INTRODUCTUS
Introductus 2017 Table of Contents From the President
by Madeline Temple
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From the Editor …………………………………………………… 5 Membership .…………………………………………………….. 6 Medtors …………………………………………………………….. 8 Interview with a Medtee
with Jax Nguyen
………………… 9
Feature: On Family …………………………………………….. 10 On Newcastle
by Marcus Cherry………………………………..
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Textbook Guide ………..……………………………………….. 16 A JMP Week ………..…………………………………..……….. 20 International Welcome O Camp
from Yara and Li
from Clarence, David and Darshan
…………..………. 23
…………………….. 24
Your Guide to MedSoc ……………………………………….. 26
Introductus 2017 Introductus is a publication of the University of Newcastle Medical Society Inc. It is written for the University of Newcastle’s First Year JMP cohort of the Class of 2021 by members of UNMS Inc. It is designed and edited by UNMS Inc.’s Publications Officer for 2017, Mitchell Wong (BMed III) on behalf of UNMS Inc.’s 2017 Executive and Committee For future sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Sponsorship Officer, Helena Qian, via email: sponsorship@unms.org.au
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President Dear Freshers of 2017!
Hello and welcome to the University of Newcastle JMP-MD Program! We all want to congratulate you on joining us at the best medical school in the country (okay we might be a little bit biased…), and help you to prepare for what are going to be some of the best years of your lives.
Whether you’re fresh from high school, have previously studied at university, or are starting something entirely new, here’s just a couple of tips and tricks to get you started.
Maintain a balance – yes the hardest part is over, you’re in! You’ve completed the UMAT, breezed through the MSA (though you still can’t figure out that puzzle…) and blitzed your academic marks. But med school isn’t just about knowing every word of Gray’s Anatomy (the textbook, though I’m sure we’re all guilty of knowing the TV show a little better). It’s just as much about maintaining that healthy ‘worklife balance’ (cliché alert). We all need a break, and we all struggle with stress, and the best way to keep your wellbeing in check (apart from – shameless plug – engaging with some amazing UNMS community and wellbeing events – plug plug plug), is to get out and do what you love. Study study study away, yes, but go play sports, get involved in Medrevue, visit one of Newcastle’s beautiful beaches or dive head first into advocacy initiatives!
Draw on your peers – most of you probably aren’t from Newcastle. You might have moved away from home for the first time and feel absolutely lost without your family and friends nearby, but that’s the beauty of your med school family. Tiny cohort, tiny (well not too tiny) place, and a million friendships to be made. Crack that final Sontag lecture in a kickass study group (trust me, an awesome option), say hi to a really tired med-surg student and definitely sign up for a peer mentor (older students who have – sort of – been there before, and are a wealth of knowledge and textbooks/notes you can ‘draw inspiration from’ after a Wednesday at the Argyle)
Make the most of it – our big family is ultimately brought together by UNMS. The University of Newcastle Medical Society (or MedSoc) represents the 700+ medical students at the University. In 2017 we have some fantastic events and initiatives lined up, from sports to social, academic and charity and everything in between - there’s something for everyone. But how can you make the most of it, you ask?
o Attend all the events you can - I’m the shameless sucker who fell in love with UNMS at events like O-Camp, First Incision, Specialties Night and more. Just do itttt
o Make it to your lectures - yes, even the 8am ones. Nothing will ever beat learning a topic face to face and being able to ask questions – your lecturers are an excellent resource, and often write exams.
o AMSA – the Australian Medical Students Association are an amazing organization who represent all 20+ thousand medical students across Australia. They do things like advocate for international student internship programs, student mental health and wellbeing, as well as global and rural health platforms. Annual events like Convention (this year in Sydney woop), and GHC which are not to be missed (honestly, life changing)
If I can achieve one thing as UNMS President for 2017, I want to ensure that all of you feel supported, try something new, and get involved in our medical family. I know you’re all going to have an amazing time here, and though the JMP-MD program is just as new to us as well, we’re here with you every step of the way. Don’t hesitate to contact myself, or any of the 2017 Committee and Executive for all your queries and questions – and can’t wait to meet you all!
Best of luck,
Maddie
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Editor To the First Year M.D.’s-to-be,
Once again, congratulations on making it here to Newcastle, (for avoiding Farmidale), for coming out of your arduous odyssey of jumping through a litany of hoops and other assessments, and finally making the choice to commit to studying medicine. I hope that you enjoy your time here with both books and buddies.
My name’s Mitch, I’m now a third year, and I’m responsible for MedSoc’s publications this year (and also MedBall- get hyped!). You’re currently reading Introductus, our first annual magazine that is made just for you- freshers- in the hope that it will help you to become acquainted with Newcastle, the JMP, and our beloved MedSoc. Hopefully it’ll answer questions about the town, about the Medtor program (which you should all sign up to), what MedSoc does, your various textbook questions (with hopefully the best textbook guide out of any Australian medical students’ society). It even includes a mushy, sentimental, honestly quite questionable essay on moving to a new place and growing into your own skin- of course with the help and support of a new ‘family’ of friends. I’ve hoped to streamline Introductus this year, with essential pieces remaining to bring you the information you want and need without inundating you in a situation I remember as frantic, confusing, and what now is a blur of faces and information I should’ve remembered but didn’t. This is also my first big solo publication as an editor (new things for you and I both, hey) and it’s my goal as your publications officer to bring more traditional journalism to our publications whilst fostering Society wide engagement with our publications, not just from Committee members and their portfolio reviews.
If you’re looking for a way to jump in to MedSoc and have a flair for the creative or you love writing or just want to get around it, why not come and say ‘Hi!’and come and join the Publications team.
we’re excited to see you with us. I’m mostly keen to see all the young people who have taken it upon themselves to cram all-nighters and stress to delirium so that they can help others.
But it’s not to be intimidating- you’ll soon learn that the thick French and Ukrainian accents in alarmingly abstruse lectures can be velvety, soothing tones if you listen to them at the right speed on playback. Some of those manic older students really do want to make friends and might even be your Medtors (more to come later in Introductus). PBL is just three small letters and a chance to learn/eat with friends.
Although it might sometimes seem like it, our lives (and soon, your lives), don’t always have to revolve around med school. Whilst looking back, you might refer to 2017-2021 as “Those five years I spent in exile at the Uni of Newcastle while I was in med school”. But it can and will become so much more. Whether you get involved in social sport, join a subcommittee (pubs?), or decide that you and four of your best friends feel like chicken nuggets at 1am the morning before PBL Close- live your life. You’re bound to ~120 other hopeful souls that have been through the same hoops to get to where you are and ultimately want to go the same direction that you’re going. Having an interviewed cohort to make friends from makes finding friends a breeze. From discovering ‘that ligament I tore playing rugby at school’, to understanding the fabulous Facebook meme page ‘Haemolytic Memes for Anaemic Teens’ and the rite of passage that is procuring your own set of scrubs for ER Party, Med’s going to be a blast.
Wishing you all the best for the years ahead and hoping you enjoy Introductus(!),
Mitch
Questions? Contributions? Join in on the next Ductus? Holla at me: publications@unms.org.au
You’ve signed yourself up to join a fraternity (working towards gender equality) of professionals who are on fire with a desire to make the world a better placeand as much as we procrastinate, we believe it, and
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Membership What is MedSoc? The University of Newcastle Medical Society (UNMS) is the peak representative organisation for medical students at the University of Newcastle. The Society (affectionately known as ‘medsoc’ on campus) represents over 700 medical students. Since starting in 1978 the UNMS has grown and matured into a multi-faceted organisation that organises a broad range of services for its members, including: representation, academic events, charity initiatives, welfare support, social events and sporting events.
What does MedSoc do?
http://tinyurl.com/ JMP2017
We take great interest in the welfare of med students through the mentor (a.k.a. Medtor) program and O-camp aimed at easing First years into med.
We also run a number of popular social and academic events. Social events are a way of taking a break from the books with exciting nights out with fellow JMP-ers across the years, while Academic and Education events provide the extra help you need to set through exams and the M.D. course. Some of these events are also for charitable causes!
MedSoc communicates directly with JMP Staff and external bodies on your behalf. and makes sure the JMP knows about issues in the curriculum that should be addressed.
So, should I purchase UNMS membership?
a
YES! Paying members get benefits like discounted (or free) entry to all MedSoc events (like FIRST INCISION AND MEDBALL) and access to Medsoc funding grants for conferences and educational resources among others.
You will be able to sign up and join the UNMS on your first two days of semester. Membership costs $25 for the length of the degree. For any questions contact the UNMS Membership Officers Amy and
Raj at membership@unms.org.au
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Free student membership and insurance with Australia’s leading medical defence organisation (MDO)
Free membership includes: ü Avant Student Indemnity Policy ü Access to medico-legal advice 24/7 in emergencies ü The Avant Learning Centre and member communications
Stephanie Stoddart Avant member
Join the MDO more doctors choose. Find out more: 1800 128 268 avant.org.au IMPORTANT: Professional indemnity insurance products are issued by Avant Insurance Limited, ABN 82 003 707 471, AFSL 238 765. The information provided here is general advice only. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs before deciding to purchase or continuing to hold a policy with us. For full details including the terms, conditions, and exclusions that apply, please read and consider the policy wording and PDS, which is available at avant.org.au or by contacting us on 1800 128 268. 1039 01/17 (0763)
Medtors What’s a Medtor? A medtor is a person from years 2 and 3 who is expertly matched with you via exhaustive personality testing (see: the survey in the link) to be a point of contact as you settle into med school. Run by the lovely Community and Wellbeing Officers, Pratik and Nyan, the Mentor program has been running successfully for years and many Medtors and Medtees have lasting friendships beyond just the first year of med school. We understand that you might have a million questions swimming unanswered around your conscience about Med, Newcastle, stress, or life in general. We want to welcome you into the family! And this is a personal way that we can do that.
Here’s what you can expect out of your friendly medtor:
1.) The Hard Drive The legendary Newcastle med hard drive contains a library of textbooks, past notes and other useful documents (although those notes will be based around the BMed course). I once looked the hard drive and thought: “So much knowledge about humanity’s ultimate goal of survival, is sitting on my desk, right now, in a plastic hard drive”. Get your hands on this!
Some specifics you can ask about are:
• Where are all my classrooms and why is the Hunter building created like this crazy labyrinthine Brutalist prison?
• What do you actually do in PBL and how do I get on my tutor’s good side?
• Which textbooks should I buy and where can I get them from?
• How do I do this whole ‘living away from home’ thing and how did you settle into a new city?
• What’s there to do in Newcastle and where are the best places to eat/hang out/ explore?
• What’s the structure of the JMP and what topics do we cover each year?
• How about after I finish school? I’m just trying to get an idea of what life will be like in the middle-distant future (because I’m a type-A control freak of a medical student).
Medtee sign ups to get a Medtor happen here:
2.) A friendly source of information and guidance Your medtor, having successfully passed at least a year of the JMP, will hopefully be knowledgable and ready to impart nuggets of wisdom about how to get around campus, living out of home (for some of you at least), and most importantly, how to be a medical student. This relationship will ultimately be affected by the amount of effort each of you invest into it, but being able to tap into your medtor’s well of knowhow and life experience can equip you well for the year to come. They are also friendly medical students, who like you, jumped through the UMAT and MSA obstacles- and then were willing to volunteer their time to help you. I promise your medtor will be cordial, approachable and amiable to you taking advantage of their time!
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Medtees I had a chance to ask a few questions of a now Second Year med student and fellow UoN JMP-er, Jax Nguyen, who is also one half (with Grace Liu) of your dynamic Charities Convenor duo. Jax signed up via the survey last year and was allocated a Medtor. She was generous to give her time to be interviewed and these were her thoughts on her year as a fresher at UoN and a First Year in the JMP.
Was your medtor able to help you in any way that wasn’t necessarily about uni? Yeah! He gave me basketball tips and introduced me to the Cool Dog Group on Facebook. [You
How did you first meet your Medtor? I first met him at First Incision where we introduced ourselves and had a nice chat, got a drink, and got to know each other whilst in line for the photobooth. What did you ask about and discuss during your first meet up with your Medtor? We met up over coffee at Mamadukes [on Shortland side of campus- try their special bacon and egg breakfast roll] where he answered all the questions I had accumulated. First we got to know each other through random questions like, “What’s your favourite movie?” and “What’s your secret talent?”. He then answered my questions about textbooks, exams, PBLs and general life stuff. He was really helpful, he wrote down a list of recommended things to do and even drew me up a map when I asked him how to get to NUSA. How often did you catch up with your Medtor? I saw my Medtor pretty often as I was in his basketball team and I was also on the Charities Subcommittee. But we scheduled to catch up for official Medtor things about once each term which was pretty often compared to other people.
should really get around Cool Dog Group if you’re into puppers, doggos and floofs]
What were the most useful things that you learnt from your experience as a Medtee? My Medtor gave me a lot of exam tips and past papers when the exams were approaching. He once stimulated an OSCE with me that helped me so much. He also answered all the exam questions or general questions I had, which was very helpful. Should all First Year students sign up to the Medtor program? Why? Yeah definitely. I feel like having a Medtor helped me get through med a lot better, he was always so willing to help out so I knew I always had a good person to rely on. Also, we became good friends through the year so I am glad I met him through the Medtor program. So, I reckon other first years would appreciate having a Medtor too.
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On Family Last year, one of my favourite bands, a punk-rock trio of three girls from Melbourne named Camp Cope, wrote and recorded a song named Stove Lighter for their rocking, eponymously-titled, debut album. Side note: if you think you could be a fan of a highly emotionally intelligent lyricist, feminist tones in a music industry dominated by males, banging choruses, or just a tuuune and a half, you should go check them out. In Stove Lighter, the lyrics about real life anxieties flow from Georgia Maq’s bold and honest voice. The song centres around the difficulties of growing up and moving on in life, a true commonality for millennials like us. In the fourth verse, Maq, somewhat abstractly, sings her story about getting back on the rails, coping, and how she draws the strength to persevere. “Now I read my text books like The Bible There’s something about truth that makes existence bearable We’re sitting ‘round the kitchen table It kinda feels like family but a little more unstable And we still have to light the stove with a lighter Yeah, we still have to light the stove with a lighter Still have to light the stove with a lighter” She notes the comfortable familiarity of truth and concrete facts that act as a constant in a world of variables; the adoption of a family of friends who
become united through common experience, often through hardship; and acknowledges that there is still more- better- to come. But it’s the fact about grounding oneself in family ties in the face of adverse circumstances that, whether by blood or by consequence, carries the most weight in the context of the album that is the exposed account of one person’s young adulthood. Now you, as a first year cohort, hail from a wide scope of backgrounds, each with an individual experiences, each a compelling life story, and each unique aspirations, but you now share the commonality that you are medical students. And as medical students who come from different places, there are ideas to be gleaned from Camp Cope, just fellow travellers along the journey of “young people in the 21st century”. Join me for a ride? If you’ve moved to Newcastle, whether this is a move to a far bigger city, or if you’re from a major capital and moving somewhere smaller than a population of a million people for the first time, welcome. If you’re young and you’re moving away from family for the first time, welcome. Newcastle is such a unique city that there must always be a change to occur for people who have travelled here to live, study and work. However, the transition is often neither smooth nor well planned. I thought I’d be moving to college at USyd, then instead off to Brisbane before being told that I was going to Newcastle! Being new in a foreign city or foreign country hangs from the rafters as an eternal monument to loneliness in the anxiety hall-offame. Some among you may find their romanticised visions of college life, or living in town with friends and a window that opens onto a bustling main street, or finding a house that permits a periodical wild house party of legend- and if so, power to you. Some of you may find the opposite. Even so, despite the outward appearance of fluttering like a social butterfly, homesickness, loneliness, and anxiety seem not to discriminate. Being away from family and close friends forces changes within us and we, as students of the JMP, are uniquely placed to be each other’s support.
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On Family
It would be difficult to find a university degree with a cohort as insular, close knit, and involved as medicine is at Newcastle. There is no other way into our courses, and there is also no way out into the realms of the general university through general education subjects. We share all the same lectures, endure PBL, neglect (mostly) anatomy and encountering one another becomes unavoidable. We are drawn together as we fight through heinous biochemical flowcharts, by developing the ability to decipher Ukrainian-accent tinged physiological concepts, by Newcastle’s charming culture and by striving to reach the same goal as the person next to us. Through the formative years of an undergraduate degree, all these influences (some greater than others) on us as people define us as a group, and on some level, begin to make us more of a homogenous unit. Falling in with a group might even feel a little bit like family. Family, fam, clan, crew, squad, your group. This is a rare instance where reality can be more perfect and accomodating than romanticised visions of friendship on TV. There’s no need to fill in character tropes (a la Friends or the seminal Millennial show, Girls). Much more like a family as it is known in a traditional sense, there can be an unquestioning acceptance that shares security and support. Granted, this is not your stereotypical family unit, but then again, society has already redefined the notion of family away from a picture perfect traditional nuclear unit. The evolution, having accelerated through the mid 20th century, leaves us now in a time where it is acceptable to draw parental influences from anywhere- and this gives us freedom. Although we might yearn for connections that resemble familiar filial support to ground us in our new setting, we are also afforded choice in regards to whom we surround ourselves with and therefore what influences come to shape us.
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On Family
It then becomes more important to us who grow up out of home, to remain grounded. The number of influences available are confronting- from the laid back beach-y vibe of Newcastle, to the hyperacademic nature of some medical faculty members and students, to the anything-goes of college. The freedom to choose is a real sink or swim issue whereupon our individuality becomes challenged by these competing influences. We each hold a blank canvas on which we paint an account of selfdiscovery; a tale of exploring how, what and why we find interesting things. There is a danger in painting it too broadly with another palette. There are great things to be gained from treating Newcastle as your family and walking your own track whilst you’re here. The city provides a modern and diverse experience and a distinct character to it. Your fellow suffering students will always have time and a sympathetic ear as well as their own unique perspective on life. Being young in a new city is truly a time full of potential and between families, hopefully you’ll have enough to support you through both height and depth.
Have you got any more thoughts or questions or do you aggressive disagree with everything that’s been said here? Start a dialogue! Chat to a friend or email: publications@unms.org.au and we’ll thrash around some points.
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Newcastle Whilst Newcastle has been labelled as a ‘semi-rural hole’ by most Sydney-siders, there are definitely a few places worth hitting up for a look, if maybe only once.
Godfrey Tanner Bar Renown for always having random 30 year olds drinking jugs of beer at 12pm on a Monday, GT Bar is your place to go for a quiet drink or a game of pool. Pros: its close and its cheap, with good trivia and event nights Cons: can be pretty much a wasteland a lot of the time
Bar on the Hill Both is your place for events, and campus parties, as well as a surprising number of good bands. Typically you can find people in here in between lectures having a drink and/or chips and gravy on the notorious beanbags. Pros: full of Hunter-siders who have realised how much better it is than GT Bar Cons: sit on the beanbags at your own risk, these have not been cleaned since the uni opened
night, minus the last shred of dignity you have left, it’s definitely a great club to dance the night away, or wallow in your terrible life decisions in the Bronx room out the back. Pros: some of the cheapest drinks in Newcastle, with $4 drinks on a Wednesday, and raised platforms on the D floor Cons: any concept of personal space evaporates upon entrance, as is any immunity to several communicable diseases
Kingaz Notoriously known for ‘Pingaz at Kingaz™, King St Hotel is your place to be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. More expensive than Argyle, but less likelihood of being assaulted, it is worth it to trawl through the mausoleum of the club, particularly the top floor dance floor. Pros: Maccas is right next-door with the staff occasionally willing to put your fries on your cheeseburger for you. Cons: beware of the bottom level and smoking zone, proceed with caution.
Customs pretty much your go to club for good music, cheap drinks, and a place to both talk with friends and grind up against random strangers to Taylor Swift bangers. Plus with free entry, you are bound to have a good time. Pros: typically full of uni students on any night of the week, a great mix of a party and relaxed atmosphere. Cons: getting too drunk will get you kicked out, and the bouncers remember faces. Also, it is generally frowned upon to burst into the restaurant section looking for vodka raspberries.
Argyle If you are looking for a sweaty, STD filled club with girls in crop tops in the dead of winter, head to the Argyle. Entry is free for students on a Wednesday
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Newcastle Food You are probably thinking that you’ll be surviving off Mi Goreng and NUSAs free sausage and vege patty sandwiches for your years here, but it’s actually relatively easy to find cheap and pretty damn delicious food in Newcastle.
Darby Street The hipsters dream, Darby Street is pretty much the place to go if you are looking for #trendy restaurants and eats in Newcastle. About 20 minutes from campus, it has pretty much every type of cuisine you are looking for, all you have to do is stroll along.
Three Monkeys Have seriously some of the best and most potent smoothies in the land, but saving room for their wedges is a must.
Crust Pizza, Kebab’s, Sushi, and KFC but travelling alone at night is not recommended.
Everywhere Else If you are looking for something slightly off the beaten track, and don’t mind travelling a little while to do it, Merewether Surfhouse offers some killer pizza and gelato on the bottom level, both being cheap as hell. You seriously can’t go past Doughheads Doughnuts on Hunter St either, and if you don’t leave with a four pack of doughnuts, you are only kidding yourself Westfield Kotara’s new rooftop restaurants are definitely worth checking out, but be warned that these may be a little pricey. By Marcus Cherry (from 2016)
The Hotel Delaney If you are looking for hands down the best schnit you could possibly want, head to ‘The Del” on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for $10.90 schnit and chips, you will definitely not regret it.
Goldbergs Pretty much the place to go, open until midnight, and serving some of the best damn cheesecake and chai in town at reasonable prices.
Beaumont Street The ‘other’ eat street in Newcastle, Beaumont St has a long-standing rivalry with Darby for the best eating spot in town. Whether its takeaway Indian from Raj’s Corner (ask for a combination Naan and they will make it fresh from scratch), Thai food at The Grain (with Cold Rock located just downstairs), or dessert for breakfast from Eurobar (or a $10 menu after 5pm) you legit can find nearly anything on the street.
Stockland Jeso Originally with a bit of an ‘interesting’ reputation, Jesmond or Jeso is a short walk or tiny bus ride from campus. If you’re in the mood for somewhere where you can wear your pyjamas and crocs at 8pm, definitely head this way for takeaway places like
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Textbooks Which textbooks should buy? There are so many!
I
Does your vision of being a medical student involve capturing a desk in the library with a sprawling library of thick textbooks filled with incomprehensible chemical equations and visceral anatomical diagrams? Does it involve trawling through various peer reviewed resources from internationally renowned publishers? Well, the faculty do not give any official recommendations for textbooks where we should be finding the information we need to be the next generation of health professionals. Never fear, this short guide that dissects the multitude of offerings will advise you on what categories of texts there are and also what kind of academic standard they are aimed at.
Where should textbooks?
I
Anatomy and Physiology A+P textbooks are the bread and butter of first and second year students looking to get a foundational knowledge of the normal workings of the human body. The two mainstays of this category are Totora’s ‘Principles of Anatomy and Physiology’ and Martini’s ‘Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology’. Just wait until you’re constantly asked the question: “Do you reckon you’re a Tortora person or a Martini person?” (I was a Tortora person). Both are succinct and each person’s preference usually depends on the layout and diagrams. Try before you buy! Other A+P texts to have a look at are: Marieb and Hoehn (perhaps slightly more basic and easy to understand) and some other universities recommend Sherwood’s ‘Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems’ but I’ve personally never seen anybody use it.
buy
There are many ways you can find textbooks to use and buy. To buy: UNSW’s MedSoc Bookshop operates both online at medsocbookshop.com.au and during specific hours on-site at Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital. Join and check UNMS Noticeboard on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 2421880168/) where older students sell secondhand books (at bargain prices!). Online, Book Depository is a massive online bookstore who stocks a wide range of medical texts, with free international shipping. I’ve used them before and it work out swimmingly. Looking at second hand books, Gumtree will sometimes reward trawlers with a golden bargain. If you don’t wan to buy textbooks, many of the books quoted below are available through Access Medicine or ClinicalKey, both found through the university’s library catalogue. Also, the extensive collection in Auchmuty Library’s exclusive (and silent) medical reserve is found on the second floor. There are also many useful online resources to be found (listed below)
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Textbooks Anatomy An anatomically competent Newcastle student?! There’s always a first. Anatomy textbooks are judged by the information found in the texts, and also the quality and helpfulness of their diagrams. For this reason, some people (me included) use both an anatomy textbook and an atlas to better understand and visualise the intricacies of human anatomy. Moore’s Clinically Oriented Anatomy: Moore’s is probably the standard and most commonly used anatomy textbook, and with good reason. The content is helpful and makes the link between the scientific study of anatomy and its clinical and physiological significance. Grey’s Anatomy: Grey’s Anatomy is thirteen seasons in and I haven’t learnt a thing about lower limb vasculature. 0/10 would not recommend. Gray’s Anatomy for Students: Gray’s (the textbook with an ‘a’) is perhaps more useful for people who prefer learning in a ‘visual’ style as it has magnificent diagrams, but is lighter than Moore’s when explaining details in text.
dissections with supplementary diagrams and drawings. Great for visualising what you’ll actually see in your anatomy labs and in practice.
Physiology These standalone Physiology textbooks are undoubtedly more dense and detailed than your regular A&P (Tortora’s and Martini’s). They don’t cover the anatomy aspect, instead focussing in on the internal mechanisms of the body. Guyton and Hall- Textbook of Medical Physiology: Guyton and Hall is a step up from Tortora and Martini in terms of physiological detail (although it skips on the anatomy part of these texts). It provides enough depth to adequately ford you through medical school and is one of the most popular textbooks used at Newcastle. It has a wonderful layout with clear explanations with helpful diagrams for understanding. Boron and Boulpaep’s Medical Physiology: Boron is used at several other medical schools but is not commonly seen at Newcastle. It is as detailed, if not more, than Guyton and Hall but some say it is more difficult to understand due to language and layout.
Last’s Anatomy (9th ed) by R.M.H. McMinn: This is for the aspiring surgeons-tobe. It is the anatomy textbook recommended by the College of Surgeons and is one dense textbook. It does not contain many diagrams but explains in concepts in thorough detail. Use with a dissector and/or Atlas. Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy: An atlas, therefore it doesn’t have the same explanations of anatomy, but does have beautiful colour coordinated diagrams that make studying a treat. Rohen et al.’s Anatomy: A Photographic Atlas: A slightly different take on an anatomical atlas, Rohen’s uses photographs of cadaveric
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Textbooks Histology Histology is the study of slides under a microscope. A lot of the time I find myself trying (struggling) to differentiate between the shades of pink and purple. These texts help with that. Wheater’s Functional Histology: Wheater’s is by far the most commonly used histology textbook and it features great labelled diagrams (which are commonly referenced by lecturers and in labs). Very useful for studying histopathology along with a pathology text. Netter’s Essential Histology: Netter’s features excellent drawn diagrams but is used far less frequently than Wheater’s. It is favoured by UoN’s legendary Ming Yong.
Pharmacology Drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology: By far the most commonly used textbook for the mechanisms and classes of drugs and their uses. The most recent version has been somewhat condensed and contributes to R&D being succinct, informative for understanding many drug-based Learning Targets.
Clinical Medicine These textbooks are the foundation for your clinical practice and contribute to you learning how to be a ‘real doctor’ who can diagnose things (hopefully, one day). Talley and O’Connor’s Clinical Examinations: Commonly referred to as a ‘First Year Bible’, this book is important for learning how to perform clinical examinations and how to identify the physical markers of
disease. Note: Nicholas Talley is a member of faculty at UoN. To pass OSCE’s and impress consultants with your physical examination skills, this is it. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine: This handy little book constitutes all you’ll need to know about diagnosis, management and more on the wards. I’ve spotted doctors on public transport referring to it whilst going over a case. It is wonderfully concise and presented in an easy to read and understand fashion. Dennis et al.’s Mechanisms of Clinical Signs: Like an extension of Talley and O’Connor, this useful book, (beloved by faculty’s Dr Nerida Paterson), reveals how those clinical signs (that you’re now so good at observing) occur and therefore what they mean for the patient and their disease process.
Pathology Pathology teaches the process of getting a disease and how that affects our bodies. Genuinely a favourite of mine. Robbins’ Basic Pathology: A smaller, concise version of ‘Big Robbins’, written by many of the same authors and contains some of the same information. Includes brief notes on management and is useful for PBL if you’re not keen to go into registrar-level depth. Robbins and Cotran’s Pathological Basis of Disease: Yet another textbook recommended by the College of Surgeons, ‘Big Robbins’ provides immense, fascinating detail on pathological process of disease. Really good fun.
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Textbooks Medicine: A textbook that breaks down a disease from its presentation, to pathophysiology, investigations and management. This following present information in similar ways, but in varying levels of detail. Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine: A med-school favourite, Kumar and Clark goes into just enough detail to understand a disease from top to bottom. Great for covering bases for PBL. Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine: I haven’t personally used Davidson’s but sources who swear by it tell me it’s a good alternative to Kumar and Clark. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine: Harrison’s the largest textbook I’ve ever laid eyes on. (It comes in two volumes and mine has a 200 page index). It often goes into ridiculous, consultant-level detail but covers everything about disease from top to toe and even includes chapters on clinical exams and mechanisms of drugs. Stupidly complex.
Online Resources: Check out these sources so you know you’re getting legitimate facts. BMJ Best Practice (British), eTherapeutic Guidelines (Australian- recommended), UpToDate (American), MedScape (American; free sign-up): These databases are the equivalent of a clinical medicine textbook and contain information about diseases from aetiology to diagnosis and treatment in an intuitive way, to varying detail. eTG is especially recommended. (You may need to access some of these through the library database website)
Youtube: Shotgun Histology, Armando Hasudungan, Khan Academy: These youtube channels were literal lifesavers in first year, providing tutorial-like walkthroughs of intimidating concepts. Khan Academy and Armando (actually a medical student studying in NSW) both, with live drawings, explain need-to-know things like basic physiology and pathophysiology in short, simple videos. Cannot recommend these enough.
What should I get? Computer zombie- Just use ClincalKey and Access Medicine through the library’s catalog and the spectrum of online resources available to you. Bare bones- Just enough to get you through first year: • Tortora/Martini (note: detail is great for first year, but is only sufficient for first year and you will likely have to purchase Guyton in the future) • Talley and O’Connor Investor- these texts should last you through all of med school and beyond • Guyton and Hall’s Textbook of Medical Physiology •Talley and O’Connor’s Clinical Examination •Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine •Moore’s Clinically Oriented Anatomy •Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology Bookworm- these texts will lay the foundation for a library of medical knowledge (includes the above) •Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy •Wheater’s Functional Histology • Your pick of the large Clinical Medicine books (i.e. Kumar and Clark/ Davidson’s/Harrison’s) • Stedman’s Medical Dictionary NB: These are the personal recommendations of the author. Considering the financial investment these textbooks represent, I encourage you to go to the Auchmuty library’s medical reserve. Do a few learning targets with a book and get to know it before committing to a purchase.
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A JMP Week What is Med School going to look like on a regular, week-to-week basis? Friends, if you’re straight out of school, I’m afraid you’re not in Kansas anymore. If you’ve come from a regular uni degree with timetables and a constant lecture-tutorial structure for each week for each subject, welcome to the jungle. The JMP’s timetable is notoriously fickle but we’re here to give you a list of reasonable expectations for what you’ll be up against at med school. Note: the new MD program is even more new to the BMed students above you. This is a best guess estimate of the contents of your timetable.
Anatomy and Histology labs These labs are usually held at the shiny and new Medical Science West (MSW) building and are a rare opportunity for medical students to venture out from the Huxley side of campus. Typically going for one hour each, tutors systematically identify anatomical landmarks and clinically significant points of interest. Recommended to do some pre-reading on the topic before going so you can answer those pesky tutor questions.
Fixed Resources Sessions (FRSes)/Lectures What was originally envisioned as a Q&A style forum between students who had already started their PBL and lecturers who are willing to answer questions and clarify concepts. However, they are normally didactic lectures aimed at covering content required for learning targets, and also giving an indication of the depth and breadth of knowledge that is expected of PBL.
PBL
three parts (as you’ll surely learn)- with Open, Middle and Close. Tips for PBL! • Speak up- your group can always use a contribution if you have one, or if you have questions, the group is one of your best resources to help your understanding. • Set the bar high for food- whilst two hours doesn’t seem a terribly long time, all that brain function requires sustenance. Set up a roster and bring good food. Bonus points if it’s fruit/healthy. • Show up on time and ready- PBL only functions if everyone buys into the group. If you encourage everybody to do their research and keep yourselves accountable to one another, PBL can go swimmingly. Or, it can be two hours of people reading chunks of textbooks from their laptop. Boring.
Clinical skills sessions Whether this is placement, or it is preparation for placement, learning clinical skills is one of the most exciting parts of medicine (to some) because it involves patient interaction and you get to play doctor (if only for a little while). Take a look at the faculty’s Sample Class Guide on the next page if you haven’t already seen it before and prepare yourselves to dive in! If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t worry, you’re not alone and it’s very natural. Speaking of natural, I’m sure you’ll be a natural at this in a few week’s time and until then, lecturers, tutors and all your peers understand that getting lost or trying to sort out the ever-shifting timetable is all a part of being in the JMP!
Your Problem Based Learning tutorials are essentially what medicine at Newcastle orbits around. They are the platform on which you are given (small amounts) of direction for the content and detail on which to research for that week. It now operates in
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MD-JMP
2017 Year 1 Sample Week Class Guide DAY
TIME
SESSION
am
Lab - Anatomy and Histology
pm
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Tutorial - Open (2hrs)
am
Lecture/Forum - Professional Development/Patient Centred Forum
pm
Lecture/Tutorial - Population and Community Health
am
Lecture - Medical Science
pm
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Tutorial - Middle (2hrs)
am
Clinical Skills/Orientation to Medicine
pm
Clinical Skills/Orientation to Medicine
am
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Tutorial - Close (2hrs)
pm
Clinical Review Forum
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday*
Placement Experiences
Friday
The above is an example and should be used as a guide only. The timetable for Semester 1 will be provided to students during Week 1. *The cohort is divided in half with students either doing clinical skills or being available for clinical placement each Thursday.
International Our International Representatives, Li and Yara are working hard to be advocates for all our international students so they can receive all possible educational, social, and career support. They put on exclusive events to ensure everybody has a chance to find their place in Newcastle. Hi guys, my name’s Li Xiong Chan and I’m a 3rd year med student from Malaysia. I was pretty intimidated when I moved to Newcastle. It just seemed like such a daunting idea to move to a foreign country by yourself and spend five years trying to get a degree. Understanding the locals was tough. I had to deal with the people here shortening every single word they say. I still remember when I was asked me how my arvo was. There was a very long silence and an awkward question after that. Settling down wasn’t too hard. The people here were super friendly and welcoming, besides the fact that I get constantly asked whether or not dog meat is a delicacy from where I come from. I’m really excited to meet the new batch of 2016. Welcome to a new chapter in your life. You’ll have a great time!
Hey First Years, my name’s Yara. I’m from Egypt and currently in my 3rd year of med. Living in Egypt, it was never a part of my plan to come to Newcastle because let’s face it, it’s halfway across the world, but I’m glad it turned out this way. At first, Newcastle was a weird new land where people walked around barefoot, went to Uni in “thongs” and abbreviated every word possible. Coming from the city, it wasn’t easy living in the quiet suburbs. Having said all that, you get accustomed to it all and before you know it, you easily find yourself part of this mad culture... Med has been a great new experience; a different style of teaching; a diverse blend of people; and an awesome time! It’s not always easy but it’s interesting. First year has been a lot of fun; starting from first incision, where I first got to meet many people, to O-Camp, where a lot of my friendships were made, and many more memorable moments! It’s been a wonderful year and I’m looking forward to the following years. Welcome to Med!
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O-Camp “What about me? It isn’t fair! I wanna go to Ocamp, now I want my share” Shannon Noll #Nollsywasrobbed O CAMP. What does the O stand for? O(h what a muzz)! Get ready to have the time of your lives as you embark on your future career as human veterinarians! You’ll be great and I have full confidence in you that over the next 5 years you will become great doctors even if you don’t have as many letters in your qualification #bmed4days Ocamp is a time when you are able to meet all those great people in your year that you will come to love, like or like sometimes. It is a time when you will be able to be in the company of the strange folk from Armidale that you’ve been curious about since they posted in your Facebook page about how to capture a kangaroo. But most importantly it is a time to muzz! What is muzz you may ask? That shall all be revealed at O CAMP! Or should I say Muzz Camp? (#muzz2017) In your houses, you will do your best to demolish all the competition and get that KO! There will be boating relays as well so prepare your best captain’s hat and “AHOY” voice! Get involved and get crazy, there will be great weather, beaches, food and loads of friendships to be made. It is definitely the place you want to be from the 17th – 19th of March at Port Macquarie! For more details watch your facebook page, with more to follow… GET AMONGST IT Kind Muzz, Clarence, David & Darsh O-Camp Convenors 2017 Introductus-!24
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MedSoc Your Guide to MedSoc Battling through the continuous rapid-fire chatter about MedSoc that you’ve had to endure throughout O-Week and indeed, this magazine, I was wondering how much of it had reached its target? This year, the UNMS Committee is horribly keen to bring you a year full of enlightening and entertaining events.
Guide to Portfolios- Events Academic- Samantha Giang & Tharsini Urutherakumar The academic portfolio looks to give everybody a better understanding about future life as a doctor (i.e. at Specialties Night) and about the later years of the course. Most of their events are heavily subsidised or free and are a great chance to meet network with the guest doctors and presenters.
the Academic portfolio, aims to help all our members through the course via providing OSCE Revision Nights (where you get to practise your practical skills in a mock exam setting) and by organising important and useful resources for the society. Community and Wellbeing- Pratik Raichurkar & Nyan Du Community and Wellbeing involves creating a sense of ‘Med Family’ and taking care of each other, and our own mental health. Through fun activities like Teddy Bears’ Hospital, a community outreach program for primary school aged kids, as well as Blue Week and Medtors, MedSoc looks out for you.
Charity- Jax Nguyen & Grace Liu The Charities portfolio looks to raise money for a local charity, Fair Go For Kids, and does so via innovative means. In previous years, they have cooked up a Bunnings BBQ, organised premiere movie nights, and of course, the yearly episode of Charity Trivia Night at Bar on the Hill. Sport- Melina Sim & Jane Tait UNMS Sports organises competitive and social sports teams to compete in weekly competitions at the Forum (uni gym). They also have opportunities to represent UoN at Interfaculty Sports Day, Med v Law Rugby, and at NSWMSC Sports Day in Sydney. Social- Josh Diamoy and Jack McDonogh “Work hard, play harder”: bringing you First Incision, Halfway Party, ER Party (find some scrubs) and with rumours of a long-awaited pub crawl, these veterans of MedSoc know the ropes and know even better how to throw a great party. Education- Matt Fuge & Neil Broome The Education portfolio, working complementary to
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MedSoc
A Look at Advocacy
Guide to getting involved
AMSA- Josh Darlow Indigenous- Emily Mason International- Yara El Gindy & Li Xiong Chan NSWMSC and AMA- Mahsa Sarrami Year Reps Our platoon of advocates represent the best interests of you, our members, to the faculty, on a broader stage at the Australian Medical Students’ Association councils, and at various other meetings. We have specific year group representatives, as well as looking to the specific needs of Indigenous and International students.
Through this stacked calendar of events, it’s easy to get around MedSoc. Just rocking up to events as often as possible will ensure that you’re hooked in and making the most of med school. These events are where the med community gathers across year groups and is a great opportunity to meet and make friends with older students. You’re also able to join a subcommittee! More details about these will be posted on your year’s Facebook page, but is a great way to meet people in a team, get a look behind the scenes of MedSoc, and get leadership training to take on a portfolio in the future.
Guide to (some) major events O-Camp- Clarence Ratnakumar, David Ngo, Darshan Sitharthan Like you’ve hopefully read and heard, O Camp is prime time for getting to know your year, making friends, and having a good long look at Armidale JMP-ers (because you might not see them again for a few years). You will leave O Camp with memories, friendships, and great material for future banter. Med Revue- Calum De Silva & Caleb Ting Med Revue, is an extravaganza of a stage production featuring a full singing, acting, dancing cast and a live pit orchestra. Hundreds of people from all around the uni flock to see the aggressively multi-talented med students put on a show. MedBall- Isabella Ludbrook & Mitchell Wong MedSoc’s premier social event of the year is class and elegance and tens of thousands of dollars worth of food, drink, and decorations. Get dressed to impress. Blue Week- Community and Wellbeing Blue Week is all about mental health and keeping ourselves above water. Having expanded every year, it brings great chances to relax, enjoy, and have fun!
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