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SCTS Ionescu Medical Student Travelling Fellowship 2017:
The Oz experience I was awarded the SCTS Ionescu Medical Student Fellowship following the annual meeting in Belfast 2017. This provided me with a unique opportunity to explore Cardiothoracic Surgery, a specialty we are sparsely exposed to within the undergraduate surgical curriculum. Devan Limbachia, Final Year Medical Student, University of Birmingham
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was split into a cardiac team and a thoracic elbourne is the capital city of team, both consisting of multiple consultants, the Australian state of Victoria. registrars, residents and interns. The office Described as the ‘most liveable in which the cardiothoracic team were based city in the world’, I decided to complete my was shared with the respiratory team and 4-week medical school elective here in hope of therefore, as an added bonus, I was able experiencing a different healthcare system to to spend some time with them for the four that of the UK. St Vincent’s Hospital is one of weeks whilst I was there. This was actually five large tertiary hospitals in Melbourne with very beneficial as I was able to appreciate particular strengths in Cardiothoracic, Neuro, the physiological Gastrointestinal, and surgical side of Micro and Plastic thoracics. Surgery. As it is A typical an established day would consist of teaching hospital, a mixture of multiI thought it would disciplinary team be a fantastic (MDT) meetings, opportunity teaching sessions, wardto increase based jobs, clinics and my learning numerous theatre lists. opportunities. Days in the During my hospital were very placement, I was flexible and I was able to work with made to feel extremely the cardiothoracic welcome. I was able surgical team to practice my history Monday-Friday. St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne taking and clinical skills The department
(venepuncture, cannulation, examinations, etc), run parts of a pre-admission clinic (with supervision) and scrub into theatre. My theatre experience was really interesting and I was able to observe and assist in a number of procedures including: VATS lobectomy and metastasectomy, AVR and CABG. This was invaluable as I was able to practice my surgical skills and develop my confidence in dealing with the wider multidisciplinary surgical team. Fortunately, I was also able to join a number of on-call shifts which encompassed myself and an intern managing acute emergencies for cardiothoracics, respiratory and CCU. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive experience and I learnt a great deal whilst actively getting involved. During my elective period, I was able to explore the perceptions towards cardiothoracic surgery. Several studies have hypothesised that negative perceptions have led to a reduction in the number of applicants to specialty training in cardiothoracic surgery, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A relative lack of undergraduate exposure may contribute to this and the use of early intervention, such as medical elective attachments, may
