What year of medicine are you in right now?
My first year of medicine at university but it's a foundation year so doesn't count towards my degree.
What area of medicine do you work in or want to work in?
Emergency or neurology. But with 5 1/4 more years to go, it will probably change.
What area of medicine do you find most interesting?
Psychiatry, Neurology and Respiratory Medicine. But I'm still in that really hyper stage where everything is so EXCITING.
Which area of the country to work in?
I enjoy travelling and moving away from home has shown me I definitely want to be out of a crazy city. I would really like to work in Scotland or I'll just stay around Southampton.
How do you cope with the unique emotional pressures of being a medic?
I really enjoy the pressure so far. There are points where I've wondered if I am smart enough and doubted myself a lot. My mentor has been an amazing point of contact and we talk about everything from exams to housing, meaning I feel more normal about the pressure.
I think my situation is complex because being on a foundation year comes with a whole other barrier of emotional pressure. Some students are absolutely **** (fill that in at your leisure) and you wonder how they are going to be with their future patients and colleagues who may have different academic backgrounds.
Do you remember the moment you first decided to do medicine? If so, what was it?
I knew public services is where I would end up. I don't care for private businesses in the slightest. As I did research (to an unhealthy degree) and work experience, I fell in love with medicine. Despite all the downsides, the impact you make, to me, cannot be rivalled.
Is anyone else in your family a medic?
Nope, first in the family to go to university too so I am fiercely passionate about outreach.
Do you always plan to be a medic, or do you have a secret second career planned?
My heart and soul is in medicine but I am going to be a teacher for a bit (hopefully). Although with the current demoralisation of junior doctors and the NHS in general, I might end up being a teacher for longer than anticipated...
What is your favourite medical profession TV show or film?
Casualty by a landslide. Mrs Beauchamp would scare me as my consultant but she is competent and she cares. I would want her to treat me if she was a real person XD
Have you ever appeared on 24 hours in A&E?
Sadly not.
On a scale of 1 (not real) - 10 (completely real), how realistic is Holby City?
2. They are humans so that's a start. Otherwise, Holby doctors seem to see one patient for the whole episode (day?) with regular breaks to have really petty arguments and domestics with their work acquired spouses. It's actually put me off being in a relationship with another medic XD