GKT Gazette - Fresher's Edition 2012 by GKT Gazette

FRESHER’S EDITION 2012 Volume 126, Est. 1876

Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals FREE on Campus gktgazette.com

Inside:

The Tanks New Tate Modern Space

Elective Planning What to Start Considering

Olympic Fever Hits GKT Celebrating our Volunteers, Athletes and Artists

and much more

GKT

GAZETTE Established 1876 Vol. 126 No. 2578 ISSN 0017-594 Website: http://www.gktgazette.com Email: gkt.gazette.editor@gmail.com Office/Memorabilia: office@gktgazette.com GKT Gazette, 2nd Floor, Doyles House, Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital, London, SE1 1UL. Tel: (020) 7848 6983 All rights reserved. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not neccessarily represent the views of the hospitals, the University or the Gazette Design by Layout and Research Editor, Simon Cleary

New T New Textbooks Te extbooks x fr from rom Wile y-B Blackwell Wiley-Blackwell All writ written ten b by y reno renowned owned names in their fi fields, elds, the they y ffeature eature fully updated u and new artwork, MCQs answers self-assessment, enhanced Wiley ne w art work, MC CQs and answ ers ffor or sel f-assessment, and an en nhanced W iley This provides digital Desktop Edition iin n the price of the book. T his pro vides an iinteractive nteractive d igital vvererr-sion of the book featuring featuring downloadable downloadable e text text and images, images highlighting highliighting and note book-marking,, cross-referencing, searching, ttaking aking ffacilities, acilities, book-marking b cross-referencing e , in-text in-text searc hing, and linking references to ref erences and d glossary glossar y terms.

Contents 4040 4045

News Olympic Fever Hits GKT and the News in Brief

Features Our new feature, Letters to the Gazette Land of High Mountains Guys Tower Retrofit:is a dog dressed in clothes still a dog?

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Book Reviews

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Research

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Analyse This

Does a Job a Day Keep the Doctor Away? Work, Worklessness and the Political Economy of Health Doing it for the Kids - Care of the Newborn

My Endocrinology Research Project, a Tumour Killing Virus and Art Attack, showcasing prizewinning micrographs

returns to the Gazette with a curious case of facial rash and profound lethargy for you to diagnose

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Arts & Culture The Tanks: Art in Action, Olympic Arts, A Portrait of Sport, and a Cutural Column

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Careers

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Nursing

Dental

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Little Known Wonders the European Dental Students’ Association

Living Out - life in Great Dover Street Apartments and how to plan your perfect elective

History

A Thought on Alzheimer’s Disease and How to be a Nursing Student

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An account of life as a probationer in early 20th Century Guy’s Hospital

(With Minimal Pain)

Obituary John Derek Haworth, known to friends as ‘Bloggy’

Sport Summer Sports Hangover and an A to Z of sports at GKT

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EDITORIAL

Dear Readers, It is my great pleasure to welcome both readers new and old to another issue of the GKT Gazette! In the aftermath of the olympics I have found myself in a happier, prouder, and most surprisingly, cleaner London. Last year was a fantastic year for both London and the Gazette, and I hope we'll continue to go from strength to strength this year. We'll be bringing in a few new members to help replace the members who graduated this year, and to those people I'd like to say good luck, and thank you for your hard work. I hope that you all enjoy this latest edition of the Gazette, and to those of you just starting at Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, I bid you welcome. Gareth Wilson (MBBS4) Editor

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Anthony Nolan is a pioneering charity that saves the lives of people with blood cancer who need a blood stem cell, or bone marrow transplant. Now, every day, we help two people in need of a lifesaving transplant by using our register to find remarkable donors who have matching stem cells, or bone marrow. www.anthonynolan.org

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NEWS

Olympic Fever

Hits GKT Katie Allan Intercalated BSc

his summer the whole of London was gripped by Olympic fever. Thousands descended upon the Olympic Park every day to watch events, and those that were unable to get tickets joined the masses at big screens across the city to watch some incredible sporting moments. There were purple-clad Games Makers at every corner to help visitors to the city, and locals enjoyed the excited and joyful atmosphere. This excitement extended to our hospitals, with a series of events and Olympic visitors bringing the spirit of the games to Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’. Many staff gave their time and expertise to volunteer at the 4040 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

Olympic sites – some even dancing in the memorable opening ceremony. Some dedicated staff and patients were honoured to be selected as torch-bearers, and there were visits to the wards from Olympic officials, athletes and torch-bearers. A special marquee was erected at St Thomas’ on the South Bank, to host fundraising events and screen the sporting events for patients and staff. At Guy’s, a sculpture was erected as a ‘gift from the Olympic Gods’ to celebrate the return of the games to London. The games were made possible by over 70,000 volunteers; many of these were healthcare professionals who gave their time to help run the four-story polyclinic

NEWS

at the Olympic park. The clinic contained an A&E along with primary care, physiotherapy, radiology, dental and podiatry services among others – and was also the site where athletes could access the 150,000 condoms they were famously allocated. The clinic treated over 500 athletes, Games Makers and Olympic officials every day and will remain as a permanent NHS health centre as part of the Olympic legacy. These services were provided primarily by volunteers (many using their annual leave to enable them to attend), including two of Guy’s hospital’s senior radiologists – Lyndall Blakeway and Daniel Hodson. “During the Olympic games we mostly saw athletes,” said Lyndall. “It’s very different from the day job because we were seeing injuries on the day they happened rather than weeks down the line. For a handful of cases, we saw competitors after they’d won medals in their events – by which time they didn’t really care how much things hurt!”

Other volunteers had the benefit of being on the front line and getting to watch the sporting events as part of their role. Clinical lead physiotherapist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ community outreach team Nichola Carrington volunteered at indoor and beach volleyball: “I worked with the athlete medical team, looking after the athletes, technical officials and referees. I was able to sit court-side as part of the ‘field of play medical team’ for some of the matches – so I’m really into the sport now!” Staff also got to gain new skills while volunteering; Nichola usually works in community rehabilitation for patients who’ve had amputations, and underwent extra training to enhance her skills in sports physiotherapy. However, for Nichola the most exciting part of the experience was being able to see the successes of the athletes up close: “One of the highlights was when Great Britain ladies volleyball team won against Algeria and witnessing their responses and celebrations.”

Left: Volunteers (37 of whom were from Guy’s and St Thomas’) celebrate the NHS through dancing in the Danny Boyle-directed opening ceremony

NEWS

Although most NHS staff offered their clinical skills to help support the games, some displayed a rather different skill – dancing. 37 colleagues from Guy’s and St Thomas’ (many of whom had no performing experience) participated in the Opening Ceremony, performing in a sequence celebrating the importance of the NHS in British history. Some staff had the honour of being selected to run in the torch relay in the runup to the games. Dr Ed Glucksman has worked in the emergency department at King’s for over 30 years, and his incredible dedication to the hospital and contribution to his field were recognised last year when the new Resus unit was named after him. He was nominated to be a torch-bearer by his children, and carried the torch through the London Borough of Brent. His colleague, Briony Sloper, Deputy Divisional Manager in the emergency department,

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was also selected to run with the torch through Lambeth. She said “It is so surreal. I am very excited that London is hosting the Olympics…it is very touching that a colleague nominated me for this honour”. It was not just hospital staff that were given this honour; many patients were selected to carry the torch. James Kirby, 18, has a long history of treatment at the Evelina Childrens’ Hospital after we has born with chronic renal disease. Over the years he’s received two kidney transplants, but once recovered he’s been a dedicated sportsman, competing in several events at the World Transplant Games. He also volunteers his time as a tennis coach, and is training towards coaching qualifications. He was nominated by one of his teachers, who described him as a ‘remarkable young man’, and carried the torch through Lewes as part of the relay.

NEWS

Patients at the Evelina Childrens’ Hospital were treated to a series of visits from Olympic guests. Athlete Abdul Buhari enjoyed his first visit in July so much that he asked to come back once the games were over. Buhari, a discus thrower, ranked 16th in the world at the games, an impressive achievement as he’d just recovered from significant injuries. Another visitor, torchbearer Kevin Craig, raised spirits by bringing his torch onto the wards to show the children. Craig was nominated for his charitable work; he helped close friends establish a charity that funds prosthetic limbs for children in developing countries, after they were affected by a terrible bus crash. Craig’s torch cheered one patient up so much that he let her keep it by her bedside for several days. The children have also been getting involved in the games with a se-

ries of activities, such as a group project to build a miniature replica of the Olympic stadium. Staff at the Evelina have also put together two Olympic time capsules with memories from the London games – one to be sent to Rio, the hosts of the next games, and one to be displayed at St Thomas’. The return of the games to London has excited staff and patients across the city, and inspired people to challenge themselves – one employee was so inspired by the dedication and endurance of the athletes that he decided to walk his 45 mile journey to work at Guy’s Hospital. Andrew Elton, who works in patient appliances, left his house in Hertfordshire on Sunday evening and walked for 11 hours to make it to work at 8.30 on Monday morning, raising £500 for charity in the process!

“The return of the games to London has excited staff and patients across the city” Previous page: The olympic flame burning in the stadium Above: Kevin Craig, trustee of the Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope charity Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4444

NEWS

News in Brief Katie Allan Intercalated BSc

NICE Launch Apps NICE have launched a mobile app version of the BNF, enabling instant access to up-to-date prescribing advice at any time or location, without the need for an internet connection. The app is available for iPhones, Blackberries and Android devices, and is free for NHS staff and health students on clinical placements via NHS Athens. For information on how to access the app, visit KCL library services.

Harlow Labs tofacilities, Become Phenome Centre The Olympic anti-doping which were operated by The Olympic anti-doping facilities, which were operated by King’s College, are set to be developed into a world-class research facility once the games are over. Researchers at the Phenome Centre will analyse data from thousands of patients and volunteers to further investigate how an individual’s genome, environment and lifestyle impact their susceptibility to illness and response to drug therapies, aided by the cuttingedge facilities that were developed for the anti-doping centre.

Guy’s Tower Guy’sRecladding Tower Recladding Begins Begins Work has begun on an extensive overhaul of the exterior of Guy’s Hospital, as part of a ten-year investment plan to improve buildings across all sites within the trust. There is an emphasis on sustainability, with energy-efficient windows and aluminium cladding.

Guy’s TowerCancer Recladding Beginsto Treble Prevalence Researchers at King’s College London have predicted that cancer prevalence amongst the over-65s is set to treble in the next 30 years. A combination of an ageing population, a rise in cancer incidence and increases in cancer survival will see around 4.1 million older people living with a cancer diagnosis by 2040. The most significant rise is likely to be in females with lung cancer.

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FEATURES

NEW FEATURE

Letters to the Gazette W

ell done to Uzair Patel for the article on “Discourse on the liberty of Education” (Gazette, Summer 2012 vol. 126).

`accepting the different views of people’ (Encarta) - says all views are equally valid and to claim someone else’s view is wrong cannot itself be tolerated.

Yes, I agree: The Speech Police seems to be clamping down on our right to express ourselves in this country. Why is this? The theologian Don Carson says it is due to the “Intolerance of the new Tolerance”. The old tolerance - ‘respect for someone’s view without necessarily agreeing with it’ (Oxford English Dictionary) – allowed freedom of expression. The new tolerance -

Please, let’s not allow The Speech Police to beat us. Let’s stick to the traditional British view, namely what the French philosopher Voltaire is meant to have said: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Yours sincerely, Dr M Dominic Beer

The GKT Gazette always invites its readership to write to, and interact with our writers. See an article you like? Want to disagree vehemently with the opinions of one of our contributors or writers? Please let us know! Send all correspondance to gkt.gazette.editor@gmail.com, and you will see it in the next issue of the Gazette! -The Editor Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4045

FEATURES

Land of High

Mountains Thomas Mathen MBBS5

yiti, the indigenous Amerindian name for the Republic of Haiti, occupies the island of Hispaniola together with the Dominican Republic in the Greater Antillean archipelago; it has a population of just over 10 million people. This nation achieved notoriety during the brutal dictatorships of the voodoo physician Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and his son, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baby Docâ&#x20AC;? Jean-Claude. Hopes of a brighter future after the election of JeanBertrand Aristide, a former priest, in 1990 were dashed when he was overthrown by a 4046 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

military coup. Economic sanctions as well as US-led military intervention forced a return to constitutional government in 1994 but this nation was still plagued with allegations of electoral irregularities, torture and brutality. In 2006, democratic rule was restored following the bloody revolts of 2004. In spite of this, Haiti is still troubled by violent confrontations between rival gangs and political organisations, drug trafficking and pervasive corruption. The human rights situation has been described by the UN as "catastrophic".

FEATURES

The poorest nation in the Americas has been plagued by natural disasters, all of which it has been ill-equipped to deal with and which have all but collapsed its infrastructure. On the 12th of January 2010, Haiti was struck by a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, the epicentre of which was just outside the capital Port-auPrince. As the most severe earthquake in over 200 years and widely reported internationally, it was predicted by the then Haitian interior minister Paul Antoine Bien-AimĂŠ that the disaster had claimed up to 316,000 lives and that over 1.6 million people had been left homeless. On top of all of this, in October of the same year, a cholera epidemic which had never before been observed in the country was identified. By the end of the year and worsened by Hurricane Tomas which mixed polluted bodies of water, it had affected 148,787 people and had claimed 3333 lives. Since then, the country has been hit by several tropical storms and hurricanes the most recent of which, Tropical Storm Isaac, struck on the 25th of August 2012.

As the earth shifts its burden From one end to another, The story of few seconds Caught in between The old and young The women and children The poverty and its recipients Knows no bounds The pain and the damage The old infliction As the human wound Out in the open, Underneath the rubble, Out in the distance, From one end to another In sadness and despair Come forward and help The old human expression The old sigh and its screams As the earth shifts its burden! Kashkin, Jan 14th 2010

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FEATURES

What does the future have in store for this beleaguered nation? A journalist once described Haiti as â&#x20AC;&#x153;...an economic wreck, balancing precariously on the razor's edge of calamity." However, this nation is not necessarily a lost cause. It will need to be rebuilt sustainably from the ground up. A long-term project such as this will require long-term attention and political will that extends beyond the provision of emergency relief. There are however several problems with this, which have been observed. The first was the distribution of foreign aid. According to the UN, $4.5 billion was pledged following the 2010 disaster but only $2.38 billion had been disbursed by the end of 2011. The disbursements themselves are of concern as the reconstruction efforts have been privatised, outsourced or taken over by foreign NGOs. Another issue was the government, which after the earthquake was as debilitated as the populace; many government buildings were destroyed and administrative incapacity ensued. This was complicated by political acrimony within the government which was exacerbated by the

resignation of the then Prime Minister Garry Conille a month following the earthquake. Dysfunctional government has deterred foreign direct investment and nervous international donors have withheld billions of dollars for reconstruction projects. There are of course several other issues but what has been made abundantly clear is that for any relief effort to have a positive impact, the reduction of bureaucratic, legal and administrative obstacles is critical. Foreign and domestic relief groups have to coordinate in an effective manner and environmental, logistical, informational and material support is essential for the improvement of emergency operations. There are of course wider issues such as education, health care and employment but all of this relies on confidence and trust in the government being restored as well as an effective and efficient partnership between Haiti and the international community. Perhaps one day, the motto of the country will hold true: "L'union fait la force" (strength through unity).

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Guy’s Tower Retrofit Is a Dog Dressed in Clothes Still a Dog?

Simon Cleary Physiology & Pharmacology BSc 3rd Year

ork has now begun on a glass and steel recladding of the tallest and ugliest hospital building in the world, Guy’s Tower. The original tower was the design of Watkins Gray - prolific architects of hospital buildings in London, Manchester, Bristol, Exeter and the Caribbean. Built in 1974, the 143 metre-tall brutalist concrete mass of Guy’s Tower’s dominated the South Bank skyline until it was recently dwarfed by the monolithic 309.6 metre Shard development. Worryingly, chunks of concrete have started to fall from the tower, and so in between amateur fundraisers the NHS Trust 4050 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

has been sending up professional abseilers to chip away the more precarious pieces at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds a year. The planned surgery should hopefully resolve this problem, cut annual carbon emissions by 18.5% and conceal a 1970s eyesore that mars the blossoming borough that the Hospital serves. According to the architects, Penoyre & Prasad, the project also ‘addresses the public realm with improved wayfinding’ (?), and will create new public space at ground level whilst integrating art projects and making a ‘poignant’ contribution to the London Bridge area. Early artist’s impressions of the revamp suggested a piscatorial, scaly glass covering, somewhat reminiscent of fishnet stockings, but the Penoyre & Prasad design

FEATURES

“Early artist’s impressions of the revamp suggested a piscatorial, scaly glass covering, somewhat reminiscent of fishnet stockings” Sadly the tower’s mandibular prognathism (underbite to non-dentists) will still jut out awkwardly into the Southwark skyline, which suggests that students will still have to navigate faulty lifts to get to the 30th floor lecture theatre that the cantilevered structure houses. The external retrofit is a welcome change, although the project seems to be settling for concealing some of the symptoms of the Guy’s Tower’s disease - stained, grey concrete and Chernobylesque roof - rather than attempting to alter the main cause of the structure’s inherent ugliness – its bizarre silhouette.

is a more staid, boxy aluminium and glass coat more reminiscent of the Cooperative Insurance Tower in Manchester, itself reclad in 2005 due to falling tiles. An exciting cubic glass structure sits atop the ugly chimneys, which would offer fantastic views - if it gets planning permission.

Will we ever mourn the loss of our hospital’s brutalist heritage? The Ernő Goldfinger-designed Trellick Tower (below), similar in design to Guy’s Tower but more streamlined and futuristic is celebrated by many and is even Grade II listed. The Southbank Centre Complex, The Royal College of Physicians and the Barbican all remain unashamedly present. Unlike the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle, soon to be demolished, and Guy’s Tower set to be covered up, these buildings are loved (by some) and are here to stay. Somehow I doubt I’ll miss the original Guy’s Hospital Tower.

BOOK REVIEWS

Samuel Evbuomwan MBBS3

Does a Job a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

hen we meet new people, we are often faced with a plethora of introductory questions, the most common of which being; “What do you do for a living?” To many people, our occupation is undeniably in sync with our identities, our social standing and aspirations, but does the fact that we are em-

Title: Author: Price: ISBN:

ployed (or not) have any bearing on our state of health? This text aims to answer this question. Professor Clare Bambra does an excellent job of presenting a balanced and well-evidenced picture of the intricate relationship between employment and health. Early

Work, Worklessness and the Political Economy of Health Clare Bambra £34.99 978-0-19-958829-9

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BOOKâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;REVIEWS

chapters of this book define important terms and concepts. This includes the relatively new term â&#x20AC;&#x153;worklessnessâ&#x20AC;?, which expands on the meaning of unemployment, and encompasses those who have never had a job and those who are unable to work. This book provides a detailed dissection on the role of the welfare state on work and health. She outlines its development, the various forms it takes, and how it has evolved over the decades. There is also a focus on hazards that may be faced at work and the impact this can have not only physically but psychosocially as well. There is an analysis of health legislation in the UK and other countries, with an emphasis on how political intervention can play an important role in reducing the amount of work injuries. This book also examines how economic recession can affect health particularly the positive relationship it has with health behaviour and conversely, the negative affect it has on suicide rates. The jewel of this text is the sheer volume of supporting research articles, allows the reader to delve in to the topic as

much as they feel as necessary. However, it is because of the wealth of systematic reviews and articles that at points the core message appears overshadowed and often eclipsed by the work of others. Professor Bambra takes an innovative approach to looking at the social determinants, and this book is essential for students of global and public health. Medical students and lecturers who may have an interest in the social factors that affect health may also find this useful. Professor Bambra endeavours to present ideas of how to create a healthier and safer work environment, she supports this by providing examples of where intervention has been successful. She moves away from the consensus of individual responsibility to workplace safety, and calls on employers and policy makers to make valid changes to the system. In an increasingly unequal society this is no easy feat. That being said Work, Worklessness and the Political Economy of Health makes a valiant effort.

About the Author Clare Bambra is a professor at Durham University where she teaches on the public policy courses as well as on the undergraduate Medicine programme. She has written and co-authored many journals and books on her areas of interest. Her main research looks into how policies affect public health both locally, nationally, and internationally.

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BOOKâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;REVIEWS

Samuel Evbuomwan MBBS3

Doing it for the Kids

ndoubtedly proper care for neonates is an essential part of the work of a midwife; this book provides the perfect foundation for those studying in the field. Care of the newborn is a part of the successful Ten Teachers series and this text certainly maintains this standard. With knowledge from eminent

Title: Editors: Price: ISBN:

practitioners in the field, this book takes a holistic look at neonatal care. It provides well-evidenced theory and links it with practice. Each chapter is clearly laid out with an overview the section at the beginning. The book avoids placing large amounts of texts after another but instead punctuates it with useful tables and points

Care of The Newborn by TenTeachers Hilary Lumsden and Debbie Holmes ÂŁ23.99 978-0-340-96841-3

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BOOK REVIEWS

of interest and colourful images. Even though the text has an easy-to-read format, it does not simplify the key messages by any means. The whole book is underpinned by professional guidelines and codes of practice. The chapters look at various topics from parenting, newborn screening and religious and cultural practices in neonatal care. This book ideally suited for midwifery students but may be of interest to qualified midwifes or those taking return to practice qualifications as a point of reference. The chapter that is comprised of frequently asked questions is arguably the best part of this book. To quote the book “Since the rise of internet use parents are more informed than ever before” .This will inevitably lead to a plethora of questions, all of which are covered in this section. Additionally there are questions commonly asked by students ranging from subjects on the optimum neonatal temper-

ature to explaining talipes (club foot) to parents. This section certainly upholds the ideal that no question is too silly, as it is often the most well meaning parents who tend to ask these sorts of questions. There is a helpful chapter on teaching parents resuscitation that is taught in a stepwise fashion and illustrated by pictures and diagrams. It does not skip on any of the vital details. This book not only serves its purpose as an evidence-based text but it also brings much needed cultural education to the field. Not only does it outline the various religious beliefs that midwifery students may come across in their careers, but it also deals with the sensitive issues such as female genital mutilation,stillbirth, and neonatal death very respectfully. With its easy to follow design, insightful chapters and well-researched evidence base, this book is recommended reading for anyone with an interest in neonatal care.

About the Editors Hilary Lumsden is a senior lecturer in Midwifery at the University of Wolverhampton and runs the post qualifying clinical course, Special and Intensive Care of the Newborn Debbie Holmes is also a Senior Lecturer on the University of Wolverhampton Midwifery course and is an external examiner at King’s College London

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RESEARCH

My Endocrinology Research Project

Matilda Esan MBBS3

recall my fondest memory of Year 2 Endocrinology from a lecturer. “In Endocrinology there are only two things to consider hypersecretion or hyposecretion” . This moment, amongst many others, made a Bsc in Endocrinology incredibly attractive. After all, something this straightforward in medicine couldn’t possibly exist! So I had to find out for myself. On starting the degree in September 2011, I was faced with the daunting, yet exciting prospect of conducting my own research. The research I carried out was slightly different to the type of research I was accustomed to hearing about. In fact I didn’t spend any time in the laboratory, unless you count insisting on a pathologist giving 4056 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

you a tour of St Thomas’ Pathology laboratory. The title of my project was: Part 1: The Clinical and Biochemical features of Phaeochromocytoma and Paragangliomas in familial and sporadic cases. Part 2: The role of Succinate dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur subunit (SDHB) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in identifying Phaeochromocytoma and Paraganglioma patients with SDH mutations. In simpler terms, my research involved looking at all the diagnosed cases of paraganglioma at GSTT as far back as hospital records would allow. These patients

RESEARCH

sive genetic testing which is also plagued by other technical and ethical issues. Meanwhile, within the literature it has been suggested that clinical and biochemical differences in the presentation of sporadic and hereditary cases be used to help the initial screening process which should eventually lead to patients being forwarded for testing.

needed to be grouped into hereditary and sporadic cases on the basis of genetic test results and family history. In addition to this we tried to assess whether the new SDHB IHC technique developed at GSTT could be used to identify patients with SDH mutations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and patients with SDHB mutations are at an increased risk of mortality.

The results of the 77 patient study carried out at GSTT appear to suggest - with significance - that patients with hereditary tumours present at a younger age and are more likely to have bilateral tumours. These findings are corroborated in the literature. The SDHB IHC results on 11 patients seemed to imply that the technique could differentiate patients with SDH mutation status from those without. However more work with a larger study size is definitely needed to confirm the usefulness of this technique at GSTT.

Why is this relevant? The current issue is that , whilst only 33% of paraganglioma cases are hereditary , these patients are at an increased risk of mortality due to their susceptibility to other unrelated pathologies and cancers (patients with SDH mutations are at the highest risk). Though it is essential to identify this small subset of patients, the only way to do this currently is through expen-

Overall though, genetic testing remains the best way to differentiate hereditary cases from sporadic cases, an so an updated database providing a wealth of information on these rare tumours for future clinical use at GSTT has since been created. P.S Who said research was all about white coats, pipettes and middle aged men wearing glasses?

RESEARCH

The Tumour----Killing Virus Nathanael Yong MBBS4

hen one thinks of a virus, perhaps words such as HIV, herpes or the common cold come into mind. The virus is often treated as an entity proficient in causing nothing but harm to the human body. The extent of its capabilities reaches beyond the field of infectious diseases. Indeed since the causal link between the Epstein-Barr virus and Burkittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lymphoma was made in 1964, viruses have also made their reputation known within the world of oncology. However, the terrible association that has stained the lifeless organism may soon be changing. Virotherapy (the cultivation of genetically modified viruses to destroy tumour cells) has now emerged as a potential

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treatment against one of the main killers in the developed world, cancer. Inside the department of immunology, genetics and pathology at the Uppsala University in Sweden, Professor Magnus Essand and his team have developed a virus, codenamed Ad5[CgA-E1A] and tested it in nude mice that have developed neuro-endocrine tumours (NETs). The science behind this is simple: when infected with a virus, any normal cell within the human body is induced to undergo apoptosis thus preventing further replication of the virus. However, if a virus selectively infects a tumour cell which has its apoptotic programmes switched off, replication of the virus continues until the cell

RESEARCH

Left: Steve Jobs, who died of respiratory arrest related to a metastatic pancreas NET in 2011 Previous Page: Colourised TEM images of an adenovirus ÂŠ Science Photo Library Below: H&E stain of a gastric NET

finally lyses. The viruses then continue to infect neighbouring neoplastic cells. Although laboratory and animal studies have shown promising results, lack of funding has meant that this virus is yet to proceed into human clinical trials. A breakthrough in virotherapy can be seen at another place with a different virus, ONYX-015 where one of its variants has now been approved by the Chinese authority to treat the later stages of nasopharyngeal cancer. Neuro-endocrine tumours, also known as carcinoids, are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms associated with the secretion of hormones, peptides and amines. Often diagnosed at late stages of the disease with liver metastases identified in many sufferers, surgery offers the sole chance of a cure. These neoplasms have recently been in the media after Steve Jobs, co-founder of one of the largest companies in the world, Apple Inc., died of complications caused by isletcell pancreatic cancer, a type of NET. NETs commonly occur within the gastro-intesti-

nal tract and the broncho-pulmonary system, and although considered relatively rare - with prevalence around 35 per 100,000 per annum - NETs have a higher incidence rate than all other causes of stomach and pancreatic cancers combined. One may wonder: with such promising data, why has this research been placed on the backburner? In a world where money is finite and countless studies into anticancer treatment are on-going, many research groups are essentially competing for the same funding. As most of the information of Ad5[CgA-E1A] has been published in international journals, patenting the virus is therefore prohibited. This has resulted in a lack of interest from pharmaceutical companies, as funding such a treatment would not be profitable. Virotherapy is still in its infancy. As the quality and technology of medical equipment improves, viruses will someday become a prominent treatment to aid us in our battle against cancer.

RESEARCH

Art Attack

King’s College London Researchers are again successful in BHF Science Image Competition

ollowing on from a victory in the 2011 British Heart Foundation Reflections of Research image competition for Professor Nic Smith, Dr Ehler from the Randall Division was this year’s overall winner. Dipen Rajgor, aPhD student also based at King’s won the “Supporter Favourite” award for his micrograph entitled London Underground. Want to showcase your scienctific or medical images? Send them in to simon.s.cleary@kcl.ac.uk

Above Right: 2011 Winner - Feeding the Heart Prof Nicolas Smith, King's College London A model of blood vessels serving the heart is coloured to show the different pressures that the vessels experience during a heartbeat Above Left: 2012 Winner - The “B” of the Bang Dr Elizabeth Ehler, King's College London Heart cells are shown beating in culture, with nuclei stained blue and contractile apparatus fluorescing green and red Left: 2012 Runner up - ‘Opposites attract’ Miss Krishma Halai, Queen Mary, University of London Flourescent proteins differentially stain arteries and veins red and blue respectively

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Simon Cleary Physiology & Pharmacology BSc 3rd Year

RESEARCH

BHF Supporter Favourite 2012- London Underground Mr Dipen Rajgor, King's College London Microtubules are stained yellow and nuclei fluoresce blue. Mr Rajgorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work has identified novel functions for the giant nuclear membrane protein Nesprin-1, shown here in yellow They work tirelessly to understand more about the heart in order to help patients, and, as these pictures show, produce some beautiful images in the process.

Professor Peter Weissberg Medical Director of the BHF

Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4061

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Dr Kerry Layne Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust Author of ‘100 Cases in Acute Medicine’

Facial Rash & Profound Lethargy

twenty-four year old lady presented to hospital complaining of a facial rash and profound lethargy. For the preceding five days, she had been experiencing headaches, fevers, joint pains and a sore throat. She also complained of night sweats and coryzal symptoms. Her medical history included two miscarriages. She took no regular medications. She lived with her grandmother, had a long-term partner, did not smoke nor drink alcohol and had no travel history. Her grandmother stated that she had received all childhood vaccinations.

Above: Photos taken at admission (left) and 4 days later (right) showing the rash that the patient presented with

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Observations Observations: T HR BP RR SpO2

36.1ºC 67 113/65 22 99% o/a.

On examination, she appeared unwell but alert. She had a violaceous, raised rash covering her face and trunk. The rash was tender to touch, with confluent, non-blanching lesions. Her neck muscles were tender but she had full range of movement. She was photophobic but did not display Kernig’s sign. There was mild, generalised abdominal tenderness and widespread arthralgia. A&E bloods: WCC Hb Plt Na K creat CRP

5.0 14.0 187 138 3.9 54 26.

What is the differential diagnosis for these symptoms? How would you manage this patient in A&E? Email your answers in to gkt.gazette.editor@gmail.com Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4063

The Olympic Arts Sabina Checketts MBBS4

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Olympiad. It is right that an event that provokes nation-wide indelible memories (Usain Bolt anyone?) also encourages its citizens to consider other aspects of their human spirit. In keeping with the tradition dating from 1912, the London 2012 Olympic committee commissioned posters from twelve contemporary artists. The artists, chosen from a longlist of 100, were as follows: • For the Olympics: Martin Creed, Anthea ....Hamilton, Howard Hodgkin, Chris Ofili, ....Bridget Riley and Rachel Whiteread • For the Paralympics: Fiona Banner, ....Michael Craig-Martin, Tracey Emin, ....Gary Hume, Sarah Morris and Bob and ....Roberta Smith

Above: Detail from Anthea Hamilton’s Divers

port and Art are not mutually exclusive. The Olympic and Paralympic Games inspire artists as well. The first modern Olympic Games (restarted due to the efforts of a French academic, Baron Pierre de Coubertin - the reason why French is spoken first during the ceremonies), held in 1869 in Athens, incorporated “excellence in art and literature” as one of its aims. This was a deliberate attempt to revisit the semi-sacred position of both sport and art in Ancient Greece. Initially, each Games was accompanied by a major art exhibition, however over the last 100 years, the idea that the Games should be a multi-disciplinary event has fallen out of sight. Ethnically diverse London was an ideal base for a revival of the Cultural

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The brief given to these artists was to design a poster that “celebrated the Games coming to London” and that embodied “the values [of the Games]”. The posters have toured Britain’s schools and sports centres, and are free to view on display at Tate Britain (until 23rd September 2012) as well as being souvenirs available to purchase by members of the public.

There is a long history of artists creating promotional posters including Klimt, Picasso. Warhol and Hockney. I imagine it was a challenging creative task. Posters must be visually stunning and yet self-explanatory to attract the attention of busy bystanders. The largest problem that faced these posters was that they were adrift amongst the vast sea of advertising bombarding us daily. Above: Chris Ofili For the Unknown Runner Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4065

“LOndOn 2012 by Rachel Whiteread, unfortunately reminded me strongly of a plate of multi-coloured spaghetti hoops, and who knows perhaps these did inspire the artist!”

The images produced are not what one might have expected. Athletes are scarcely shown in the new posters; instead the majority of the works use generally recognisable symbols of the Olympics. This is deliberate; some of the artists chosen have commented on their apathy for sport. Michael Craig-Martin, tutor for the YBA generation, remarked, “I feel like a Jewish artist who’s been asked to provide a stained-glass window for a church. I have absolutely no interest in sport, probably because I was always very bad at it.” One image, LOndOn 2012 by Rachel Whiteread, unfortunately reminded me strongly of a plate of multi-coloured spaghetti hoops, and who knows perhaps these did inspire the artist! In a recent Telegraph poll, this poster was the most popular; closely followed by Sarah Morris’ Big Ben 2012 and Anthea Hamilton’s

Divers, and so it is not inconceivable that familiarity played a role in the voting. My favourite poster was Chris Ofili’s For the Unknown Runner (detail previous page) that harked back to classical Greece with the shape of an urn while retaining a speedy athletic spirit with a runner whose pose brings Usain Bolt to mind! Despite some feelings of indifference to sport, the artists still believe that art makes significant contribution to the Games; Craig-Martin said “Artists bring something different, for a designer, creating an Olympic poster is just another assignment. But artists bring a personal language, a personal vision. If art and sport have something in common it’s that both are about personal achievement and involve a degree of obsession.”

To see the rest of the posters visit: festival.london2012.com. To buy a copy of any of these posters (cost is £7), please go to london2012.com/shop. A small number of limited edition prints, signed by the artists, are also available from countereditions.com/london2012

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A Portrait of Sport Sabina Checketts MBBS4

The current exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery is Aiming High, part of the Road to 2012 project. This display presents photographs of current Olympic athletes, Torch Bearers, extraordinary British sportspeople alongside everyday people who had crucial roles in allowing the Games to occur. Subjects include Sebastian Coe, Anish Kapoor, Jessica Ennis, Rebecca Adlington, Tom Daley and Mark Cavendish. Prominent photographers include Anderson & Low, Jillian Edelstein and Naday Kander along with Brian Griffin, Finlay MacKay and Bettina von Zwehl. The show is accompanied by images of sports groups from London’s East End taken by Katherine Green. It brings the preparations for Games to life by portraying the achievements made possible by resolve and will-power.

At the National Portrait Gallery from 19th July – 23rd September 2012. Free Admission daily 10.00-18.00, Thursdays and Fridays until 21.00. The exhibition can be seen in different locations across the Gallery including the Ondaatje Wing Main Hall, Rooms 35,39, 39a and 40 on Floor 0, Room 33 on Floor 1 and the Bookshop Gallery on Floor -3.

ARTS & CULTURE

Sabina Checketts MBBS4

Cultural Column

Welcome to London, Home of the 2012 Olympics! Now make the most of the cultural opportunities of living in the capital city. The start of the year is the best time as you have yet to become overworked. Here are some ideas to aid your explorations:

Museums & Exhibitions Here’s a list of the free museums and galleries so why not hop on a Barclays (a.k.a. Boris) Bike and cycle around for a day (£1/day, see www.tfl.gov.uk for further details). Visit the classic museums - the Science, Natural History, British, Imperial War (pictured on the next page) and Victoria & Albert. The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are well worth visiting at least once; highlights include Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and paintings by Titian, Rembrandt, da Vinci, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Turner and many more. A personal favourite is the Hay Wain by John Constable. Both Tate Britain and Tate Modern are

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worth visiting and look out for the upcoming Pre-Raphaelite show including work by Millais and Rossetti. Be aware that some of the large Museums do “Lates”. These are free adult-only evenings with various entertainments, although you do have to pay for alcohol. The Science museum’s Lates are held on the last Wednesday of every month. See the websites of individual museums for further information. Some of the less well-known galleries include the Courthauld Gallery (next door to Somerset House with a collection including works by van Gogh, Goya and Gainsborough), the Wallace Collection (just

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north of Oxford Street) with Titian’s, Rembrandts and Hal’s The Laughing Cavalier, and finally the gorgeous Dulwich Picture Gallery with a superb collection alongside a Cotman show. All of these are also free with a student card so poverty is not an excuse! A big upcoming art show is Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park from the 11th to 14th October where international galleries present many contemporary artists including Tracey Emin and Cerith Wyn Evans at White Cube, Wolfgang Tillmans at Maureen Paley, Jeff Wall at Marian Goodman and also Cabinet Gallery. Cost: £20 concession.

The Imperial War Museum

Music, Film & Comedy Better be quick for London Fashion week 14th-18th September at Somerset House and the Rooftop Film Club at the Queen of Hoxton until the 30th September. Don’t miss out on the free Chocolate Festival at the Southbank Centre from the 14-16th December - see TimeOut website for further details (and for many other events). Upcoming films to look out for include: On The Road, an adaption of Jack Kerouac’s book, the Great Gatsby directed by Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet), the new James Bond, Skyfall, the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the final Twilight

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movie - the imaginatively titled Breaking Dawn part 2. One experience not to miss is the 56th BFI London Film Festival on the 10-21st October with films including Frankenweenie (a new film from Tim Burton), A Dangerous Method (Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender star as Freud and Jung treating their patient (who just happens to have my name) played by Keira Knightley), Ides of March (George Clooney and the wonderful Ryan Gosling in the dirty world of politics), Headhunters (a tense Norwegian crime thriller), Snowtown (Australian film about a notorious serial killer) and The Student (Argentinian student political thriller). A word of advice - book early as these events sell out! Find out how to book from 5th September on bfi.org.uk/lff.

Theatre & Musicals Some exciting plays showing: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (at the National Theatre until 27th October) and Chariots of Fire (about the 1924 Paris Olympics is on at the Gielgud Theatre until November 10th). Be aware these plays are very popular so may be sold out online but most theatres release further tickets or sell more tickets on the day so it is worth checking online or phoning them. The National Theatre, Old Vic (run by Kevin Spacey) and Young Vic all do ÂŁ5 tickets for under 25s - see their websites for details. On at the Globe is the critically acclaimed Twelfth Night from the 22nd September

ARTS & CULTURE

and then transferring to the Apollo Theatre. Remember if you don’t mind standing up, the Globe tickets for groundlings are only £5. Regarding musicals, you are spoilt for choice! The new one to see is The Bodyguard (at the Adelphi from 6th November). I would encourage you to see Matilda The Musical (at the Cambridge Theatre until February 2013). Furthermore War Horse, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys (lots of sing-along songs you didn’t realise you knew), Phantom of the Opera, Shrek, Dirty Dancing and Wicked all come highly recommended. And finally… Events at King’s The Freshers Fair at the Barbican on the 20th and 21st September and all the other great events on that week and the following ones - see: www.kclsu.org for further details and to buy tickets to events hosted by King’s College. Left: Shakepeare Tower, Ther Barbican

The Tanks: Art in Action Sabeen Chaudhry MBBS3

escribed as “magnificent raw, industrial spaces,” the Tanks at the Tate Modern promise to showcase a melange of installations, performances, and films that hone in on the nuances of contemporary culture. Visitors are invited to engage not only with the exhibition or performance at hand, but with the overwhelming atmosphere of the cavernous Tanks. My initial visit was to experience the sounds of the avant-garde, progressivetechno trio Factory Floor to a visual backdrop by Dan Tombs, in association with 4072 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

the Undercurrent: young people’s festival. Having established themselves as a sophisticated force in contemporary music culture, Factory Floor’s performance was more art-piece than ‘gig’ that along with Tombs’ video installation, induced immersion in the psychedelic, kaleidoscopic sonic and visual textures. After about twenty minutes the seamless audio-thread of music that weaved throughout the tank seemed infinite, as though it had no beginning and would have no end. Indeed, the assorted dancers from the Tate Collective seemed as though

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they would never cease, casting dark frenetic shadows on the repetitive visual projections. I was reminded of Nietzsche’s concept of ‘Eternal Recurrence’ which posits that due to the infinite nature of time and the finite (though large) possibilities of events, events in the Universe are bound to repeat themselves- a sort of extreme déjà vu so to speak. Indeed, performance artist and Senior Lecturer in art and performance Anthony Howell describes repetition as a “primary element” in performance art that cannot be created from other elements but is basal or fundamental.

know it; what would the ‘self’ be in an ideal state of nirvana where all memory was lost? Would this induce a loss of the self? Another installation in the Tanks that draws upon ideas of the ‘self’ is the commission by Korean video and performance artist Sung Hwan Kim, who creates “dream-like montages that explore the subjective nature of history.” Meshing together snippets of his imaginings and perceptions of person and place from Seoul to Amsterdam to New York, he creates startling, unsettling and truly beautiful montage films that leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

In addition, the installation seemed to be building upon the theme of consciousness expansion, appearing to have the potential to cause a sort of consciousness expansionlite via direct audiovisual stimulation rather than the mescaline addled means of Aldous Huxley. Indeed as visitors ‘trippedout’ to Factory Floor on various synthesizers and exotic looking instruments, I was lead to consider the idea of the ‘self’ as something based on consciousness as we

Alongside Kim’s work, are the collection displays by Suzanne Lacy and Liz Rhodes. Lacy’s work, The Crystal Quilt is a video, documentary, quilt and sound piece which enlists performance to try to dissect and assess aging in a relevant and original manner. Testing the extent to which art can create social change, Lacy’s work was originally broadcast live on television, as aging women came together to create the quilt and exchange quotidian tales and in-

Washing Brain and Corn, Sung Hwan Kim, 2010 Video still

NEWS

Suzanne Lacy, The Crystal Quilt 1985-7 © The artist Photo: Gus Gustafson

sight, and to talk about the issues associated with growing old. Lacy sought to create “an active comment on the representation of older women in the media,” showing the women not just as ‘old ladies’ but people with desires, opinions, fears and regrets. With topics discussed ranging from volunteering to 4074 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

sexuality, this honest, realistic portrayal of aging women is a far cry from the usual portrayal by the media. Although at times a little sentimental, it is humorous, poignant and quite riveting. It feels rather like, in listening to the sound recording (in the sublimely bizarre setting of a former oil drum,) you are eavesdropping on a rather

ARTS & CULTURE

juicy conversation. Engaging with the art in such a manner is performative in itself, the final act of listening and interpreting adding another performative layer to the complex composite whole. The idea of the viewer as a performative component in attaining and contributing to the meaning of an artwork is further explored by Liz Rhodes, whose installation Light Music, “experiments with celluloid and sound to push the formal, spatial and performative boundaries of cinema.” Created using two projections which face one another on opposite screens; as viewers move between them, their bodies are projected as shadowy masses onto the screens. Thus, it places viewers within the visual frame of the artwork, establishing them as multiple focal points. Depending on one’s position within the room, they appear a certain size on the screens, thus some appear as giants and others dwarves. In skewing size and proportions in such a manner, again the changeable ‘self’ is implicated, and in this case, so is the changeable ‘other’. Whilst watching yourself you are also watching others, checking to see who the giant on the screen is, only to find it is a six year old child. In this way Rhodes, drags each viewer in to become an interconnected part of the piece, toying with our experience of ourselves and those

around us. In a bid to fully engage with the work, I decided to walk down the centre of the room from one end to the other, beginning as a giant with only huge legs visible in the opposing screen and gradually shrinking, with all eyes in the room directed towards me. Indeed, the shrinking and growing coupled with the audio piece (created when the projector reads abstract lines drawn at the edges of the projections) and tank setting, made me feel a little as though I was in an industrial Alice in Wonderland. In fact, this involvement seems to be the crux of what the Tanks appear to try to incite in their visitors. The tacit idea underlying the events and exhibitions is that the meaning of art can be attained via a complex performative process not only relying on the artist and performance but also on the audience and many others. The Tanks illustrate the concept of meaning being enacted via intersubjective interpretations that are performative in themselves. The performance does not just stop at the artist but extends to the audience simply by their being there, by their looking at and judging the works in whatever way that they do. The Tanks series is a spectacular and original exhibition that adds a new dimension to contemporary and performance art, inviting the public to participate in up-and-coming forms of expression.

The Tanks: Art in Action is a fifteenweek festival from 18 July – 28 October 2012. For more information regarding specific events visit www.tate.org.uk Factory Floor (left) are forthcoming artist in residence at the ICA, London, starting September 2012. Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4075

O g n i v i L

t u

li fA 4 i Sa BBS M

he transition from SATs to GCSEs felt like a big one at the time. The transition from GCSEs to A-Levels was also a big step. Now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re approaching that time of year when A-Level students are making the jump to university, the most intimidating of them all. For some people, the decision to live in university accommodation for the first year is a no brainer; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve known for a while now that they want to and are look-

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ing forward to it. For others, it is a daunting prospect. They are unsure what to expect and unsure how they will cope. This article will hopefully set out the arguments for both sides to try and put your minds at ease and also give you a little insight into what it can be like, based off my experiences in my first year. For many, this will be their first opportunity to live away from home and experience complete independence. It will be a

CAREERS

year full of trials, tribulations and triumphs. But they’ll come out the other side much more self-aware and competent, if a bit underfed or overweight – depending on whether they decide to try and cook (but can’t) or live on junk food. Before coming to uni, I had always lived with my parents, they’d always cooked our food (or ordered it), washed my clothes and generally provided a suitable living environment. Occasionally I would be charged with doing the dishes or cleaning my room or vacuuming the house; life was nice and simple. That all changed when I came to uni though, as I had elected to live in halls (Great Dover Street Apartments or GDSA in particular). I thought it was a wonderful idea, independence, no one to tell you what to do or when to do it, can come and go as you please at all hours of the day….great, right? Wrong. Cooking for a start was a nightmare, I had a rice cooker (an absolute life saver) and a miniature grill (also a life saver) and they tided me over while I muddled around trying to work out how to recreate my mother’s cooking. Needless to say I failed miserably. So I lived on rice and grilled chicken pieces, throwing in the occasional homemade burger for variety. Alternatively I’d buy microwaveable food and ready-made food from the supermarkets, which were all well and good, but my student budget didn’t like it as much as my

stomach did. My biggest problem with the cooking was that I never started until I was already hungry, at which point I was too impatient to cook proper food. Forward planning and preparation really were crucial. But once you get the hang of it and you’ve set the fire alarm off a couple of times and the entire block is glaring at you for cooking at 2am in the morning, you quickly get the hang of things. The second biggest shock to the system for me, and one which took me two years to fully realise, comprehend and adjust to, was that no one would be keeping a tab on you to see if you were working consistently. As long as you attended teaching, what you did when you came home was entirely up to you. For me that meant procrastinating, discovering new games to play, going out to play football or going out to parties. But not studying. Not until 2 weeks before the final exams when I realised the year had passed. That’s what they mean by ‘self-directed learning’. That key word that gets bandied around a lot. You’re expected to study independently, you’re in charge of it and no one else will chase you up or tell you to go study (except your parents when they call to see how you’re doing, but that doesn’t count because they can’t see whether you are or not). The key is to try and do a little bit of work each week. At A-Levels, it might have been ok to start

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CAREERS

work the month before the exams and still do well. That isn’t the case at uni. Some students (especially the graduates who’ve been here before) will be working all year round and they will do well. That’s the only sure way to do well. Think about how much time you’ll need to revise before end of years. Double it. That’s still not enough time. So try to be consistent from day 1. Well…day 8, can’t expect anyone to work hard during fresher’s week! Despite those shocks, I can honestly say living out in first year was the best decision of my life. I learnt a lot about myself, I made some amazing friends from other courses that I would never otherwise have met,

I learned to stand on my own two feet and cope with daily challenges that my parents had always sheltered me from. Like bills. So my advice to the fence sitters and those who’ve already decided to stay at home for first year is take the leap, live in halls (finances permitting of course) for a year. If it’s not for you, you can always cancel the lease and go back home. But if you don’t at least try, you’ll be missing out on one of the most important experiences of your lives.

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Planning Your Perfect Elective Sally Kamaledeen MBBS 5

s a new academic year dawns and the holidays rapidly dwindle into distant memories, at least every fourth year medical student is consoled by the hope-giving prospect of our long anticipated electives awaiting us at the end of this dark, bone-chilling tunnel. Even if you are still a preclinical student or are intercalating this year, it is never too early to think about your elective. Here are some tips to help get you started and to guide you along the way:

1) Who am I? Thinking about your personality, your likes and dislikes is critical to form an idea of

who you are as a person, a medical student and inevitably, a doctor. Do you enjoy solitary thinking and problem solving, or would you rather pick your colleaguesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; brains and prefer team discussions? At this early stage of your training, do you prefer to be guided by your seniors and to primarily receive teaching from others or do you relish being given some responsibility and enjoy the challenge of taking on a role within the healthcare team? It is helpful to ask yourself these questions as you grow and progress in your undergraduate years, as not only will it aid you in planning an elective placement that fits your personality and needs, but will also help

Photo from james-babydoc.blogspot.co.uk

to guide you into your preferred career path in the future, which leads onto the next step in your self-assessment:

2) What have I enjoyed so far? The next question to ask yourself is what you have enjoyed learning in medical school so far? Which specialties have inspired you and captured your attention? If you are a preclinical student and have yet to have any clinical exposure, it is still worth giving this a bit of thought, as research placements are a popular choice for many electives students wishing to spend some time exploring the academic or scientific aspects of their favourite specialties away from the clinical setting, and may well lead to that much-coveted publication in the end. If you are in your third year, spend some time on each rotation engag-

ing in a conversation with the clinicians on your firm, both junior and senior, on any aspect of their specialty, such as training path, competitiveness of posts or even work-life balance. This will inevitably help you narrow down your specialty choices and also decide on which specialties to undertake your elective in, in order to explore them more deeply and in a different setting.

3) Where do I want to go? Many students view the elective as the perfect chance to explore some unique and faraway corners of the globe that they are unlikely to be able to revisit or experience clinically after graduation and training. Where do you dream of travelling? Are you an easy-going traveller who is willing to fully experience and immerse yourself in

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Solbrew & Stethoscop, Gizo, Solomon Islands. Photo by Brady Bouchard

the local environment and culture, or do you prefer your creature-comforts and would function better in a setting that is similar to your norm? Would you be able to happily cope with a language barrier, or would you prefer to visit somewhere where you are fluent in the local language in order to maximise your benefit and patient interaction? This is important to consider as your elective placement will range between 4-6 weeks and many students even chose to spend their full 8 week elective period in one location rather than split the time between two, so carefully think about the type of environment you would like to immerse yourself in for that length of time!

4) What is your budget? Going on elective is a costly affair, and between booking flight tickets, renting ac-

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commodation, or paying the sometimes extortionate tuition fees demanded by some institutions, you might find yourself spending a lot more than you initially envisaged. To minimise your financial woes, start researching institutions in your shortlisted locations early and enquire about any tuition fees they require, in order to give yourself ample time to either save them up or put aside a sum of money to prepare. It is also helpful to book your flights early or during any flight sales, and to look for accommodation, if not provided by your institution, as soon as you receive their confirmation. Also, keep a look out for a vast array of electives bursaries a n d prizes offered by

CAREERS

many organisations and Royal Colleges for electives in their specialties, as they are not only a good source of money towards your elective, but will additionally look impressive on your C.V.

5) Make use of electives resources! The Medical Physical Society and SMEC hold their popular electives evenings during the autumn term, where fourth years freshly-returned from their electives give short presentations about their experiences, and they are also good networking opportunities if you wish to ask the students any questions or to seek their advice. Our Virtual Campus also boasts the impressive Elective Abstract Record System

(EARS), which can be accessed from the MBBS 4 page, and is a comprehensive guide of medical and surgical electives undertaken by our students who have to complete a short abstract detailing their experience and also rate their electives on their return, to add to the resource. Also, the Electives Network website (http://www.electives.net) is a fantastic up-to-date resource full of information and ratings on hundreds of placements and can really help you plan your elective. Finally, if you are a member, check out the British Medical Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (BMA) electives page on their website, which has a wide range of very helpful tips and resources on arranging travel and insurance and how to search for and fund your perfect elective. Good luck and happy planning!

A Tanzanian outpatients consultant desk. Photo from internal-optimist.blogspot.co.uk

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Ward Round a New Medical Learning Experience Dr Adrian Raudaschl FY1 Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Apps for smartphones and tablets are an exciting new medium that is still in its infancy. In medicine there is huge potential for new types of medical education based games, interactive eBooks and tools for everything from antibiotics doses to ECG interpretation. One warm March evening a year ago, after months of study hibernation before 4088 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

by final exams, I was inspired to go and create something myself; something not only educational but also enjoyable to play. What followed was a journey of inspiration, research, long hours and design to create something truly unique in a market saturated with dull, unexciting medical apps. The question was how to go from medical student to app developer in the limited time before my full-

time job started in September. First I needed to clarify what exactly I wanted to create. During my studies I had become annoyed with how online medical question banks asked fragmented questions about medical conditions and were difficult to navigate. I wanted to create a question bank that dealt with patient case scenarios in a holistic way; everything from differential diagnosis to investigations and treatments so that you would feel as if you had dealt with a case in its entirety. Equally, the design should be as important as the medical content; a beautiful interface has the power to turn something from a dull chore into an inspiring and entertaining experience.

This app would soon become known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ward Roundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. A solid month was spent downloading and playing with every kind of app from medicine to games and art. I needed to find what elements worked and how they could be incorporated. Despite the content being a high standard, incorporating too many gamification elements could result in the app alienating some medical professionals. Similarly, a conservative design would mean we were not innovating at all. I religiously carried around a pen and sketchpad scribbling down ideas and constantly asking friends and flatmates for feedback (some of which eventually

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became threats starting with â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you mention that bloody app one more time...â&#x20AC;?), and soon I was ready to start writing the first draft of the design document. A project this big meant I needed to put a team together to make it happen. Seeing as I wanted to include an attractive design and glamification elements, it made sense to turn to the games industry. Luckily an old friend and flatmate of mine who worked in the video game industry was starting a company called Guerilla Tea. I told him the idea for Ward Round and he arranged a meeting with a group of artists, programmers and developers where I presented the concept; after some negotiating they agreed to start development. Next I had to create the question bank. Over the course of a few months a friend and myself researched and produced a database of roughly 180 patient case scenarios and 900 multiple-choice ques-

tions covering nine medical/surgical disciplines. It was no easy task; case histories had to strike a balance between being challenging but not misleading. This is especially true when a set of signs and symptoms such as abdominal pain could easily yield five differential diagnoses; but by including things like lab results or scans we tried to ensure the user would not feel cheated by the answer. Sitting now and playing Ward Round in a moment of boredom is such a gratifying experience. Sometimes its easy to forget that this App was just an idea not even one year ago, and now people around the world are downloading it and enjoying the same experience. If you have an great idea for an App I say go for it and pursue it to the end. The Steve Jobs of medical apps could be you.

ćĊ Ć ĜĆėĉ ėĔĚēĉ čĊėĔ became threats starting with “If you mention that bloody app one more time...”), and soon I was ready to start writing the first draft of the design document. A project this big meant I needed to put a team together to make it happen. Seeing as I wanted to include an attractive design and glamification elements, it made sense to turn to the games indus-

ĜĆėĉėĔĚēĉĆĕĕǤ ĈĔǤ ĚĐ

NURSING

A Thought on

Alzheimer’s Disease Ben Clavey Adult Nursing 3 Year rd

ne day while writing up my nursing notes I glanced up to see Anne*. She smiled down at me and told me she would be going, as her mother was worried about her. Anne was in her 90s and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Anne is far from unique in a modern hospital. As I spoke to Anne she talked to me animatedly about people she seems to think I knew. I let her keep talking, as she seemed to be happy and calm, not really waiting for my input toward the conversation. I continued to write notes and listened to Anne’s opinion on people I didn’t know and who I doubted were still alive. As the conversation continued she got more and more worried. She seemed to remember something. She remembered that her mother had died and, understandably, this realisation upset her. I have never lost a parent but realising this news three or four times a day, like Anne did, seems like a special kind of hell. AD is a degenerative disease related to age. It robs sufferers of their memory bit by bit and then their ability to perform bodily functions. It is frequently fatal within seven years of diagnosis and there are currently few treatments, let alone a cure.

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NURSING

Not every Alzheimer’s sufferer is so able to have a nice chat like Anne. I have been spat at and hit by people who have had their memory robbed by this disease. Most people I know in healthcare have similar stories. In nursing we hope to make people feel comfortable and safe, even if we can’t solve a problem right away. This disease leaves people confused and scared. Developing the skills to deal effectively with confused patients is a lifelong quest for all healthcare professionals. Especially with the aging population in most developed nations. It also takes time, an immeasurable and varying length of time. This is the kind of time that is gotten rid of when there is a need to save money. It seems that people like Anne are part of two disadvantaged groups: the elderly and those with a mental health condition. It still needs repeated stating that memory loss like this is not ‘just part of getting old’. People should be going to their GPs. Once this happens NICE has clear guidance on what should happen next. Yet my experience of the relatives of people with Alzheimer’s is that they feel lost and unable to find help. Here is an excellent example of how good integrated services should work and what can happen when they fail to. Older people rarely have one health problem, rarely need one type of clinician and rarely spend all their time at home or in hospital. They need things ‘joined up’. Healthcare alone is not enough because good social care is essential. Now I don’t think it is particularly controversial to say that health and social care have a terrible relationship. So here we see another problem.

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NURSIN

Left: An Alzheimer’s disease sufferer & doctor © BMJ Below: A portrait of disease discoverer Alois Alzheimer overlaid onto the condition’s characteristic plaques & tangles © neuroportraits.eu

Now it may not be very original to point out the challenges of caring for patients with Alzheimer’s. I hear many healthcare professionals loudly scratching their heads over the problem. But here is the thing: if we struggle how are people with the disease going to cope? What about their families? If you don’t know how the system is supposed to work how are you meant to navigate it? The different services and or-

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ganisational divisions still confuse me. (Someone who works within them fulltime). So that is what I’m trying to say here: it may confuse me but it must baffle and scare those affected by the disease. So I have no solution just a call for a bit of empathy and that we keep thinking about these things so that, slowly, things can improve. *False name used to protect patient’s privacy

NURSING

How to be a Nursing Student

(With Minimal Pain)

Ben Clavey Adult Nursing 3 Year rd

So you have got in! You packed your things up and headed to London to study nursing (apologies to home students). You have a new kettle and are full of ambition. While I can’t give you any good tips on how to deal with the inevitable mouse problem, key to the King’s College experience, I can give a few tips. This said I hope I don’t give the impression that either a) I am the perfect student or b) I listen to this advice myself. Both would be false and borderline laughable. So here goes how to minimise the problems you may face becoming a nurse because it is hard. Not just hard as in there are lots of big books to read and things to remember but hard in ways I couldn’t even picture when I started. (But as we will establish I was an idiot when I started.)

1. Know Your Academic Strengths Right, so to become a nurse you will be required to do a whole bunch of things that require very different skills. You will have to do a few maths tests to check your basic calculations, you will need to pass a practical exam that is where someone peers over you as you try and do clinical skills, you will have to pass an anatomy and 4096 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

physiology exam and write essays on policy and practice. Now don’t get too worried. Seriously, if that sent you into a fit of panic wait… take a moment… now let’s continue. You might not know this yet but a few of those things you are actually going to be pretty good at, congratulations. It’s important to realise the ones you aren’t so good at. Amazon

NURSING

“it’s important to use the time you do get off constructively” and the library are stuffed with books on every subject mentioned above. Look for one that suits you and, when you find it, you have stumbled upon gold dust. This alone may not help; the college offers extra sessions in many common areas of difficulty. If this still doesn’t help, talk to your tutor. If you have already done all the things above they will be more likely to help. The important thing, in my opinion, is to do it early. Brush up on the requirements for each course and know what the assessment looks like. You can avoid the nasty shock and late nights in a library. (Though I recommend the circular reading room on Chancery Lane (below) if you are going to work all night, it’s like Hogwarts.) 2. Know Yourself I will let you know something: the problem you will most likely have in the first twelve months of your course will not be academic. It will be a problem balancing placements, forming new friendships and managing money. I may be wrong if you struggle solely with the academic side of University feel free to write me mean notes

to point out my mistake. It will be nice to get some different post for once. It is not as easy to solve these problems. But seek help and seek help early to stop the whole thing getting out of control. Take time off; speak to friends and all that kind of thing. The things that sound like it won’t help but sometimes do. But most importantly don’t think you suffer alone talk to someone and know when it is time to get help. 3. Do Something Else Nursing is great and will certainly take up a big chunk of time. It’s important to use the time you do get off constructively. Plan to do things on your days of or you will spend the whole day in your pyjamas (Or that could be just me) and not feel refreshed when you return to work. Take advantage of the fact you are in London and at a university with tonnes of clubs. Go to a free museum and wander around or a gallery and peer at art with an intellectual frown. Do Something different - maybe write for a medical school gazette? Just a hint!

Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4444

DENTAL

Little-Known

Wonders The European Dental Studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association

Jessica Maskell BDS4

or the dental student at Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, it is very easy to consider oneself at the beating heart of dental education; that other institutes, their work and research, somehow revolve around us.

We are, of course, repeatedly reminded of our great stature in terms of study, research and innovation. We consistently remain one of the top universities to study dentistry in the UK, where we are currently the largest dental institute and boast an unrivaled Central London location. In addition, our international acclaim is always prominent; we

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Above: Time-out in Turkey, photo courtesy of Simran Chana

have often been heralded as the best dental school in Europe. We might be forgiven for slightly overlooking the importance, or perhaps the existence (!) of our global counterparts and their work. Of course, a British university education is extremely highly coveted, but there are around 900 other dental schools worldwide! The European Dental Students’ Association was founded in Paris in 1988 with the aim of connecting and representing over 65 000 dental students in the European region. Suddenly we feel rather small... In its formative years, the EDSA aimed to harmonize dental studies and to gather and share knowledge, but it faced challenges posed by the political barriers of European communist regimes. Today it has

developed into a non-profit, non-political organisation for 182 dental schools in 26 countries. Its mission: To support and represent dental students within the European Region, acting as their regional association within Europe To encourage and promote exchange programmes within Europe To create a platform for the formulation & exchange of students’ thoughts, proposals & innovations To advance research, dental education, teaching methods and philosophy So what does the EDSA get up to? Are we represented here at Guy’s? Firstly, the EDSA really does get up to a lot. It looks to promote, inquire and describe the standardisation of dental curriculum for us, and twice a year, all of the EDSA delegates meet to discuss curriculum exFreshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4099

DENTAL

change, dental politics, social and domestic affairs. In the luxurious settings of beautiful European city hotels, they brainstorm new projects and improve existing ones that encourage local dental student associations (such as the BDSA) to co-operate on a national level, and those that create possibilities for students to meet each other in person. Every other year, the EDSA International Congress allows students from around Europe to attend and listen to lectures, present their scientific research, exchange ideas and socialise. On top of this, a regular EDSA Magazine is made available to all dental students for free on their website. Hard work goes into making the EDSA possible. Delegates are normal dental students like you or I; they have lectures to attend and quotas to meet, but they make things happen, and their efforts are powerful - visit the EDSA website to follow the incredible impact of their voluntary work in Ladakh, India this summer.

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And yes, we certainly are represented here at Guy’s. Our delegate is now Mr Simran Chana and his Junior Representative is Miss Olivia Johnson King: members of The Dental Society and the BDSA. They also represent Britain for the EDSA, meaning that when each country is allowed a single vote on an EDSA matter at hand, the British one comes straight from GKT. With our feet firmly back under the table, it is now time to spread the EDSA message. Follow the EDSA on Facebook or Twitter, check out their website and magazine, or e-mail Simran and Olivia. This great organisation has been under-appreciated of late at Guy’s and there are fantastic opportunities for students like us to be had! Visit www.edsaweb.org Or e-mail: simran.chana@kcl.ac.uk Has reading about the EDSA widened your horizons? There’s also an IADS: International Association of Dental Students!

ćĊ Ć ĜĆėĉ ėĔĚēĉ čĊėĔ

ĜĆėĉėĔĚēĉĆĕĕǤ ĈĔǤ ĚĐ

A HOSPITAL PROBATIONER 50 YEARS AGO Written circa. 1970, this account is being published as part of a series

t that time there was a rather odd system of paying probationers. Matron’s House they were called. Their parents paid £1 a week for their training and the privileges thus conferred were – they were admitted one year younger (18), they lived in Matron’s house, they were called in the morning with a cup of tea and, with regard to work, they were more likely to get a comprehensive course when moving from ward to ward. They were not so liable as the rest of us were to be summarily shifted from a past where we had just settled down to another where there was a gap through illness. In the 3½, years that I was there I had numerous short spells off duty through illness, and two long spells; each time I lost the job I was doing and went to a different one on my return and also spent an unusual amount of time as an Extra; someone not attached to any ward but sent anywhere as a stop gap. In consequence there were large gaps in my training; I never worked in Theatres, Eyes, Children’s or Out Patients, though I spent three months in the Front Surgery, where I caught scarlet fever and was off for three months. I spent the 4102 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

rest of the time in the general wards, but more medical than surgical and more women’s than men’s. Time off through illness had to be made up so that anyone who was often ill took much longer than three years to complete training. Also if one of the yearly exams was missed it could not be taken again until the following year. All very reasonable, but it contributed to the loss of nurses through giving up. We had to attend lectures on medicine and surgery given by the consultant staff and be examined by them. Failure set you back a year. Venereal disease was never mentioned so that if in the ward Sister warned her young juniors to be particularly careful to wash after attending to No, 20 as he was S.Y., we did not really know what this meant and were not encouraged to ask. We were not given any instruction in the diseases of women, though we were sent as a matter of course to the gynealogical and obstetric wards. The qualified nurses who stayed on for training in midwifery were of course given this, and worked both in the ward and on the district, along with the students doing their midwifery.

Peggy Wales

These lectures were for me a pleasant interlude from the constant rush on the ward – except when one was on night duty, when instead of being woken at 7.30p.m. we were woken at 4.30. If it was your halfday you had to come back in time. The working hours at that time were a 13-hour day with two hours off in the morning or three in the afternoon on alternate days, one half-day a week from 2 till ten pm; one whole day a month. If you remembered to write it up the night before, you could then have breakfast brought to you in bed. If you were on a hard ward and had been off from 10 till 12 noon; the day seemed interminable when you came back to a solid nine hours work only leaving the ward to go to tea in the shortest possible time. When I worked in the Front Surgery, I was interested to find that there were three male porters to cover the twenty four hours in 8-hour shifts. At any time after your first six months you were sent on night duty – 9 pm to 8am with half an hour away from the ward for the midnight meal, which was taken in relays, 12, 12.30 and 1 am. This was a more interesting meal than usual as it was

HISTORY

largely left-overs from nurses’ and sisters’ suppers and there was often a choice. Later in the night we made tea and ate a snack in the ward kitchen, but there was no time for cooking even if there had been anything to cook. There was a head night nurse, usually but not invariably “Strings” (qualified) and a night junior who might be comparatively senior in rank. This was the staff for the smaller, indeed most of the wards. The large double medical wards, forty beds in two divisions with two private rooms had two separate staffs. Night Sister did two rounds a night of all wards and was called in emergency, and the housemen did a night round between 10 and 12, admissions might arrive at any time, which involved calling the houseman who would often arrive with a train of students. The junior’s first job after hearing Sister’s report was to go into the ward kitchen, shut the door to minimise inevitable clatter, and start preparing the breakfasts. Everything except bacon which was cooked at the last minute, and boiled eggs, was got ready between 9 and 11 pm. Scrambled eggs were made by whisking two or three eggs into a pint of milk and putting them into the cool oven where they sat all night and were

Freshers Edition 2012 GKT Gazette 4103

HISTORY

Right: The Chapel at Guy’s

stirred up in the morning and spread on toast. Toast was made with a fork in front of the open rage, buttered and stacked in piles, kept warm on the back of the range. Bread and butter was cut and left in piles, porridge mixed and stirred at intervals during the night – the one thing that was improved by the delay. It was lovely and creamy and very popular. There were of course no packetted cereals, and the drink was tea. Patients supplied their own marmalade, and often had eggs brought by their friends, which would have their name on and how they would like them boiled. But in a large saucepan with perhaps fifteen eggs in it was impossible to guarantee 3½ minutes to Mrs Jones and 4½ minutes to Mrs Smith. Another chore which the junior had to fit in sometime was to wrap all the pieces of coal in newspaper so that they could be put on the fire noiselessly during the night. If during a specially busy night the fire was allowed to die down there were various unlawful means of reviving it. Liquid paraffin intended for human consumption was a great standby, and if the bottle was already half empty, floor polish was an excellent substitute. 4104 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

After the breakfasts were done the junior went and helped in the ward. The head nurse would have taken the ten o’clock temperatures, but many patients were still awake and wanted drinks, bedpans, their backs rubbed, bandages eased, or just a bit of company or conversation. After the houseman’s round, attended by the head nurse, and Night Sister’s round similarly attended, it would be nearly midnight, and if the ward was comparatively quiet the head nurse took the opportunity to go to the first meal. The light had of course long benn lowered except the shaded one on the nurse’s table and ones beside particularly ill patients. Kitchen and sluice lights were left on all night. At first the junior would find it worrying to be left alone for half an hour with about twenty-four patients in a dimly lighted ward, many dangerously ill, some delirious, some dying. If the ward door opened and Sister or the houseman came in it was nurse’s duty to seize one of the two little oil lamps which stood on the desk and go down the ward to escort the visitor. “Never forget to take the lamp with you, Nurse,” one night sister instructed me. “Remember, at night the lamp is your

HISTORY

Left: The Front Quad

only protection.” These lamps, two to each ward, were an unmitigated nuisance to the most junior day nurse on the ward. They had to be trimmed and filled daily and the glass chimney and the brass of the lamp to be always in a high state of polish. I am sure they must long have been replaced by electric torches; they gave a very poor light anyhow. Were they a sentimental reminder of Florence Nightingale? Sometimes the night visitors would be two porters with a stretcher to take away someone who had died during the day. The body was of course behind screens, but the removal took place at night as it was thought less distressing to the other patients – who, however, always knew. When the porters had departed with noisy trolley on the landing to the echoing lift, the junior had to strip the bed, drag the mattress and pillows outside the ward to be taken away and fumigated, and wash the wire mattress with Lysol, our habitual disinfectant. Night duty lasted three months or more, during which we had monthly “Nights Off”; two nights so you could leave when

you came off at 9 and return two full nights and one day later, being back in time to go on duty on the third night. These nights were often awarded erratically so that it was difficult to plan. Theses nights were often awarded erratically so that it was difficult to plan. Once my expectation of being off was altered at the last minute. I always sent home (one hour or so from London Bridge station) and I was so desperately disappointed that I appealed to Home Sister, saying my mother was expecting me and would be very disappointed. How she managed it I don’t know, but though pointing out nursing was a Vocation and we should be prepared to sacrifice anything to our work, she was obviously sympathetic and I was allowed to goStrange things sometimes happened at night. Once in a women’s ward a patient called me from the shadows and asked for a bedpan. When I took it to her she unloosed a string of artificial pearls from her neck and dropped it in. “Thank you Nurse” she said, and turned over and went to sleep. Continued next week

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OBITUARY

John Derek Haworth

Adrian Harold Redfern Rowe Professor of Conservative Dentistry Latterly Dean of the Dental School at Guy’s Richard Bell Johns Emeritus Professor of Restorative Dentistry University of Sheffield

AKA Bloggy

ohn Derek Haworth, known to all his many friends as “Bloggy” died 25 June 2012.

His nickname, the origins of which are shrouded in mystery, was given to him when he was a pupil at Epsom College during WW2. At Epsom he was Head of School and Captain of the First Rugby XV. As was usual at that time he took the PreMedical exam while still at school and entered Guy's Hospital Dental School in Sept 1945. At Guy’s Bloggy relished the practical aspects of the course. Students in those days had to do all their own Laboratory work. This included making complete and partial dentures, gold inlays and crowns of both gold and porcelain, for their own many patients. Each student had to complete a set quota of work, which had to be checked and signed as satisfactory by a member of the staff. Characteristically Bloggy worked very quickly and far exceeded the necessary quota deemed necessary at that time. During the five year course he was

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awarded the very prestigious Newland Pedley Prize in 1949 for extensive restorative treatment for one of his patients. He qualified LDS RCS in 1950 and was appointed as a House Surgeon at Guy’s for three months before starting his National Service in the RAF Dental Branch. On completion of his National Service he set up practice in Burgh Heath near Banstead in Surrey and worked there in the NHS for some years. His practice became so busy that he changed to private practice. In October 1955 he was appointed as a part-time demonstrator in the Conservation Department at Guy's for three sessions a week. Some years later he decided to retire from general practice when he was appointed to a full-time post in the same department. He retired from Guy’s in 1990. Bloggy was an extremely popular and enthusiastic member of staff, always ready to help students and his colleagues be it with their dentistry or their golf swing. Bloggy was a very inventive and expert at DIY, including many modifications he made to his dental equipment. Who can

OBITUARY

Left: Bloggy, courtesy of the authors This obituary will also appear in the BDJ

forget his technique for casting a gold inlay, after he had retired, using half a King Edward potato?

and the Golf Club were at the Memorial Service held on 20th July at St. Nicholas Church, Northbourne Kent.

For many years he was a member of the Guy’s students’ Golf Club and a regular participant at the annual staff/student match, to which he donated a beautiful silver tumbler.

He married Jill Wardener on 14th February 1953, they had two sons and a daughter, Richard, Anne and Jeremy, to all of whom are extended sympathy in their loss. It is also a loss which is shared by several generations of Guy’s dental students, his many professional colleagues and of course the patients who benefitted from his skill as a dentist.

Bloggy was also a member of Banstead Golf Club and the Royal Cinque Ports at Deal. Many of his colleagues from Guy's

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Summer Sports Hangover No worries - Fresher’s week has the perfect tonic - gin (no tonic)!

Daniel-Clement Osei-Bordom MBBS4

wenty-twelve has certainly had all sports enthusiasts liking their lips. With the dramatic end of the premier league season, we were then thrown into EURO Football Championships two weeks later, and then not forgetting the glory of the Olympics and Paralympics. But for a GKT student the glory lies in Sports and societies...but mainly in the sports. GKT has a rich tradition in high-level university sporting achievements, with most sporting clubs competing in the United Hospitals cup which is second oldest cup competition, only second to the FA cup, and this 4108 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

cup is contested between all the 5 medical schools in London. As well as competing in the UH cup, the sports teams also have the opportunity to compete in the London university leagues. Joining a team at university is potentially the greatest thing I ever did (actual second applying to King’s for medicine probably was the first!) The fact remains that being part of a team is about being part of a family, your team mates become the closet thing you have to a family at university and end up being long term friends and part of your lives forever. It’s that unity that you can’t

Below: Honor Oak Sports Ground

SPORTS

get anywhere else and this is more ever so apparent at GKT. As a sportsman myself, there are always issues off the pitch and I’ve had my fair share to say the least. Having the lads at GKTFC always having my back, as well as the friends that I’ve made at GKT made the hard things more manageable to combat- that support system made all the difference. It’s all about being part of a university family and it’s no different to the one you have at home when you join a sports club there’s usually a Dad (President/Captain), Mum (Vice President/Vice captain/treasurer), Brothers or Sisters that you have a love/hate relationship with (Team mates!) and a close relative that gets around (you know what I mean!) and has a bit of drinking problem (Social secs etc). Ask any GKT sports team members what is the best thing about playing for a GKT team or even being part of GKT, the top 5 answers will probably be: Good exercise, comradery, “ginning” freshers, Tour, Guys

Bar/Wednesday nights! The first 2 answers are a given; nowhere else do you train as hard to bring in that all important silverware- with a state of the art sport complex being built for King’s College London at the Honor Oak Park sports ground. GKT takes sport seriously and will push an individual to be the best they can be. Urban dictionary defines comradery as “A special bond within a group that is in no way erotic or homoerotic. It is the feeling when other around you are set to the same goal as you are. This does not need to be a group of friends, but often comradery is a stepping-stone to a great friendship.”...let’s leave that as that! With the last 3 reasons you just have to join a club to find out why, but I will inform you now, your once boring, coursework –filled, monotonous Wednesday evenings are a thing of the past! I leave you freshers with 3 pieces of advice: Know your place! Do what you are told! Last and by no means least if a senior GKT sports team member asks if you like Gin...Say with open arms “I love it!” and then hug them!

SPORTS

An ‘A’ to ‘Z’ of

GKT Sports Ade Oyegoke MBBS4

ere at GKT we have a vast array of sporting opportunities for you to get involved with. Whether you’re a fresher or a final year, there are plenty of sports teams vying for you to join. Here at the Gazette, we’re going to fill you in the sports clubs you may not have heard of and how you can get involved. You can sign up for any of these sports online at KCLSU.org.

A AMERICAN FOOTBALL Trust Americans to turn English rugby into American football; gone are the ‘All Blacks’, in are the ‘Redskins’, but that’s not all that’s different. American Football is a high energy, hard-hitting, full-contact sport, with positions so varied anyone can play. From agile wide receivers to strong linemen (not to be confused with linesmen), no matter who you are, there’s a position just for you on the American football field. Qualified coaches train with the team regularly and there’s a real family feel to the squad – so no matter your level of experience, even if it’s none, you’re more than welcome to join. For more information, be sure to email us at: regentsfootball@hotmail.co.uk. 4110 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

B BOAT The Boat Club is one of the oldest and largest sports teams at GKT, with members ranging from absolute beginners getting into a boat for the first time, to rowers with over a decade of experience, as well as everyone in between. As well as competing in National and European events, some of our most competitive racing is against other London universities and medical schools, culminating in May with the legendary United Hospitals Bumps. GKT have held the top slots in the men’s and women’s divisions for many years, and last year held onto the top spots in 4 out of 5 divisions contested. Other events include the Allom Cup against other University of London colleges, the UH Winter Regatta and the UH Winter Head. For anyone interested in taking up rowing, or for people who have rowed before who would like to pick it up again, it’s still not too late to sign up to our mailing list at www.theboatclub.org.uk. BASKETBALL Forget about Lionel Messi, it’s all about Dwayne Wade. The perfectly-placed freekick, has been replaced with the perfectly

SPORTS

aligned 3-pointer. Basketball is where it’s at and what better way to get involved then playing with KCL Basketball. The club caters for all skill-levels through regular regional competition and social training sessions. Both the men’s and women’s teams currently compete in both BUCS and ULU leagues. Home games are played at the unofficial ‘mecca’ of UK hoops, the Brixton Recreation Centre. No single court in the UK has more history or nostalgia than ‘The Rec’, which has hosted such greats as Michael Jordan and Luol Deng. So, you ready to shoot some hoops? Whether you’re a beginner or an expert there’s a place for you. C CURLING- Ha! You wish! D DARTS- go to many a London pub and you’ll be sure to get a game, true, but KCL also have a darts club! john.seager@kcl.ac.uk Below: KCL Boating Club

E EXTREME SPORTS- snowboarding, mountain biking, take your pick.... F FOOTBALL Everyone has heard about football, you don’t gain a reputation as the most popular sport in the world without having a few fans. And now at GKT, you can boast to your University of London (ULU) counterparts that not only are we home to three of some of the most-renowned hospitals in the world. We also are, officially, the most successful football team in London. Nice. GKT FC has 5 men’s teams and 2 women’s teams that ply their trade across 6 ULU leagues, as well as take part in the United Hospitals (UH) and ULU Cups. There is a lot of football to be played here at GKT, and all skill-levels are welcome. If you’re interested in playing/watching some highquality GKT football, then why not pop down to training on a Monday night at Honor Oak Park – 5.45, or come and watch

SPORTS

Right: Football practice, photo by Shafiq Pradhan Facing Page: KCL Motorsport Club

a game on a Wednesday or a Saturday afternoon. Details of matches, venues and kick-off times can be found on the newly launched www.gktfc.com). Be sure to join us on Facebook (search for ‘GKT Football Club’) and follow us on Twitter: @GKT_FC. G GOLF- need to get back into your “swing”? Join the golf club! sara.petersson@kcl.ac.uk H HOCKEY Puck + Stick + Goal = Hockey – it’s that simple. GKT Hockey Club further simplifies this formula by adding winning to the equation. Giving us: Puck + Stick + Goal + Winning = GKT Hockey (for all you Math4112 GKT Gazette Freshers Edition 2012

ematics boffins out there). GKT Hockey Club caters for all standards; from world class ‘hockey-ers’ , to those whose idea of hockey is watching Happy Gilmore, there’s enough puck to go around. GKT Hockey brags 4 ladies’ teams, 3 men’s sides and a mixed team who compete in BUCS and ULU league and cup competitions, as well as the prestigious UH Cup. Training takes place on Monday nights at Honor Oak Park and matches are on Wednesday afternoons, with some cup games reserved for Sundays. For more information, be sure to visit: kclmshockey.wordpress.com/ I Ironing- ever heard of the sport extreme ironing? Well, we don’t do that here. Sorry.

SPORTS

J JIU JITSU- the ancient and noble martial art. Have fun and learn to kick butt at the same time! info@kingsjitsu.com K Karate- who doesn’t want to be able to learn how to break blocks of wood with a single blow? I know I wouldn’t want to mess with someone who could do that! becsn@hotmail.co.uk L LACROSSE No, Lacrosse isn’t French for ‘the crossing’, neither is it a type of foreign pastry. Lacrosse is a sport, and a fun one at that, it’s easy to pick up, fast paced and surprisingly addictive. Teams of 10 battle it out for goals and glory in a game of power, pace and precision. The Lacrosse Club consists of a mixed side (who ply their trade in the ULU Premier Division) as well as a women’s side (who play in the BUCS 1st Tier league). As ever, all standards are welcome, so come down and experience something a little different.

M MOTORSPORTS If, like me, you have sense, you’ll know that there isn’t really any point of driving in London. Congestion charge, traffic, black cab drivers, all hindrances to a smooth drive and are guaranteed to raise your blood pressure to levels even Bill Clinton would be worried about (he had hypertension). But I love my little Ford KA I hear you cry, never fear, the Motorsport Club is here! The KCL Motorsport Club is a young but fast-growing society for King's students who are interested in cars, driving, motorsport and go-karting (even competing in the British University Karting Championships or BUKC). There are also regular socials to talk about the latest F1 race (or just watch it) and this year, there are plans to visit some automotive factories and museums. The Motorsport Club are looking to expand this year, and with expansion comes bigger rewards for members and more attractive subsidiaries. Join us on Facebook (search for 'KCL Motorsport Club') or e-mail us at motosport.kcl@gmail.com for further details.

SPORTS

MOUNTAINEERING If conventional sports don’t float your boat and heights don’t faze you at all, then mountain climbing might be right up your street or mountain rather. The King's College London Mountaineering Club (KCLMC) is committed to sparking and developing your interest in climbing. Climbing can be an expensive and technical sport and the primary commitment of the club to our members is lowering these financial and technical barriers. The adventurous spirit of climbing in the great outdoors is also encouraged, which for the average London student is an opportunity not to be missed. So, if you think you could do a better job than Sylvester Stallone in Vertigo, why not join KCLMC every Wednesday – 3.00PM for a climb at The Castle in Manor House, North London, N4 2HA. Visit: www.kclmc.org for more details.

N NETBALL Netball; pretty self-explanatory, your main aim is to, in teams of seven, get a ball into a net. But that’s not all, you’ve got the opposite seven trying to stop you, you can’t run with the ball and the net is standing 10-feet in the air (with no backboard). So, if you like a challenge then netball might just be for you, if not, you’re probably more accustomed to extreme knitting (which to my knowledge is not offered here at GKT). GKT Netball Club have FIVE competitive teams, all in the ULU leagues with three competing in BUCS and brag an additional sixth recreational team for those who want to play without the stresses of league fixtures. All in all, the netball contingent is massive and you’re bound to make a friend or two and have you some fun in the process. O Oops! Couldn’t think of a sport to put here!

Below: KCL Mountaineering club

P PIROUTTE- and dance, and frolic, like the graceful dancer we know you are. Or get into some funky street dance. Whatever you like, do it here: www.kcldancesoc.co.uk Q QUIDDITCH- this sport is actually done at certain American universities, and it’s finding it way over here now too. Shameful or incredibly cool? Thank goodness you don’t have to make your mind up now, Quidditch isn’t played here.....yet. R RIFLE CLUB- learn how to shoot without becoming a felon. adam.lakhani@kcl.ac.uk S SWIMMING and Waterpolo- get fit, get strong, get wet: sait.kacar@kcl.ac.uk

T TEN-PIN BOWLING Yes, bowling is a sport, whether you believe it or not and in this sport players attempt to score points by rolling a bowling ball along a flat surface into pins. It’s all quite exciting and at the Ten-Pin Bowling Club, players are invited to channel that excitement socially, with casual bowling scheduled weekly or competitively, in intra-club championships, inter-university matches and national tournaments. And as if that wasn’t enough to get the ball rolling, members are entitled to their very own silk bowling shirt. Result. U ULTIMATE FRISBEE 1968, the year that Manchester United became the first English side to win the European Cup; and more importantly, the year that a few American students took what was then a originally an activity be-

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the country, from humble beginners’ tournaments to the BUCS National Championships. Interested? Practice takes place every Wednesday and Saturday, with indoor training running on Sundays – no dogs allowed though. V VOLLEYBALL Volleyball is a game of speed, tactics and concentration. Speed is of essence as the ball can reach speeds of up to 80mph; tactical prowess is vital as you need to shuffle your team of six around the court to find the best possible combination to win the game and concentration is a must, because let’s face it – focussing on a leather ball for 3 games (playing up to 25 points in each game) is not easy. Get all these right and

Above: KCL Volleyball club Next Page: Zorbing

tween man and man’s best friend and turned into a fully-fledged non-contact sport. Those students set out to create a simple, inexpensive, and low-key sport that requires technical ability and stamina. And so, Ultimate Frisbee (or ‘Ultimate’ as the cool kids call it) has sprouted on campuses across the globe, eventually finding a home here in 2003 and has been growing ever since. Ultimate is a fast paced sport played on a pitch similar to an American Football field. The aim of the game is to score points by catching the disc in the end zone without losing possession from dropped throws, defensive blocks, or interceptions. It requires agility, teamwork and mental creativity to move the disc across the pitch. The team enters numerous tournaments throughout the year and across

NEWS

you could have the making of a top volleyball player, now all you need is short shorts – and that’s where KCL Volleyball come in. KCL Volleyball is made up of three teams; male, female and mixed with all teams playing at a respectable standard. Matches/training are on Wednesdays and Sundays with the men’s and women’s teams competing in their respective BUCS leagues, while the mixed team compete in the ULU Premier League. This season the aim is to secure the League Championship for all three teams, so if you want to fill your trophy cabinet with some gold medals and look good doing it then get involved with KCL Volleyball. W WING CHUN- another completely badass martial art which centres around precision

and balance for defence and attack. anita.li@kcl.ac.uk X X....there aren’t any sports that begin with an X. What do you want from me?! Y YOGA-get flexible, lithe, and limber, all in the conform of your own lycra. Men and women alike are welcome. yogakcl@gmail.com Z ZORBING! Get in a giant see through ball, kind of like a hamster ball for humans, and then roll down a hill! How exciting is that?! Sadly we don’t do that here.

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CREDITS

The GKT Gazette Team Are: Gareth Wilson Frank Acquaah Simon Cleary Daniel-Clement Osei-Bordom Samuel Evbuomwan Sabina Checketts Sabeen Chaudhry Ishaac Awatli Milo Oyesanya Anita Phung Jessica Maskell Thomas Mathen Benjamin Clavey Anthony Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke Christine Bojanic Ade Oyegoke Ellis Onwordi Simran Chana Katie Allen Sabina Checketts Charles West Zara Zeb

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Vol. 126 No. 2578 ISSN 0017-594

GKT Gazette