Trinity Biosoc freshers manual

WELCOME! Welcome all incoming first years! (And hello to all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and final meds that robbed this booklet. This isn’t for you! Put it back!)

Congratulations first meds, you’ve survived the struggle of getting into your dream course! Be proud of yourselves, the struggle is real! But now that you’re in college, you’re probably feeling a little apprehensive about what this year has to offer. Fear not, for Biosoc are here to help!

BIOSOC? WHAT’S A BIOSOC? WHO are we?

Biosoc is short for Biological Society, but our official name is “Dublin University Biological Association”. We are a student society run by students, for students. Each year, a committee is elected, made up of mainly 4th years.

1st, 2nd and 3rd year representatives are elected and act as a point of contact between the committee and the greater student body. This year we have a fantastic committee and some really dedicated reps!

Biosoc Committee 2015 / 2016:

Bearach Reynolds – Chairperson Nanci O’Reilly – Secretary Maz O’Dwyer – Treasurer Sadhbh Heneghan - Public Relations Officer Alex Robinson & Louise Ward - Ents Officers Trisha Ang & Katie Wolohan - Ordinary Committee Members Eimear Duff - Ordinary Committee Member (Chairperson of Med Day) Martin O’Donnell - Ordinary Committee Member (Secretary of Med Day) Third year representatives: Greg Murphy, Maeve Reidy.

Second year representatives: David Hopkins, Anna McCollum.

First year representatives: To be decided (It could be YOU!)

WHAT do we do?

Biosoc organizes loads of events throughout the college year. These range from guest speakers to pub crawls, book sales to med ball; there is an event to suit everyone!

WHERE can you find us?

If you’re reading this booklet, it means you’ve managed to find us in person but make sure to tell your friends and classmates to look out for our stand during Fresher’s week, first at Halls, then in Front Square. Make sure you also follow us online too!

Facebook: TCD Biosoc Twitter: @tcdbiosoc Email: biosoc@cdc.tcd.ie

WHEN?!

So many when questions! When do you sign up? NOW! When does the fun start? IMMEDIATELY! When does the fun end? NEVER! Well, actually, we don’t run events throughout the summer months but you’ll be off having fun of your own then!

WHY? Essentially, it’s our job to make sure everyone gets away from the books for a few hours, makes a load of new friends and has an amazing time while doing so! Make sure to come along to all of our events to get the most out of your college year.

HOW do you get involved?

Everyone can get involved in Biosoc simply by signing up as soon as possible and attending as many events as you can. If you are interested in helping organize amazing events, meeting as many people as possible and getting some added bonuses (free Med Ball ticket anyone?), then why not run for First Year Rep?! It’s a simple enough election process: we come around to your class, disturb one of your lecturers for a few minutes and ask those interested in running to tell your class why you would make a great rep.

Your class votes anonymously and we announce the reps shortly afterwards.

Modules, examinations & equipment ATTENTION BOOKWORMS! Buying books for college is a lot different from buying books for school. Alas, we are not handed a list of essentials on our first day of lectures. Different lecturers will recommend different books, all for the same subject. Most of them are available in the libraries but having your own copy can come in really handy. Books can be pricey so it’s up to you to decide which books you really need and which are unnecessary. It’s important to pick a book that you feel suits your style of learning and is easy to understand. Fortunately for you, Biosoc have some words of wisdom to guide you on your way to Hodges Figgis or Clarendon Medical for each of your modules this year. One of the first events Biosoc hold throughout the year is our book sale. Older years sell on their used books for fractions of the cost price so make sure you’re there and there early!

ANATOMY:

Teaching:

Lectures and lab practicals in the dissection room. Get into the DR as much as possible because it really is the best learning tool!

Exams:

Written exams both at Christmas and summer as well as a vivas for both exams. In a viva, there are 3 written spot stations with specific questions about something on the body. The other 2 stations are orals with examiners. The examiner is there to give you marks and actually WANTS to pass you! Do not be afraid!

Books:

A good anatomy book is pretty essential for first year.

Grey’s Anatomy for Students is easy to read and has very clear diagrams. Some people prefer Last’s Anatomy. As far as atlases go, Netter’s Atlas of Anatomy is essential for identifying things in the dissection room.

PHYSIOLOGY: Teaching:

Lectures and lab practicals.

Exams:

Written exams both at Christmas and summer. There are also short, 15 minute tests after each practical. These are really easy and are very handy marks!

Books:

Sherwood’s Human Physiology is the one to go for in this subject. It can be quite wordy at times so it’s worth giving it a brief look over before buying, just to make sure you’re happy with it.

BIOCHEMISTRY:

Teaching:

Lectures and lab practicals.

Exams:

Written exams both at Christmas and summer.

Books:

BIOS Instant Notes in Biochemistry is a god-send. It gives a brief overview of most subjects covered in the course (but beware, does not cover everything!). If you like a little more detail, have a look at Lippincott’s Biochemistry.

Avoid Stryer’s like the plague! Some lecturers recommend it but most people find it too heavy altogether (both figuratively and literally).

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES, ETHICS: Teaching:

Lectures, tutorials and baby visits.

Exams:

Written exam in summer term only.

There is some continuous assessment as part of the tutorials and baby visits as well.

Books:

No need to buy books for this module!

STUDENT SELECTED MODULE: Student selected modules are designed to encourage students who are more scientifically minded to consider the arts. There are a wide range of modules available but be warned, it’s first come, first served so get your applications in fast! Those of you who are considering taking language classes should also note, they run for BOTH semesters! The other modules only run for one semester. Choose wisely.

PROBLEM BASED LEARNING: These are group tutorials where you work together to come up with solutions to various problems. Some hints and tips: • Try to get your voice heard. If you feel like you don’t have any new information to contribute, you should try ask a few questions. Or, if you don’t have a clue about the particular topic in question, volunteering to be secretary is always and easy option! Just make sure you participate in some shape or form at each session as that’s what the tutor will remember.

• Clinical medicine books such as Kumar and Clarke’s can be very handy at saving you time and effort (Google searches are often futile).

• If you’re going for the Wikipedia option, try to reword it! Some of the tutors print off the Wikipedia page to make sure you aren’t using it! It’s always a good option to have an abstract or two from Pubmed printed out so you can refer to it if worst comes to worst.

• Don’t spend too long preparing for PBL! It already takes up 4 hours a week.

Attendance is enough to pass. Doing some work (30 minutes for each session) and participating during the actual tutorial will score you high marks.

EXAMINATIONS: Medicine is tough, but guess what? You’re already in!

That means you’re capable of staying in! Here are a few tips for dealing with exam stress: • Remember, everyone is in the same boat as you.

No one likes exams, no one finds them easy and no one has a magical solution to passing!

• Keep your tutors contact details saved. They will be able to give you advice on sitting exams and be able to sort out any emergency problems on the day of an exam.

• Ask for help if you are struggling with a particular topic, exam or life in general. Make sure to talk to a friend, classmate, peer mentor or anyone on the Biosoc committee. A problem shared is a problem halved!

• If things don’t work out on the day, it’s not the end of the world!

Trinity have a system in place for repeating exams. You will always get a second chance so don’t sweat it!

• Don’t let exams take over your life! Everyone needs a break at some point so make sure to dedicate at least one day a week to relaxing and doing something you enjoy. Biosoc events are specially designed for this purpose!

EQUIPMENT: The only real equipment you need in 1st year is a white coat for anatomy labs. Make sure it is a Howie style coat, V-necks will just not do. These are available at Hodges Figgis, Clarendon Medical and the SU shop in House 6.

WHAT NOT TO BUY: Along the line, someone is going to recommend you buy something that will turn out to be fairly unnecessary. These things include: surgical sets for dissection, V-neck white coat for hospital, ophthalmoscopes and otoscopes.

Howie style MISCELLANEOUS: Lockers: Getting a locker is a really good idea. They’ll come in so handy for storing gym bags and your lab coats for dissection. Keep an eye on your emails for announcements about where and when to get a locker. One’s in the BMSI go on sale a little earlier than others. You have to queue up in the arts block to pay a deposit and then get your key from the reception staff in the BMSI.

Laptops: If you’re thinking about buying a laptop or tablet, keep an eye out for student discounts and offers over the next few weeks. You can get significant discounts if you buy through campus.ie so make sure to check them out.

Stationary: For those of you who prefer good old pen and paper, there’s nothing wrong with that! Easons on Nassau Street offer a 10% discount for Trinity students and the SU shops on campus sell some really good value stationary.

“What?! Taaa-Laaa?

Where’s that?!”

Unfortunately, even though you are Trinity students, a lot of medicine is based on the peripheral campuses.

These can be daunting to find, especially for those not from Dublin. Invest in a student travel card. These double as leap cards and are the cheapest way to get around Dublin (other than cycling). You can buy student travel cards from the SU in House 6.

Here are some handy directions to the main teaching hospitals associated with Trinity:

St. James’s Hospital:

BUS:

The 123, 13 and 40 all go to James’s. The 123 goes into the hospital grounds while the other two stop outside it. All three buses go from Dame St.

LUAS:

Take the Red Line from George’s Dock, Busaras or Abbey St. (the closest 3 stops to Trinity). Hop on a Luas towards Tallaght / Saggart.

BIKE / WALKING: Head up Dame St. away from Trinity. Keep going straight until you reach Thomas St. and then James St. The hospital will be on the left hand side, opposite Spar.

Tallaght Hospital: BUS:

The 49, 56a and 65 all go to Tallaght, all leave town from Dame St.

LUAS:

The Luas is the easiest way to get to Tallaght. Take the Red Line to Tallaght (NOT Saggart) and get off at the Cookstown stop.

This leaves you at the back gate of the hospital, right into the Trinity Centre.

BIKE / WALKING: Don’t even try.

CAR: There’s a housing estate in Cookstown that the students all park in (to the detriment of the locals). Spaces fill up fast though so get there EARLY (like, before 8am).

Naas Hospital: BUS:

The 126 Bus Eireann bus goes from Connolly Station to Naas. It leaves you about a 10 minute walk from the hospital. This is probably the easiest route and takes about an hour.

CAR:

This is also possible but M50 tolls and a potential lack of parking make the bus an easier route in general.

LUAS / BIKE / WALKING: Just no.

Support Systems Medical school promises to be some of the best years of your life, but there may be times when it all becomes overwhelming. And that’s okay!

Thankfully, Trinity has a vast support system in place for its students, whether you need help academically, personally or financially.

Your tutor: A tutor is a member of academic staff whose duty it is to look out for your welfare and academic support. Your tutor is assigned to you before you start

college, so meet them as soon as you can. If you are not sure who your tutor is, check out your portal page on my.tcd.ie or email the Senior Tutor on senior.tutor@tcd.ie.

The Student’s Union: The 5 SU officers are here to help and are all very approachable. The education and welfare officers have particularly useful roles. Check them out on Facebook, at tcdsu.org or call into House 6!

Student2Student: A group of student volunteers who are here to help you with student life.

You should get an email from your mentors in Fresher’s week but if not, get in touch with them at student2student@tcd.ie.

Student Counselling Service: SCS offers free, professional, confidential counselling services to students. For more information check out the website at tcd.ie/student_counselling.

Biosoc Calendar!

Biosoc has a jam-packed calendar, ensuring there’s never a dull moment in your year! Try to make it to as many events as possible! Remember to bring your membership card with you to all events, otherwise, you might be asked to sign up again. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for further details of events closer to the time!

SEPTEMBER:

Fresher’s Week Event: This annual tradition is a great way to start the year and get to know your new classmates.

Things will be kicking off at the Pav this Thursday 24th September. Let’s start the year off on a high!

OCTOBER: Book Sale: The book sale will be early October in the Moyne Institute.

This is the building on the corner of the cricket pitch beside the Pav. Here, you’ll be able to buy all the books you need throughout the year at dirt cheap prices. Make sure you’re there early with your Biosoc card. There will be a wine reception and guest speaker following the sale, just before the much anticipated MED DAY WARM UP NIGHT! Med Cup: Med Cup is being held earlier this year in an attempt to avoid bad weather and hopefully bring the games to campus this year! This soccer tournament sees all 5 years of medicine battle it out for that much coveted Med Cup glory!

Halloween Ball: Halloween sees us join forces with RCSI and UCD for a massive night out! Don’t even think of not wearing a costume, because this is an allout fancy dress event! Do Trinity proud!

NOVEMBER:

Med Day: Med Day is one of the best days in the medicine calendar. It kicks off bright and early at 6am on Friday 6th November. All med students get a day off lectures to hit the streets and collect money for our teaching hospitals. This year, our beneficiaries include: • Lung Cancer Research in St. James’s Hospital • Rheumatology Diagnostics in Tallaght Hospital • The purchase of a Cough Assist Machine for the National Rehabilitation Hospital • Bereavement support training and refurbishment of a family room in the Acute Medical Assessment Room in Tallaght Hospital • Med Day also annually supports the Trinity Access Program.

After a morning of collecting, your team leaders will bring you back into the college to hand in your buckets. From here, you can head to the Pav where the fun continues. There will be lunch deals, fun and games, tug-of-wars, slave auctions / strip shows, gumball challenges and an extremely entertaining talent show! It’s an unforgettable day so naturally we will follow it up with a huge night out!

Why collect? Can’t we just do the fun parts?

First off, the Med Day collection is a great way to get to know people from your year and the years above you. Collecting is always a great laugh, particularly if there is face paint involved! There are other ways to raise money too: sponsored swims, bake sales, busking, etc! If that’s not enough of an incentive for you, the year with the earliest and best turnout for the collection will be hosted at a special reception later on that night. Finally, and most importantly, Med Day is a chance for the students to give back to the hospitals where we spend so much time. So set your alarms, don your free t-shirts and get ready for the best day of the year!

DECEMBER: Christmas Panto: Oh no you didn’t! Oh yes we did! Kick back after exams with some refreshments and let the 4th years entertain you as we take to the stage in our twist on a cheesy classic. Last year, Harry Pott’s Disease and the Loathed Logbook of Doom went down a treat. What will Biosoc come up with this year?

Christmas Trip: Start saving your pennies now because you don’t want to miss out on the Biosoc Christmas trip! We pack up and load off to a city location the weekend after your exams.

The location will be disclosed at a later date (or we may not tell you until you get to the airport, depending on how secretive we’re feeling!). This is the perfect way to round up first term and wish your friends Happy Holidays!

JANUARY: Inaugural Ball: Get suited and booted ladies and gents: Inaugural Ball is one classy affair! At least, until the wine reception begins... There will be talks from our new president Professor Tom Lynch and a few select guest speakers, followed by the prize giving ceremony. After the ceremony, all attendees will be hosted at a special reception from which we will move on to a

venue in town for more fun and frolics!

FEBRUARY: Med Ball! This is the highlight of Biosoc’s social calendar and the most anticipated night of the year! Don your finest gowns and monkey suits and let Biosoc whisk you away to a swanky hotel where there will be a slap-up sitdown meal waiting for you with a band and DJ afterwards so we can boogie the night away! Date, time and venue will be revealed at a later date. Dapper dress is required by all!

MARCH: Careers Night: This event has quickly become an annual tradition. Some of the best doctors and surgeons in the country are invited to represent their chosen speciality in a debate to end all debates. Past teams have included Mr. Quinn for Orthopaedics, Prof Meaney for Radiology and Prof Ridgeway for Surgery. If you are unsure of what speciality to choose, this is sure to set you straight. Or if you are 100% sure of your future career path, it’s very entertaining seeing these well respected physicians giving each other a good slagging!

OTHER EVENTS: Along with all of the major events above, Biosoc run a number of smaller events throughout the year. Make sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page for the following and more!

• • • • • • •

Eid celebration Medicine Through the Arts Women in Medicine Inter-varsity weekend Case competitions Finals night Annual Biosoc AGM

Other societies to join M.O.V.E

MOVE is a Trinity charity run by third year medical students with the aim of fundraising for hospitals in the developing world. They organize some great fundraising events throughout the year. MOVE Ball is the first and cheapest ball of the college calendar, a great way to get to know your peers!

Surg Soc Join this year to take part in different surgical workshops, attend the annual Bennet lecture, participate in the surgical case competition, get involved in surgical research and lots more!

Emergency Medicine Student Society Ireland EMSSI promotes Emergency Medicine as a speciality. Throughout the year, they run a variety of expert-led seminars and hands-on skill workshops. Their talks are always exciting and engaging, regardless of your clinical experience level. And they provide refreshments!

Just before we go, make sure to join MPS! We cannot stress how important this is!!! Thanks guys!