away. Thank you to all who attended and made the night the special event it was. We hope to see you with the same enthusiasm at ball again next year! Kristy Mebberson Social Rep
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GPSN Careers Night F
ive things I learnt from GPSN Careers Night 2015
1. GPs are specialists: their specialty area = patients. Dr Mark Hislop talked about the importance of connecting to patients as a person, and maintaining the long-lasting relationship to his patients as a GP. 2. Rural GPs are truly valued in their communities. Dr Amanda Howard spoke about her work in a small town called Bombala. She drives down from Canberra twice a week to work at the practice there. The cases that she comes across are truly amazing and she makes a real difference to the people there. 3. It’s been said already, but I’ll say it again- work life balance! Flexibility! It’s true! There’s a reason why almost all our clinical tutors are GPs- they have the ability to take days off during the week to do such things like attend careers nights! 4. The future is bright for up-coming GPs. Dr Andrew Palfreman, a newly minted GP, shared with us his plans for the future. There’s so many options for subspecialising in general practice- obs/gyn, anaesthetics, there are no limits! 5. Loads of opportunities out there for students interested in GP training- conferences, workshops, scholarships. Get involved with GPSN! We’ll be holding our elections soon so sign up to our facebook group to stay updated! And a huge thank you for everyone who attended- really appreciate your support!
Cindy Guo GPSN Chair
GPSN ANU 16 The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
SCRUBS CRAWL
The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015 17
W
ell well well, it seems ANU Med School has quite a few blood thirsty fiends among us – not only are we stacking up an impressive number of donations, but a fierce competition is at hand between year groups! Only time . It’s not too late to will tell who will win the victory lunch when the competition wraps up on donate and save 3 lives, just make sure to register with ANUMSS on the Red25 website, and consider signing up to the Bone Marrow registry for extra points and good karma! Don’t forget that anybody can be a proxy for you too, and help ANU come out as winners of the national blood drive for 2015! Gab Charlton Year 1 Medical Student
October 3rd
18 The Auricle • Issue 3 • September 2015
Past issues at anumss.org/auricle
2013
2014
July 2015
Australian National University Medical Students’ Society