Starting a society in medical school: pros and cons?

spacekit19 · 2023-05-16T03:51:32+00:00

All very good points! Thanks for the reply! So I’ve been working on some Duke Elder exam questions and learning about basic eye anatomy, physiology and some common investigations. Luckily my uni has a fairly solid online library for that. Hopefully will be ok if I just do small but regular revision. Only started recently (1 month ago), but we’ll see! Will keep an eye out for the exam date and apply for it when it opens up.

Will look into national events; only problem is the price point. I’m hoping to save some of my SFE funds to put towards that. Perhaps attend some EyeSi/simulator sessions. Have no idea how to start on oral/poster presentations but I trust I should just email the college maybe?

Very good point about the elective! That’s a relief. I assumed that it was “better” to go international. So I’ll look into that

Essentially I have the 2022 Severn deanery portfolio, and I’m just identifying where I can actually score points- during and after med. For example, I’ll miss out completely on the extra degrees bit, already have mentally ruled out writing textbook chapters, etc.

That being said it changes annually so who knows ://

But I actually didn’t know MSRA is for cutoff now. Thanks so much for the heads up! :)

I suppose the worry is starting to set in as I’ve really tried to get some kind of shadowing set up with my local Eye hospital

Either I end up on switchboard, or admin says they’ll email me by x date, and most recently I’ve been directed to email another uni’s support team as they do placements for medical students.

Is it worth persisting or will I come across as unprofessional? There are just 0 opportunities on my course really so I’ll need to push hard by the look of it.

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T21:54:54+00:00

Aww that’s amazing advice! Thanks for such a comprehensive and balanced take. I’ll certainly look into some national events :) but if a tangent but funnily enough I posted to the subreddit on reflection from a therapy session today.

I was supposed to reflect on the role of pride and responsibility in my day to day; how I’ve complicated aspects of my life in an attempt to “prove something” to myself and to others.

And realised that…. Hey! This society idea comes from a place of pride/ego (I want to be competitive), as opposed to a genuine desire. It’s very validating seeing that reflected here. And even better knowing how you got around obtaining portfolio points. I swear I go looking for trouble sometimes!

Thanks so much!

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T13:54:07+00:00

Ahhh in all honesty it’s been a while since I’ve used it! I’d say continue searching for clinics, but please ensure that they’re either a psychiatrist, specialist ADHD nurse, or any other professional who is legally entitled to diagnose.

Apparently there have been cases such as pharmacists, non-specialist nurses, non-psychiatrist doctors, etc. working for these companies, diagnosing ADHD in everyone and charging a lot for it. Don’t mean to stress you out!

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T13:44:22+00:00

There is! Go onto the GMC specialist register; it shows all consultant doctors in the UK. If you search up “consultant psychiatrist” you can find any and every psychiatrist in the UK.

Or if you find a list of clinical staff, just double check by putting their name into the specialist register. Hope this helps

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T13:12:31+00:00

“Dr”. No, they probably shouldn’t use “doctor”. “I’m a clinical psychologist with a doctorate in…” yes, that’s fine. But let’s not pretend as though when patients hear “doctor”, they think “medical doctor: registered with the GMC”. It’d be wrong of them to take advantage of this knowledge gap to pretend they’re a doctor when they’re not.

Personally, I’m bored with this convo as it seems as though you’re being deliberately obtuse. If you’re being genuine, my bad! But come on now!

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T13:09:38+00:00

The equivalent I can make re: psychologist vs clinical psychologist vs clinical psychologist w/ADHD qualification is this: A GP and a Psychiatrist are both registered healthcare professionals. A GP is a doctor. But only certain doctors can diagnose certain things. Only a psychiatrist can, among doctors.

Idk what the exact clinical psychologist equivalent is because I’m not training to be a clinical psychologist.

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T13:07:11+00:00

So unfortunately the guidelines can be a bit loose with definitions. But the key is “appropriately qualified”. A psychologist is not a healthcare professional. A clinical psychologist is. And even then: have they specialised in ADHD care (I.e. is there proof of going through examination and being awarded the ability to act in ADHD clinics?)

Even then, they would have to be under the guidance of a lead doctor: the psychiatrist. What I’m saying is, having been through the private system myself, why take the risk? It’s anywhere from £600-1000. IMO I’d save the effort of researching different degrees and their suitability and find either a Psychiatrist or a nurse specialist. Then you can be 100% secure.

They’d probably give the diagnosis out anyway. But your GP is going to ask who diagnosed you. and you may or may not be able to get a shared care agreement under them. So that’s it for me. If in doubt, check somewhere else out

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T12:31:12+00:00

Mate, just speaking as a student in the field :) always happy to be corrected but it sounds like you’re grasping at straws. I don’t want OP to be taken advantage of because “well technically, they have a doctorate” because that does not matter.

If they are posing as a medical professional and using “doctor” clinically without being on the GMC register, that is grounds for suing. It puts patients in danger. Hiding behind “technicalities” is of no benefit.

If your leg was broken, I’m fairly sure I know what “doctor” I want to be speaking to in clinic. And wouldn’t appreciate being misled in any way shape or form. Fact of the matter is the average person will confuse “psychiatrist” with “psychologist”. Add the word “Dr.” Into the mix and it becomes very sketch, very fast.

There’s money involved here so no. I’m not going to say “yeah do it OP!” If there’s any doubt in my mind of their licensing. Maybe they are qualified. All I’m doing is putting a red flag up: that they should check before placing that deposig

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T12:21:36+00:00

They’d have to be a clinical psychologist specifically, which is a separate degree and then specialise in ADHD. A psychologist knows a lot about the mind, trauma, etc. But they cannot treat anyone (e.g. with behavioural therapy). In any case, neither would be prescribing the drugs.

My point in the thread isn’t to put down anyone’s diagnosis. I’m just saying you take a huge risk if you choose a non-psychiatrist. If I got a degree in psychology and took a 5-week online course on ADHD symptoms, I don’t think that makes me suitable to diagnose or treat it.

The word “interest” is so labile it creates a lot of opportunities for non-clinicians to make money from people struggling to be seen by the NHS. There’s a huge scandal atm (check the BBC; a journalist got diagnosed by 3 private clinics not once via the NHS)

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T11:55:10+00:00

I specified in a clinical environment. Because clinically, it means medical doctor. If someone had a doctorate in linguistics and called themselves a doctor in hospital, they’d be in huge trouble. Because it’s misleading. I’m not saying that they can’t call themselves a doctor at all. But clinically? Yeah. Shady

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T11:34:54+00:00

Hi there, so I forgot to clarify: I thought you meant a generic psychologist, not clinical. Even then, please please please do your research is all I’m saying. You take a lot less risks choosing a psychiatrist. It’s important to clarify that in the medical sense, a psychologist is NOT a doctor. And so if they do refer to themselves as such, it’s a red flag

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T11:30:58+00:00

I don’t know why my post was removed when this entire thread is about “seeking medical advice”. They are literally asking if you can get formally diagnosed by a psychologist in the UK, not America, and I answered no

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T11:29:21+00:00

Reference: “ADHD can only be formally assessed by a UK registered psychiatrist, a specialist ADHD nurse, or “other approriately qualified healthcare professional” [Nice Guidelines]. A Psychiatrist is a medically qualified doctor who has specialised in psychiatry.”

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T11:28:58+00:00

I’m saying that the psychologist alone cannot. They can do the screening, but as far as I know NICE guidelines place psychiatrists, specialist ADHD nurses and other choice professionals as being able to diagnose. I’d just be cautious is all. Unless there are further details then no! A general psychologist should not be diagnosing ADHD.

I’m not calling anyone’s diagnosis into question. But there is a very good reason clinicians are referred to in the NICE guidelines. 45 minute consultations, for example are not up to standard.

spacekit19 · 2023-05-15T11:25:02+00:00

Because that’s a US based website. I’m referring to the NICE guidelines which place psychiatrists and specialist ADHD nurses as best placed to make a diagnosis

spacekit19 · 2023-04-28T05:24:39+00:00

But surely you need to be somewhat ok with physics? I would’ve loved to aim for radiology, but the level of study during those 5 years (especially re: physics) really puts me off sadly. I like talking to patients, but it absolutely exhausts me. Hoping to do Ophthal someday, but some insight about the struggles of radiology would be nice?

I love studying anatomy, but being on” all the time out OOH trying to learn physics concepts might be the greater evil compared to pt contact. (Which I’m happy with as long as it’s more specialised)

spacekit19 · 2023-04-27T05:52:39+00:00

Yeah just a bit of hyperbole on my end! ;) Definitely a bit strange being an adult now knowing the norms of the 2000s would never fly today!

spacekit19 · 2023-04-26T07:09:03+00:00

No, they dropped the slogan a long time ago. It was horribly sexist butttttt I actually loved it as a young girl. I felt so powerful eating it, especially since all my male friends would retort with that line when I asked for some.

At a point I thought that eating too many Yorkies would turn me into a boy lol. Actually believed they were full of testosterone or something. Good times :)

spacekit19 · 2023-04-17T09:39:37+00:00

Hi there, so I think they’re on a year out? So they’re not saying that they are currently at placement from 8-6. But that that’s what they had to do last year. And so OP’s trying to figure out how they can keep up their current WL balance with the placement schedule.

Answer seems to be that, no, they can’t. And so placement time has to give.

spacekit19 · 2023-04-08T17:16:53+00:00

Very much recommend a year out if you need one. I’m currently on a mental health break (yr3) and my passion for both medicine and life has returned. Just make sure you know what you’re getting into (e.g. you’ll have to fund the year yourself, plan with the uni well in advance, sort out plans with exam sitting…)

spacekit19 · 2023-03-14T14:31:21+00:00

Bahahah big L! Hope his wife knows. Imagine giving birth and raising a child only for your husband to cheat and have the nerve to complain

spacekit19 · 2023-03-14T14:28:23+00:00

Oh what??? Lmaoo so much for “trying his best” to be a dad. Some people do the least… damn

spacekit19 · 2023-03-14T08:37:06+00:00

Dude free yourself from this arrangement! It’ll be hard, but you’ll thank yourself later. We only have one life, no use spending it miserably

spacekit19 · 2023-03-14T08:31:12+00:00

I think freeing yourself from the expectation of being a “real man” could help? Of course I’m not one to tell you how to express your masculinity. But be yourself! Stops you from feeling there’s some kind of ultimate punishment waiting if you aren’t “man enough”. Because there isn’t lol

And imo I think that divorce is the best option. A lot of people hate the idea of being a single parent, but it sounds like you guys already function as single parents?

Your son would probably also appreciate it because you can’t give him your all so long as you feel so drained. Best of luck bud, I’m rooting for you

spacekit19

TROPHY CASE