First Year

First Year – Term Two !

/ Katie Burrell

It is finally Easter break – aaaannd it’s going to be a holiday of studying. It’s 9 weeks until summative exams and everyone is starting to sense how close that really is. We’ve been here 6 months and I think it’s safe to say everyone underestimated how much knowledge and content medical school expects you to fit into your brain. Saying this – term two was so much easier than term one. We have settled in and felt more at ease, both inside and outside of studies. From the structure of PBL to the layout of the campus and city, all aspects of our lives here have become a little more familiar and comfortable – Lancaster truly feels like home now.

The curveball of term two (apart from mock exams and the SSM) – the Community Clinical Teaching sessions. This initially terrifying notion turned out to be my favourite part of the whole term. CCT’s are the first real clinical exposure we get in year one, where we get to talk to real patients and practicing GPs about their lives and thoughts on health care. Considering the most we’d had to worry about up to that point was making sure we introduced ourselves and gained consent to speak to a ‘simulated patient’ (actor/actress) – the prospect of talking to a real person was scary for all of us. We had 3 placements in 3 different GP practices, which meant that for 3 days in February, we got to break out of the Lancaster bubble and discover some beautiful places – Kendal, Sedburgh and Grange–Over– Sands. Talking to patients with chronic diseases was so eye-opening and inspiring. Each brought their own unique story and one patient in particular was the most positive and lovely person I have ever met. She will be somebody who I will remember throughout my career. The doctors also talked to us before and after we met the patient, informing us of what it is really like to be a GP and the vast amount of opportunities open to us in GP land! I also loved exploring the hidden gems that are on our doorstep at Lancaster. Eating chips on the promenade of Grange-over-Sands with some of my fabulous medic mates – you can’t get much more northern or much more relaxed– but the places we visited were serene and it was great to see everyone appreciating the beauty the North has to offer. (FYI – I am a northerner through and through).

Other personal highlights of the term include using the on-campus cinema, Take 2, for the first time. It’s brilliant and it’s pretty safe to say La La Land gained an extra fan! The Medsoc Take Me Out was also a brilliant event for charity, and a night to remember!! (Medics just KNOW how to party.)

So, as we enter what is bound to be an intense last term of our first year of medical school – I can’t wait to see what caffeine-fuelled memories I make with the incredible friends I have made here at Lancaster.

Year 1 Perspective

/ Sarah Bethel

I don’t think I will ever forget that first day. Sunday 2nd October 2016. With two cars packed full to the brim, my mum, dad, sister and I began our journey up to Lancaster, ready for me to start the next chapter as an adult. Completely daunting I must admit! Being the girl I am, I managed to recruit a grand total of 8 people to unload the cars and move me into my lovely flat in Lonsdale – obviously the best college!

The whole first day was a complete whirlwind; from the moment I said goodbye to my family, I was meeting the rest of my flat and house whilst playing ice breakers in the October sunshine (believe it or not, it’s actually a real thing). Everyone hates that moment where you feel like a complete fish out of water but your reps make you feel at ease. From that moment on, fresher’s week had officially begun. It was one of the best weeks of my life, filled with college events and meeting so many new people it was overwhelming – some I know will be my friends for life.

Yes, Fresher’s Flu is a real thing.

I guarantee you will suffer to some extent from fresher’s flu, hopefully not for a month like I did, but you will definitely suffer.

Next it was time to meet my medic family. I was assigned a ‘medic dad’ in second year called Mike and a ‘medic mum’ in fourth year called Lauren (although technically my great grandma) who are both amazing. I significantly remember being given my welcome pack with so much information in it made my head spin and Lauren told me not to panic – and I’ve lived by those words ever since.

Settling into the medical school is like starting anything new – it takes time to adjust. My weekly anatomy sessions are a life saver and are both informative and enjoyable. Clinical skills takes place in the infirmary and it makes you feel very professional I must say! The sessions quickly allow you to get you over any embarrassment you may have and by week three you’re examining your friend’s abdomen!

Medsoc is another part of medic life. In the 2nd week of term Medsoc organised our fresher’s ball which gives you an opportunity to fully mingle with the people you are going to spend the next 5 years with (say it quick!) You also get to meet people from the other years who are more than happy to ‘calm your qualms’ and offer advice.

Being a medical student is amazing, and I couldn’t think of a better place to be experiencing it than at Lancaster.

 

Settling In – The First 6 Weeks

/ Katie Burrell

It’s hard to believe that it has only been 6 weeks since that oh-so-exciting first day. My flatmates were my main concern – what are the chances of 8 complete strangers getting along? This was followed closely by – wait, hold up a sec. I’ve been working my socks off to become a med student for years and now I’m here, is this what I want and will I be able to do it??

Thankfully those questions were swiftly answered. Fresher’s week melts away any fears about not making friends. Standard cliché line but – everyone is in the same boat, and Lancaster make sure that you have a great time. Flat reps: one thing that I didn’t know about beforehand – so listen up. When you arrive, each flat is assigned two reps (older students) that take you under their wing. They aren’t like controlling parents sticking their noses in, they’re a bit like cool older siblings who are the pool of all Lancaster wisdom and can answer everything; taxi numbers, which bus to get or luckily for one of my flatmates even how to replace a snapped door key at midnight.

For the anxious parents out there, the reps also make sure you get home okay during the first week. Sounds silly now – but trust me, when you’re having a fab time at the paint party (100% would recommend) and realise you’re covered in UV paint, it’s 2.30 am and you’re in a totally new city (maybe had a few too many), you’ll be glad to know there’s someone looking out for you.  My personal highlight of fresher’s was the silent disco – I challenge you to name something more fun/cheesy than dancing the night away to the likes of Mr Brightside and all the S Club classics.

Staying with the guidance theme, as a 1st year med student we are assigned a medic parent (second year) and a medic grandparent (fourth year).  We meet with them during fresher’s and they are there to help with absolutely anything. It’s a brilliant way to get to know the upper years and all the secrets, tips and tricks on how to survive and thrive.

Moving on to the course – it’s definitely lived up to expectations. I absolutely love it, especially clinical skills. We spend two hours a week at the hospital and have very interactive sessions. The first time I used my stethoscope to learn how to examine the abdomen, that’s when it felt very real. Luckily for me, my flatmates are more than willing for me to practice on them. Unluckily for them I’m not quite the doctor they think I am yet and unfortunately don’t know the cure for the dreaded fresher’s flu. (Naps. Naps solve everything. I didn’t tell you that though.)

I’m also a part of Teddy Bear Hospital, a society run by med students who go to local schools and lead sessions with children, aiming to reduce anxiety and fears about hospital. The kids bring their ‘sick’ teddies in and then we work through diagnosis and treatment. (Let me tell you, you soon rediscover how fun toy thermometers and bandages are.) It’s something both fun and meaningful and really gives you some perspective, especially if you’ve been in a little study bubble all week.

I could write pages on how fabulously crazy the past month has been; I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks bring.

 

9th November 2016

Cecilia Vinchenzo

/ Lauren Kennedy

Arriving at Lancaster on move-in day I was simultaneously very excited and very nervous . Upon arrival at my college we were greeted with friendly reps who showed me to my new room. I felt very out of my depth and it didn’t feel real moving away from home for the first time, but quickly my flat mates and college reps helped me settle in within hours, all my fears and nerves about moving to university were gone!

For me Freshers Week was a very memorable week. Every night my college hosted a different themed event – ranging from Casino Royale fancy dress to a UV paint party. A highlight for me was the university campus bar crawl as we got to see every college bar and meet so many new people. It was fun getting to know my flat mates and becoming friendly with lots of people in my own college and the other colleges on campus. There were all sorts of events going on during Freshers Week – medical and extra curricular. I went to the Freshers fair midweek, which was great, and I got to check out many of the societies the university has to offer – there are so many it was hard to choose what I might like to join!

My first clinical skills session at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary education centre was daunting not just for myself, but also for my classmates – we didn’t know what to expect because it felt like ‘real doctor stuff’ and it was only our first week! It turned out to be a lot of fun, alongside being a necessary educational part of the course, and it is now something I always look forward to on a weekly basis. Keeping it simple and basic we were taught the globally used Ayliffe hand washing technique – something we will need to use for the rest of our careers. We thought we knew how to wash our hands, but we were wrong! The essentials of personal protective equipment and correct waste disposal were also discussed.

The entire first year class were invited to attend the Medics Society Freshers ball. To put a twist on the event it had a masquerade theme. Everyone donned their best suits and dresses and enjoyed a lovely meal, getting to celebrate surviving our very first week of medical school! Many medical students from other year groups also attended which was great, they imparted some brilliant advice and were eager to meet all of the first year students. The ball was an amazing way to meet my classmates outside of the lecture room environment.

I am so glad I chose to study at Lancaster – I’ve had a brilliant start and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

Mel Sarigul

/ Lauren Kennedy

First term complete, bags packed, presents wrapped and I am ready to return home after a busy semester.

I am now more comfortable with PBL. I still have the odd feelings of being left to drift alone in a vast, empty ocean worrying that I have missed something important but these pass fairly quickly. The learning objectives we come up with as a group on the whole match the intended learning objectives and the lectures continue to give us guidance on depth. Our group has really learnt how to work effectively together and we have a great dynamic. Aside from the educational perspective PBL has meant that students get to know each other and I have made great friends. I will be sorry to change my PBL group but also excited to work with a range of people.

I was quite late in ordering my stethoscope because I had to make the very important decision of what colour I wanted (turquoise or classic black? Smoke or brass tip?) and what to have engraved (should I include my full name or just my surname? Would ‘Life is short’ be inappropriate? Why isn’t ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ 24 characters long?!)  I was glad I waited though as often you are given a discount voucher at Fresher’s fair.  My stethoscope arrived as we were learning to do a cardiovascular examination and I got childish pleasure listening to a friend’s heartbeat. That’s one of the great things about Lancaster – medical students start their clinical training early on. Since you are practising on healthy individuals usually you can’t feel/hear much but the emphasis in first year is normality. The idea is that if you know what normal feels like you will immediately be able to identify when something is abnormal later on in your studies.

We have started Communication skills which teaches how to effectively take a history from a patient. It is nerve racking to have to get up and interview a stimulated patient with a camera and 5 sets of eyes focussed on you! Trying to uphold an image of calm and reassurance when in reality your mind is desperately searching for the next open ended question to ask all whilst nodding and maintaining eye contact. As embarrassing as it is to watch yourself back it gives you an opportunity to evaluate what you could improve on.

I feel that I am in a better position now than I was at the same time 4 years ago when I was doing my first degree. I have been practising clinical skills on anyone I could get my hands on, annoying friends with open ended questions and PBL means that I have made most of my notes already and remember the main concepts. Now comes the hard bit of learning the nitty gritty stuff in time for exams in January.

Mel Sarigul

/ Lauren Kennedy

Walking up those stairs I was nervous but excited about meeting my new flatmates. Opening that kitchen door and seeing the fresh faced bright eyed 18 year olds for the first time my first thought was… Oh my God they look so young!  I applied to Lancaster after completing my Biomedical Science degree and taking a year out so I was anxious about being the oldest in my flat and course. We soon bonded over some lasagne though which was compliments of Furness College!

The way Lancaster’s freshers’ week works is that you go out to events your college has organised for you. Furness being the best college (obviously) had a paint party, glitter party, on and off campus themed bar crawls and also events such as ‘Top of the Blocks’. At this stage I had not met many medics but used this opportunity to bond with my flatmates and the block over a couple of drinks- or more.

Medsoc is a society especially for medical students. They organise socials and also provide revision material and mock OSCEs nearer exam time.  During Fresher’s Week there was a meet and greet at Revolutions which had a great vibe. Lancaster’s Medical School is one of the smallest in the UK meaning that the medical community is very close knit. The older years were really friendly and first years were able to meet each other in a relaxed environment. Other societies such as Medsin provide volunteering opportunities such as SKIP or Teddy Bear Hospital.

The first PBL session was a shock to the system. Having being used to a lecture based course previously, I was not prepared for the freedom that comes with PBL. We had to read a scenario, pick out key points, discuss them, then make learning objectives with the focus being on the upper GI tract.  Our group initially struggled with constructing learning objectives but eventually came up with a workable list which we had to go away and research. The feedback session was useful in that not only do you reinforce your own learning by explaining concepts but can also ask about any areas you found challenging. It can be difficult to gauge how much detail we need to go into a topic but the recommended resources gives us an idea – so don’t worry if someone decides to learn some random cell pathway and you’re sat there completely lost!

I went into my first anatomy not knowing what to expect.  As it turned out the sessions were quite informal and very informative. Every week you have two hours of anatomy which are organised as 3 stations. There are lots of models to use, books and more importantly friendly and approachable demonstrators. The small groups are great as you have more contact time with the demonstrators some of which include Radiographers, Doctors and Anatomists.

So far I have enjoyed being part of Lancaster University and its Medical school. I look forward to the challenges ahead of me.