Frankie Sandman – 2013

Cardiff University

I want to thank you all again for the support you have given me these last two years, I have just started year three at Cardiff University and I am really enjoying it. Last year was a whirlwind of lectures, learning about the anatomy of the head and neck and more physiology of the body and then we had a couple of weeks of clinical placements at the end. This year is 90% clinical practice which I am really looking forward to; this is what I came to university to be doing, to be in a hospital working with patients and learning the practical skills to become a doctor.

Although the last two years have been interesting and I fortunately managed to be above average in the year in both of these years, I have had enough of the lecture theatre and I am really enjoying working with patients. I have just finished my third week of placement on a gastrointestinal ward which has been fascinating and rewarding. I have been learning how to examine and take a history from a patient, which has really made all those lectures (sometimes very boring) and learning from the last two years worthwhile and shown me how relevant it is for making a diagnosis. The money you gave me last year I have invested in mainly books, which have been invaluable. The one which has been most helpful being the pocket edition of the oxford handbook of clinical medicine, quite literally the medical student’s bible; one of the essentials for surviving being quizzed by the consultant!

Everyone I have met, my consultant (who knows everything), but especially the junior doctors I am following, have made me stop in amazement, they are so confident with what they do even though they are only three years above me. I just hope that I will one day be as good as them. I am taking each day as a learning opportunity and doing as much as I can to ensure that when I am in their place, I will be as competent as they are and hopefully able to inspire some other third year to try their hardest.

I have applied to become a first responder, which will mean being on call for emergencies in my area and being the first on the scene in order to help patients before the ambulance service picks them up. I think this experience will be extremely beneficial to my learning and I will be starting my training for that soon.

I am still unsure as to which area of medicine I will end up in, but hopefully as I carry on through the years I will start to narrow it down. I am thinking about intercalating in my 4th year, possibly with anatomy and will be making that decision soon.

I just hope that every day from now on is as interesting and exciting as the last and I hope that you find my little piece about my year interesting.

Since she submitted this report Frankie has volunteered as a First Responder.

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