Dr Becky Winter, Clinical Teaching Fellow
With over 80 different specialities to choose from you can understand why the GMC ensure career advice is delivered to undergraduate students. (see full list of specialties here: http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/approved_curricula_systems.asp)
The medical school runs a structured career programme from year 1-5 and students also have a mentor scheme in 4th year where they are paired to a registrar in a specialty of their choice, for regular supervision.
As part of my role as Clinical teaching fellow this year I organised the 2017 BSMS career fair. This was a brilliant night with over 220 students from years 1-5 and over 80 senior doctors in attendance to represent there specialities.
The evening was a huge success and included talks from Prof Graeme Dewhurst (Dean of Kent Surrey Sussex Deanery), Dr Mike Okorie talking about clinical pharmacology, Prof Melanie Newport discussing Global health within medicine and Dr Arianne Shahvisi talking about ethics and medical humanities within medicine.
There were many stalls representing the range of specialities with the chance for students to discuss career advice, further opportunities to build on experiences and lots of fun activities to try ranging from endocrine quizzes to suturing practice to using a dialysis machine and inserting chest drains using a ultrasound machine.
The Career team from Higher Education Kent Surrey Sussex (HEKSS) also came to support BSMS and offered guidance through career based exercises. The career fair was also represented by less common medical specialties including the military and homeless medicine.
A great way to engage with the students was with “The Great Speciality Bake off”, supported by BSMS BakeSoc which revealed the huge talent we have within the staff and students of BSMS.
It was a fantastic evening seeing everyone come together and we are already looking forward to next year – we hope to see you there.
If you are interested in knowing more about career guidance for the undergraduates these may be of use to you:
- For advice on training pathways specialty doctor’s profiles and go to: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk
- For competition ratios and timelines for each specialty go to: https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk
- The BMJ have a free questionnaire called Sci59, an online psychometric test that is designed to provide a list of medical career choices based on the users personal profile. Go to: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/hospital-medical-healthcare-doctors-jobs.html
- For those interested in careers you can put yourself forward to be a Career Champion in the KSS deanery, please see the following link: http://www.ksseducation.hee.nhs.uk/about-careers/specialty-champions/
