MiniMentor. In This Issue: Medic Mentors
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miniMentor.
Issue 01 September 2020
In This Issue:
Pg. 3
A 50 year career at age
15
Jay Mittal
Pg. 5
Editorial: COVID-19 is
the biggest healthcare
crisis of our generation.
Read about Medic Men-
tor’s COVID-19 Innova-
tion Conference.
Pg. 10
How do you solve a
Brought To You By
Rubik’s cube?
Curtis DeVerinne
Pg. 11
Find out why Surya
writes
Surya Senthilkumar
Artwork by Medha Sridhar Rao
Welcome To miniMentor.
The editorial team of Mentor has been working hard to enhance The editorial team has grown from three to seven, demonstrating
the content that you receive and we are excited to announce some the Medic Mentor brain power that is delivering this upgraded ser-
amazing changes. Mentor will remain a quarterly anthology filled vice to you. Thank you for subscribing to
with inspiring and high quality wider reading. From December, it Mentor and we hope you enjoy
will be written solely by Medic Mentor scholars, Vice Presidents, and value the amazing content we
Chief Mentors and outstanding qualified doctors, veterinarians and have lined up for you!
dentists. Dr Alexander Davies MRCVS >
To provide opportunities for applying students to publishing and
give our readers even more wider reading, there will be supplemen-
tary releases of miniMentor. The new miniMentor, written by apply-
ing healthcare students, is a chance to share experiences, reflections,
feelings related to your application process and any inspiration from
wider reading. If you would like to contribute to miniMentor, please
read the guidelines on the Medic Mentor website or email the edito-
rial team on minimentor@medicmentorfamily.org. Opportunities to
publish will be selected on a competitive basis so please think about
< Dr Ji-Yun Yeung BDS
your proposal carefully before contacting us.
Meet The Editors. A 50-Year Career at Age 15
. Jay Mittal
Finland’s upper-secondary education con-
sists of two paths: General and Vocational.
With General, coursework is carried out
Are People under flexible timings which accumulates
Satisfied to the one standardised test Finland offers
With Their (the National Matriculation exam) which
Career? is used for college applications. Vocation-
As stated pre- al education is more job-focused and is a
viously, a mix of apprenticeships and school learning
global study of for the future. These two paths can be in-
one billion full-time tertwined to maximise student satisfaction
workers demonstrated 85% (Kevin Dickinson, 2019). This is just one ex-
Pavandeep Uppal Tia Bell Chris Geddie of individuals were not engaged ample of a varied educational system where
Editor-in-Chief miniMentor editor miniMentor editor Imagine a with their job (Jim Clifton, 2017). This students are not restricted by their three to
I’ve really enjoyed editing Men- world where it is astronomical statistic illustrates that a sub- four A-Level subjects (or equivalent). Inde-
My name is Tia Bell and I am a sec- Hello! I’m a third-year medical stu-
tor for the past year alongside Alex mandatory to spend stantial number of people may wish to follow pendence is crucial to discover your future,
ond year veterinary student at the dent studying at Bristol and I’m about
and Stephanie, and look forward to the next 50 years of your life being an alternative career path, which they may but guidance is essential to aid students on
University of Surrey and I am origi- to start my clinical placements. I’m so
working on the new phase of Med- forced into the same job every day. This is enjoy more. Alternatively, this unfulfillment a journey to make a well-rounded decision.
nally from South London. I am super excited to be co-editing miniMentor
ic Mentor publications with a great the reality for 85% of full-time workers who may provoke negative mental health in these
excited to be part of the editorial team this year; it’s a chance to collaborate
new team! I’m a final year medical find their job ‘unengaging’ (Jim Clifton, workers, initiated by boredom and unful-
for miniMentor. I am already amazed with all the applying students in the Conclusion
student at King’s College London 2017). At 15 years old are we capable of fillment from their job. If these workers had
by your writing enthusiasm, as well Medic Mentor family and it’s a won- We need to reduce the volume of full-time
and have a BSc in Medical Human- choosing a career that is engaging enough more awareness, time and understanding
as your hunger to learn and hope derful platform for the more creative workers who are dissatisfied. We should not
ities, Philosophy & Law. The new to give us satisfaction and fulfillment for the of potential careers, they may have picked
this magazine inspires you to achieve side of medicine. My hope is that expect every 15-year-old to know exactly
miniMentor is a fantastic arena to next 50 years of our lives? Possessing the a more engaging course for themselves.
your goals. I aspire that miniMen- you will enjoy reading the magazine what they want to do for the next 50 years of
showcase the great work students tor will support you in your journey as much as we do putting it together. ability to understand and know how you their life with minimal guidance and experi-
are doing even before they enter want to spend the next 50 years of your life On the contrary, there are many studies online
into higher education and beyond. ence. By pulling ideas from other successful
their chosen careers in healthcare. is a rare skill, so why has it become a respon- exhibiting that if you possess multiple careers
education systems and realising that this ‘re-
sibility? Why are teenagers forced to choose? in your lifetime, you achieve greater personal
sponsibility’ is vital to improve the wellbeing
We are not permitted to vote, drink alcohol growth and flexibility (Ashmi Pathela, 2017).
of future generations. I believe that the first
or drive, yet we are trusted with our futures. However, time is lost and stress is generated
step to change is simply recognising this is-
by finding a new job. Additional qualifica-
sue. The public needs to be educated. The
How to become a Doctor? Experience vs Good Grades tions may be required, money ‘wasted’ and
14
TUESDAY government needs to
‘Becoming a Doctor’ Podcasts UPDATES Summer School Research is key when choosing your career, more experience needed. Would i t
implement more
however there is only so much research you be worth changing from
informative pro-
can do until you have narrowed your ca- your initial career? It is
grammes, giv-
TheSEPTEMBER
Becoming a Doctor series has hit the ground running reer choices down to just a few. From then probably more sus-
What an incredible season we’ve enjoyed! This summer ing options to
this academic year with some exciting and informative on, more in-depth involvement is required tainable and ben-
has been our busiest season by far, but for good reason young people and not
Mentor Bulletin.
episodes being dropped over the coming weeks. Get excit- in order to choose your appropriate course. eficial to make
because we are wholly invested into seeing you apply and forcing them
ed for the new careers’ series and presidential series along Despite this, there is little to no guidance for sure you are
succeed through every element of your UCAS appli- to make
with interview tips, BMAT tips and much much more! some students to find appropriate work ex- making the most
cation journey. Well done to all of our attendees, you a choice.
Tune in on Spotify, google podcasts, apple podcasts and perience. Many students only have time to informed decision
are nearly there, and we look forward to preparing you Teenagers
overcast! commit to a placement at one place which at the start of your career.
for interviews and seeing you cross that finish line with need time
confidence! limits the opportunity for varied career in- to decide
sights. Most students will have already cho- What Should We Do?
It is surprising that around 90% of the most
sen their A-Levels before carrying out any engaging
medical, veterinary or dentistry specific ex- Year 10-11 students have work
experience timetabled way of spend-
perience. If you had not picked science sub- ing the next 50 years
jects, even with plenty of experience, it may into academia by their
WHAT’S WHAT’S of their lives or have more
NEW?
Book Club. NEW?
Virtual Medical Society be impossible to get into your dream course. school (Department
flexibility to change careers
You may be forced to re-do your A-Levels for Education, 2017).
Despite this, most stu- later in life. All careers have
or venture down an entirely different career benefits that make them reward-
path. Sacrificing your time to confirm your dents have only one place-
A new addition to the plethora of opportunities available A huge welcome to our new committee members! If you ment, hence experience from ing and fulfilling but only to the
are new to the Virtual Medical Society you are in for a career choice, by maximising the amount right person; and everyone is differ-
to you led by Dr Poynton-Smith where each month you only one career choice. Schools should
very exciting year alongside a 1000 student network of of work experience you attain, may impact ent. We need to make sure the next genera-
will come together with the club to generally discuss support students to organise placements per-
like-minded students covering research, current affairs, the amount of revision you are able to com- tion of workers understand the challenges
what you learned, loved and would recommend to a haps termly throughout their academic life. If
medic mentor wide updates, inspiring interviews and so plete. However, it is experience that will give associated with their chosen careers and
friend! Wider reading is a non-academic essential, so a balance between grades and experience can-
much more! you the best career insight and inform you make informed and logical decisions, based
learn how to apply your wider reading to your applica- not be found, the educational system must be
to confidently and enthusiastically commit on numerous high-quality experiences.
tion in a way that can enhance your personal statement! altered to improve eventual work satisfaction.
to a lifelong and personally fulfilling career.
miniMentor. miniMentor.
2 3
Our famous conferences have moved
Medic Mentor’s
online due to COVID-19 but they are as COVID-19 Innovation
Conference
.. .
amazing as ever!
Register on our website for The Online Get Into Medicine
Conference: Insight and UCAS lectures! . ..
Jayashrii Muthaiyan
Ashwini Gerneti
Rittaj Mughal
Eliza Hyde
Kulthoom Javaid
Barnaby Portsmouth
These are the most comprehensive medicine
What was the COVID conference? was fundamental in enhancing the attend- interesting insights into how COVID-19
UCAS conferences available anywhere.
• The COVID-19 Innovation Conference
explored various aspects of the recent pan-
ees’ research and critical appraisal skills. The
ability to logically and comprehensively eval-
had impacted each speciality. Dr. Aiysha
Ashmore, a registrar in obstetrics and gy-
demic and its impacts on society through uate the reliability of wider-reading sources naecology, said that all elective work had
presentations from healthcare professionals is a vital skill for all healthcare professionals. been cancelled, including surgery for cancer
and poster presentations from School Am- Eliza Hyde worked in the team investigating patients. These cancellations have emotion-
bassadors. Held over Zoom, the conference the possible exit strategies from lockdown. ally distressed patients and created a mas-
allowed us to learn about COVID-19 from She was intrigued by how different the UK’s sive backlog of patients requiring important
the perspective of healthcare staff and to actions were compared to those of South Ko- surgery. She also discussed that adjustments
ask questions to deepen our understand- rea, a country that has also experienced and had been made to increase telemedicine and
ing of the direct and indirect consequenc- survived the SARS and MERS epidemics so virtual clinics so doctors can reach patients
es. School Ambassadors were teamed up should have invaluable insight. Ethical prob- without overt risks to either. Many special-
to create poster presentations on topical lem-solving and ethical decision-making ists-in-training have been halted in their
issues including limited PPE, NHS capac- were additional skills that Eliza did not ex- training because they cannot attend clinics or
ity, testing, treatment, medical and dental pect to use so much in considering the prob- surgeries as a result of cancellations. Dr. Jin
education, exit strategies, future peaks and lems that surround exit strategies. In a group Lee, an emergency department Senior House
veterinary economics. Each team critically debate, Eliza discussed specific COVID-19 Officer (Core Trainee), stated similar oper-
appraised scientific literature and researched restrictions and used the four main medi- ational changes in his trust. Staff shortages
their designated COVID-19 theme. Critical cal ethical pillars to support her argument. have been matched by a dramatic decline in
appraisal was a valuable skill to refine since Each debate highlighted conflicting views the number of patients coming into A&E for
it is the method by which healthcare pro- on how best to manage COVID-19 but re- non-COVID ailments, decreasing the need
fessionals come to reliable conclusions for minded participants that population health for medical students. Additionally, stream-
the benefit of their patients. Based on each and wellbeing is always the utmost priority. ing pathways and a doctor ‘buddy’ system
team’s research, solutions were innovated to have reduced unnecessary delays to treating
tackle the problem at hand. It is clear that “The conference not only gave patients. Dr. Lee reported a worrying pattern
in a healthcare setting, teams must adapt me insight into the epidemiolo- of patients avoiding A&E in fear of contract-
quickly and efficiently to identify effective gy of the current pandemic, but ing COVID-19 and so, are suffering at home.
solutions for new and evolving problems; also into the importance Dr. Asha Thomson, a dentist, described that
skills that were developed through the of international aerosol-generating-procedures put dentists
conference. Each team was also given research with- at high risk. Urgent care hubs had been set
Students in Years 10/S3 to 12/S5 and their parents the opportunity to debate their in medicine to up to treat patients who have severe dental
topic to learn more about eth- save lives. pain or infections. In primary care settings,
are invited to register via our website, for the Get Into ical principles, NHS core val- It spurred dental practices had stopped any routine
Medicine Conference: Insight and UCAS lectures. ues and transferable skills me to look treatments such as fillings and check-ups.
such as communication more into There is a concern that head and neck cancer
and teamwork. The top six res e a rch patients aren’t being checked whilst dental
poster presentations were o p p o rtu- practices are closed. Veterinarian, Dr. Rob
Giving aspiring medics advice and insight into the medical presented at the conference nities to Campbell, said that he had needed to per-
application process from our team of doctors and students.
The Online and were judged on the quality
of their content and creativity.
enhance
my applica-
tion, by read-
form multiple new roles such as laboratory
work and calling clients for payments. Vet
practices were only open for emergency pro-
The Medic Mentor Family is here to help the next
Get Into
What skills were developed? ing articles cedures and all routine vaccinations and sur-
generation of medics gain real insight into their future • From the outset of the conference, it
was clear that numerous transferable
and papers on re-
search projects and
geries had been cancelled. Veterinary profes-
sionals have been protected by conducting
careers and how to get there. even using templates to chal-
Medicine
skills relevant for the healthcare application consultations over the phone or virtually.
would be developed. Time management was lenge how effective they are.”
key for the successful completion of the pro- - Kulthoom Javaid The conference
ject and was facilitated by each team effec- • The COVID-19 closing conference was a
Register now at www.medicmentor.co.uk
Conference tively delegating different roles to different
team members to reduce the workload and
help them to stay on track! The conference
The presentations
• Throughout the week, different medical,
dental and veterinary specialists delivered
one-chance opportunity to experience the
creativity, innovation and teamwork that ac
Continue reading on page 8.
miniMentor. miniMentor.
4 5
miniMentor. miniMentor. 6 7
ness of the drugs that could be considered
to cure COVID-19 such as hydroxychlo-
roquine and chloroquine. Hydroxychloro-
The Neurological
quine is less likely to cause heart problems
compared to chloroquine. Dr. Wilkinson
concluded his presentation by providing an
honest reflection on how he has adapted and
coped as a doctor during the unprecedented Double Act Behind
Solving the Rubik’s
healthcare crisis presented by COVID-19.
“I found the webinars from the
Cube
doctors throughout the week
.
incredibly interesting, as they
allowed me to understand how
different departments of the Curtis DeVerinne
NHS are coping with the pan-
demic, such as increasing use
of telemedicine. The project
challenged me to think in a The Rubik’s Cube is famous for being one is called the dentate nucleus. It receives input information.
new, innovative and reflective of the hardest puzzles to crack, requiring information and quickly send output instruc- This caused the
way, especially when discuss- gruelling practice to commit difficult algo- tions like fast, sequential, fine-finger move- subjects to make
ing how the response could rithms to memory and develop fast motor ments. From the dentate nucleus, there are significantly more errors
companied the interdisciplinary research of tisation in hospitals where pregnant patients have been improved. Addition- movements. In fact, there are now national two specialised pathways that communicate in motor activities that they
the COVID-19 pandemic. The morning con- receive healthcare first, then patients with ally, working with a group and global competitions where enthusiasts with the brain. The first is the dento-thalamic were usually very good at. So the role
sisted of three surprise guest speakers who strokes, then patients with stable diabetes. of people who I did not know ‘speed solve’ in pursuit of the lowest time to pathway that travels from the dentate nucle- of the dentate nucleus is important in execut-
were all experts in their respective fields. Each has improved my communica- solve the Rubik’s Cube. Currently, us to the superior cerebellar peduncles ing algorithms for solving a Rubik’s Cube.
speaker gave insights into the breakthroughs,
research trials and logistical and ethical di-
•erDr.giving
Ali Albar Datoo was the second speak-
a very engaging talk from his per-
tion and confidence greatly.” the world record is held by to the thalamus. The thalamus is Other parts of the nervous system are also vi-
- Ashwini Garneti Yusheng Du with a time of the brain relay centre for mo- tal in cerebellar learning. Neurons in the in-
lemmas that were happening across the globe spective as a Global Health Researcher and 3.47 seconds for a stand- tor and sensory signals to the ferior olive nucleus (located in the brainstem
to combat the pandemic. Inbetween, there Infectious Disease Epidemiologist. He first ard 3x3 cube. For many, cerebrum that decides what near the cerebellum) modify motor plans by
were showcases of winning poster presenta- discussed the epidemiology and chronologi- 3.47 seconds is frankly action or instruction signal sending information to the Purkinje cells of
tions created by the School Ambassadors on cal events of the COVID-19 pandemic which an unbelievable time needs to be sent. The second the cerebellum to induce sensory and motor
COVID-19 topical issues. The conference enabled School Ambassadors and attendees so how did Yusheng is the dento-rubro-thalamic learning. Therefore, hours of speed-solv-
concluded with a session where attendees dis- to create a fact file of the virus containing its achieve this? The an- pathway that travels through ing trains the cerebellum to execute precise
cussed what they had learned from timeline, its origin, and transmission swer lies partly in two the red nucleus before reaching the finger movements because the inferior ol-
the programme to enhance their to and between people. In- parts of the brain, the cer- thalamus. The red nucleus has a role in mo- ive nucleus facilitates faster solving times.
university applications. The teresting epidemiological ebellum and basal ganglia. tor control but is not important in humans for The basal ganglia epitomises ‘the law of effect’
ability to reflect produc- principles were discussed The cerebellum coordinates motor fine muscle movements. One experiment in- such that responses which produce positive
tively was a skill that Kult- including herd im- movement whilst maintaining equilibrium volved primates injected with a sedative-pro- effects become more likely to occur again and
hoom found valuable as munity, the impact in response to sensory information. The ducing compound (GABA-receptor agonist) vice versa (Figure 2). Therefore, actions asso-
it is a transferable skill of future vaccines cerebellum is located within the posteri- into their dentate nuclei to stop it relaying Below: The basal ganglia and surrounding structures.
for a university ap- and the relationship Summary or fossa of the skull and separated from the
plication and a future
career in medicine.
between social
distance guidance
• In summary, the COVID-19 Innovation
Conference exceeded the School Ambassa-
surrounding cerebral brain hemispheres by
the tentorium cerebelli. The cerebellum is
and the repro- dor’s expectations. They learnt and devel- anatomically divided into three lobes: the
duction number oped new skills in research, communication anterior lobe, posterior lobe and the floccu-
•wasTheDr.first guest speaker
Kar, a consultant
(R0). Reflections were
made on past epidem-
and critical appraisal, all of which will prove lonodular lobe, separated from each other
essential in helping these aspiring students by two fissures (Figure 1). Most notably in
in diabetes and endocrinol- ics of other coronavi- become the doctors, dentists and vets of the terms of the Rubik’s Cube, the paravermis is
ogy. Rittaj Mughal said diabetes ruses like the 2002/3 SARS future. The attendees would like to thank responsible for receiving proprioceptive in-
was a fascinating topic because outbreak. We were reminded the team at Medic Mentor and the multi- formation from the fingers to allow players to
her late grandma had suffered from it that the current pandemic would be anoth- ple interdisciplinary guest speakers. The rapidly spin and twist the game. Meanwhile,
and she was curious as to how her grand- er opportunity for healthcare professionals, experience was made even more insightful, the lateral hemispheres of the cerebellum re-
ma’s treatment would have been affected in researchers and policy-makers to learn, in especially when learning about the optimi- ceive information from our cerebral cortex to
these unprecedented circumstances. It was order to act more effectively, if another pan- sation of our health services to better reduce further improve cognition and ability. Cer-
eye-opening to hear that some sufferers of demic were to arise in the future. Dr. Datoo’s the risk that COVID-19 poses, how the ebellar stroke patients often display signif-
diabetes may be at greater risk from corona- overriding message inspired us when he hy- pathogen interacts with the human body icantly lower motor sequence performance
virus. This is especially poignant since 1 in 10 pothesised that the future generation were and what needs to be done in the future to as a result of their disease. However, their
people over age 40 are living with a diagnosis responsible to ‘think globally, act locally’. better tackle pandemics. At the moment the ability to improve during training and con-
of type 2 diabetes in the UK (approximate- world feels like it is going through a very solidation has been seen as similar to control
ly 3.8 million people). Certain diabetes-re-
lated risk factors for increased coronavirus
•detailed
The final speaker was Dr. Wilkinson who
the active COVID-19 clinical trials
dark storm, but with education and research groups highlighting the power of cerebellar
facilitated by the COVID -19 Innovation motor learning even in the face of disease.
risk included obesity and hypertension. Dr and potential future research focuses. The Conference, there is hope and the Medic After maximising the motor component of
Kar concluded his presentation by explain- School Ambassadors and attendees learnt Mentor School Ambassadors will be the next solving a Rubik’s Cube, using sensory and
ing the response taken up by hospitals in about how a coronavirus infection progresses generation of superb healthcare profession- cerebral information, the signals travel to
light of COVID-19 such as helplines, edu- in human patients and the associated symp- als fighting for health and wellbeing. Thank deeper collections of cerebellar nerves known
cational advertisements and patient priori- toms. He went on to compare the effective- you to the Medic Mentor team! as cerebellar nuclei. One of these collections
miniMentor. miniMentor.
8 9
ciated with a successful feeling are permitted bik’s Cube to memory and associating them
without contest. The function of the basal to a movement pattern allows the execution
ganglia however is broad and they play a role of algorithms in quicker succession. Anoth-
in motor movement, procedural learning, er example is that reward omission granular
eye movement and cognition - all important cells in cerebellar lobules grew during Pav-
Why I
in successfully solving a Rubik’s Cube. Each lovian learning in mice. This suggests that
part of the basal ganglia has its own specif- using information without a ‘reward’ sensa-
ic functions connected to specialised nerve tion could increase the cerebellum’s ability to
pathways. In Shogi, a strategy board game, identify incorrect moves on a Rubik’s Cube.
training has evidently increased recruit- This drives the cerebellum to find the correct
Write
ment and activation of one structure in the solution if an incorrect movement is made.
basal ganglia called the The neuro-anatomy and
caudate nucleus. This physiology that underpins
.
training helps play- a Rubik’s Cube is seem-
ers find the next move ingly more complicated
quickly. Logically, these than the puzzle itself. Even
same skills are vital for though 3.47 seconds is Surya Senthilkumar
recognising patterns an exceptional solve time
and identifying the for the Rubik’s Cube, the
solution in a Rubik’s underlying principle to
Cube. The substantia success is simply “practice
nigra is a basal ganglia makes perfect.” The cere-
structure responsi- bellum and basal ganglia
ble for motor control, are two vital structures that
learning, eye move- facilitate more efficient
ment, reward-seek- problem solving and one
ing and addiction. could argue that a doctor
This structure facilitates the feelings of can be somewhat defined as a problem solv-
reward when the Rubik’s Cube is suc- er. Next time you pick up a Rubik’s Cube, ap- Introduction the cement of your foundation, works,
cessfully solved which reinforces the love preciate that you are exercising and training Writing is a form of art where you can share helping you to reach your main aim. your re-
of the puzzle on a deep neuro-emotion- neurological structures in the same way an information and express your opinions on I will share some of these ‘short-term’ rea- search can be sum-
al level to those that can solve the cube. athlete trains for a sport. But you are training a particular topic; it is a platform for you to sons why I write so that you can see what the marised into an annotated diagram. When
To accelerate sensory-motor learning, the for lifelong competition in problem solving. communicate and interact with an audience composition of my writing foundations are, writing an academic article, I would rec-
theory of ‘chunking’ can be exploited. In who share your deepest passion for the sub- serving as a blueprint to layout your own. ommend researching before writing, re-
chess, chunks of different pieces in certain ject. My experiences with writing have been gardless of your previous knowledge on
arrangements excite the ‘next best move’ moulded and fuelled by my enthusiasm. It the topic. This ensures you are up to date
Allows expansion of knowledge
stored in the long-term memory of play- provides me with the energy to craft quality on the latest advances in the field. You will
Before I write, I aim to immerse myself in the
ers - a stimulus of association. Committing content regularly. However, recently I have also be able to plan your writing better
subject through research. Research is a valu-
specific arrangements of pieces on the Ru- discovered that purpose has made a far great- once you are secure in knowledge. In ad-
able source of knowledge; it takes you out of
er impression on setting the foundations for dition to this, keep a list of all the sources
your curriculum and enables you to explore
my writing work. My goal is to study med- you have used; these should be used to cite
your passions. Research is also a key tool in
icine; a clear-cut goalpost that I can shoot your information, making it more reliable. .
any science-related career, so it is worth pol-
towards. This has led me to write several arti-
ishing. Reading information is one aspect of
cles and books relating to medicine, science,
expanding the depth of your understanding. Allows improvement of writing skills
and maths. This sense of
Successfully convey-
Subscribe to
No matter what your goal in life is, your
Mentor.
clarity of vision is ulti-
ing your research writing skills will play a major role in help-
mately the main driver of
in a concise manner ing you achieve them. In medical studies,
writing. Every long term
helps consolidate your writing skills will be put to the test in
writing goal sparks a set
your comprehension the BMAT exam. Writing will also be ex-
of writing benefits
of the topic. amined by universities and communication
which is
For example, in the workplace. Consequently, it is essen-
the short
if you are tial to perfect your writing style so that it is
term rea-
writing concise, professional and informative. Writ-
son for you
an arti- ing for a portfolio will help you to show
The only national print magazine dedicated to write.
cle about how your writing methods are developing.
to applying medicine, veterinary & dentistry This is
how the In order to see progress, writing regularly is
students. h e a r t recommended. It helps to improve planning
skills and expand your vocabulary range.
Subscribe to the magazine at: Allows portfolio creation
Due to high competition, academic and
professional institutions are looking for
medicmentor.co.uk something unique in a person that propels
them above the rest. This might include ex-
10 miniMentor. 11
tra-curricular activities such as volunteer- improve your writing style. Choosing
ing and sports, but your writing can also the correct publishing platform is vital
form a major piece of your repertoire. As so that you can reach your targeted au-
you write, add your work to an e-portfolio dience. Aim for high impact publications
website. This has many advantages. It al- that are appropriate to your level of study.
lows you to: share all your completed work I would recommend writing for scientific
to various institutions with one simple link; magazines that are less insistent on original
track how the quality of your writing has research but are still nationally distributed,
improved over time and displays your en- professional printed publications with a lot
thusiasm for a particular subject by show- of weighting on your portfolio (e.g. Mentor
ing your contribution to your chosen field. Magazine’s miniMentor, Young Scientists
Moreover, it exhibits your long-term com- Journal etc.). Being a regular contributor
mitment and can be described as a record to a journal or magazine is an amazing
of the time and effort you have dedicated way to show your eagerness for a subject.
to improving your knowledge and writing. Social media can also be a powerful plat-
For those who are willing to start a portfo- form if used responsibly. You can build a
lio, I would suggest creating a website and following of people who are interested in
putting any extra-curricular work on there. reading your work. This will ensure that
In addition to this, include school assign- your work is of a high standard and reaches
ments that relate to the topic of your inter- an eager audience. Sharing your work with
est; this will provide you with the motiva- others will also provide a motive to con-
tion to produce work that is rich in quality. tinue producing great academic content.
Time is precious and hence we must use
Allows expansion to a wider audience it effectively. Writing is a very produc-
Creating content is one half of the circle; tive activity with many rewarding ben-
the other is publishing it. Publishing your efits. It has the power to shape your pro-
work can help you reach like-minded indi- fessional and academic life. Writing is
viduals who appreciate your writing. Their a learned transferable skill. Build your
criticism and praise will allow you to gauge writing foundations today to provide
the quality of your writing, allowing you to stepping stones for a better tomorrow.
Quizzical!
1. Which of these physicians discovered that
contaminated water caused the London cholera
epidemic of 1854? This physician is often credited
as a father of modern epidemiology and was funda-
mental in the development of anaesthesia, medical
hygiene and public health.
a) Robert Koch b) John Snow c) Alexander Flemming
d) Eddard Stark
2. Anagram: RSTUEOCSBILU
Clue: I am a bacteria responsible for 1.7 million deaths
worldwide in people each year and the slaughter of
over 30000 cattle in the UK each year.
If you can’t complete this one, email us:
minimentor@medicmentorfamily.org
3. Use numbers 1-9 to fill in the blanks. Each num-
ber can only be used once in the equations in each
row and column. Remember that multiplication and Answers: 1. b / 2. TUBERCULOSIS
division come before addition and subtraction.
Magazine Design:
Ieuan Thomas (info@ieuanthomas.design)
www.ieuanthomas.design medicmentor.co.uk
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