Work Experience Flashcards
How have your work experiences prepared you for a career in medicine?
Throughout my leadership roles in both the J Group and SGUL ABACUS, I’ve gained invaluable experiences and skills that I believe strongly align with the core competencies crucial for medicine
J Group mentorship program initiative was aimed at supporting first-year university students. This role required not just organisational skills, but also required an individualised approach to gain a deep understanding of the diverse challenges faced by new students. I learned the importance of actively listening and empathising with their concerns, I believe this is a key skill as it is akin to the doctor-patient relationship in medicine. Each student had unique needs, and I urged my mentor to avoid a paternalistic approach mirroring the individualized approach required in patient-centred care. Furthermore, mentoring developed my ability to explain complex information in an accessible manner, a skill that is invaluable when communicating with patients and their families as doctors need to tailor their communication, avoiding medical jargon and adapting to the patients’ health literacy levels to support better adherence and better health outcomes.
In both roles, I was responsible for recruiting and supervising teams. From Organising events, coordinating, and delagating tasks, I was able to hone my team management and leadership skills. In medicine, working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team is vital for providing comprehensive patient care. The ability to coordinate with others, respect diverse opinions, and work towards a common goal is directly translatable to a clinical setting as doctors need to ensure that the wider medical team is working efficiently to maintain the highest quality of care for patients.
Furthermore, my experience with ABACUS, a cultural society, where I led and collaborated with a diverse team, was a practical lesson in the importance of cultural sensitivity and interdisciplinary teamwork which can be translated to the healthcare setting. In medicine, working with a range of professionals, from nurses, specialists and importantly, the patients themselves, requires a similar level of collaboration and respect for diverse perspectives and expertise. Leading this society also enhanced my organisational skills, from arranging team meetings to venues for our charity events. This is a key skills for doctors as it directly relates to the management aspects of their duties.
How has your work experience shaped your motivation for medicine?
“During the summer before my third year of undergraduate studies, I proactively sought out and undertook a work experience placement under the guidance of an anaesthetic registrar. This opportunity allowed me to observe first-hand the diverse roles a doctor plays, both in the operating theatre and in clinical settings. It was an enlightening experience that gave me valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of medical practice, especially in the realms of anaesthesiology.
One aspect that profoundly resonated with me was witnessing the registrar’s interactions with patients. Before operations, I observed him engaging in detailed discussions with patients, where he skilfully communicated the intricacies of the procedures and potential complications. His approach was not just clinical but deeply empathetic. He reassured patients by emphasizing the comprehensive care provided by the medical team, actively listened to their concerns, and addressed any questions they had. This process of thorough explanation and reassurance was pivotal in obtaining informed consent, which in turn played a crucial role in maintaining and bolstering the patients’ confidence and trust in the medical process.
Furthermore, the experience highlighted the importance of teamwork and coordination within the wider medical team. During operations, I witnessed the seamless collaboration and efficiency of the multidisciplinary team, led by the anaesthesiologist. This coordination was key to ensuring the delivery of the highest quality care to patients. It was an impressive display of collective expertise and communication, underscoring the critical role of teamwork in successful healthcare outcomes.
This work experience under the anaesthetic registrar was invaluable. It not only provided me with a deeper understanding of the clinical knowledge and judgement required in medicine but also underscored the essential skills of empathy, effective communication, and teamwork. These observations have profoundly influenced my perception of the medical profession and reinforced my aspiration to pursue a career where such dynamic and impactful roles are integral.
What did you find most challenging about your Work Experience?
Situation: During my time as the Founder and Lead Mentor of J Group, a student support initiative I established, I encountered a particularly challenging situation. We had a significant increase in the number of first-year students seeking mentorship, which in additional to the current mentees was beyond our initial capacity
Task: My task was not only to manage and coordinate the existing mentor-mentee pairs effectively but also to expand our capacity to accommodate the growing demand without compromising the quality of support
Action: To address this, I first conducted a needs assessment to understand the specific areas where the student want to engage with the most, achieved via polls and questionnaires. I then organised a recruitment drive to increase our pool of mentors, focusing on those who had specific strengths in the areas of highest demand, from the existing mentees who feel confident and happy, to additional people who are interested in becoming mentor for the current and older years. I also implemented a more structured mentorship program with scheduled check-ins and feedback sessions to ensure the effectiveness of the mentorship. To manage this expanded team and ensure quality, I delegated some responsibilities to experienced mentors, for example, one that aims to look for extra-curricular and volunteering opportunities. Creating a more tiered structure of leadership within the group
Results: As a result of these actions, we successfully integrated 30% more mentees into the program without sacrificing the quality of mentorship. Feedback from students indicated a high level of satisfaction with the program, and our mentors reported feeling more supported and effective in their roles
Reflection: This experience taught me valuable lessons about scalability, delegation, and the importance of responsive leadership. It highlighted that effective problem-solving often requires a multifaceted approach, including reassessing needs, expanding resources, and restructuring systems wherever possible. This insight is something I believe is directly applicable to medicine, where patient needs can vary and resources need to be managed efficiently as well as the management aspect of a doctor’s duty, ensuring that the wider medical team are working efficiently to maintain the highest quality of care for patients
Example of a time when you had to demonstrate empathy
One instance where I demonstrated empathy was during my volunteering work at a local care home, where I interacted with elderly residents, many of whom suffered from loneliness and cognitive impairments like dementia
Situation: During my volunteer work at a local care home, I encountered an elderly resident who was often felt isolated and disconnected due to recently being diagnosed with a progressive illness. She had difficulty recognising even her family members, which caused her a great deal of distress
Task: I wanted to make her feel understood and less isolated. My role as a volunteer was to engage with the residents, providing companionship and support. With this resident, the challenge was to connect with her in a meaningful way.
Action: I began spending more time with her, engaging her in conversations about her life and importantly, listening to her attentively, and validating her feelings about her diagnosis. Even though her stories were often fragmented and repetitive, I made sure to listen actively, showing interest and responding with compassion. I found that music from her youth helped to soothe her, so I would often explore her favourite songs during our sessions. I also worked with the care home staff to organise activities she enjoyed.
Result: Over time, she appeared more relaxed and engaged during our interactions. She started engaging more with others and participating in home activities. Her family told me that these visits were a highlight in her otherwise routine day, and they were grateful for the positive changes they saw in her. It was a clear demonstration of the power of empathy and patience in helping others through difficult times.
Reflection: This experience taught me the immense value of empathy in healthcare and social care. I learned that empathy is not just about understanding someone else’s feelings but also about responding to those feelings in a caring and compassionate way. It is about making a genuine effort to connect with someone, even if their reality is very different from your own. This lesson has stayed with me and guides my approach to patient care, reminding me that at the heart of medicine is the simple act of connecting with another human being. Hence the emphases on patient centred care, we must not only address the patients in the clinical aspect but also, psychological, social, financial aspects, holistically, treating body mind and soul.
