Fresher's Pack 2020

Coronavirus

Firstly, I’d like to address the elephant in the room. As we all know, things are different this year. All our lives have been affected by Covid-19 and we have all had difficulties, whether it be personal losses or feelings of isolation during lockdown. We all had to adjust and readjust, constantly changing our lives because of it but we are not alone and we have endured. You have all gotten into medical school and that is an achievement to be proud of, remember that.

Although this year will not be the same as every other year and I’m sure you’re all wondering how Freshers week will go, I promise we are doing our best to ensure you have a great time at university. We want you to engage with the programme, meet fellow medical students, meet other university students and experience everything Southampton has to offer.

We normally have all the information ready in this pack for the year ahead, but these are not normal times. So, I ask that you understand things will be different and to be patient with us and the faculty as information is constantly changing. Stick with it!

CONTENTS

HOW TO USE THIS PACK 4

MEDSOC 5

FRESHERS CHECK LIST 14

YOUR GUIDE TO FRESHERS! 15

Moving in 15

Freshers’ fortnight top tips 16

MedSoc Families 17

Getting around! 18

Work 22

Things to Do in Southampton 26

Keeping safe 27

Getting the Balance Right 28

Mental Health 29

What to do when something is wrong... 31

Got a late offer? 33

MEDSOC SOCIETIES 34

MEDSOC COMMITTEE TOP TIPS 35

SAVE THE DATES 37

WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO! 38

HOW TO USE THIS PACK

CONGRATULATIONS on getting accepted to Southampton Medical School!

A yearly tradition prepared by the MedSoc Welfare Rep, the Fresher's pack is your go- to guide for surviving first year. We've decided to be environmentally friendly this year and produce an electronic copy only, however feel free to print it out as it is YOURS to keep! A copy will be on the MedSoc website as well for you to dip in and out of throughout the year so fret not!

Within the following pages you’ll find out how to prepare yourself for your first year, meet your 2020/21 MedSoc committee, and get a few tips and tricks for starting this fantastic journey to becoming a doctor.

There’s no such thing as a silly question so if you have any queries before you get here or even once you’ve arrived, post it in the Southampton Medicine Freshers 2020/21 group. Alternatively, full contact details for MedSoc are on the page 41 of this document so don't hesitate to contact us!

There's a lot of info in the depths of this booklet, so put aside some time to have a proper read with a cup of tea and a biscuit!

I'll properly introduce myself a little later on but for now...

MedSoc love from your Welfare Rep Victoria x

MEDSOC Meet Your President – James Woodward

Hey Freshers,

Firstly, I would like to welcome you all to Southampton, Medicine and MedSoc. You have worked extremely hard to get to this point and you should be proud of yourselves. You are extremely lucky to have found your place at the best medical school (and of course Medical Society) in the country. It is a tough journey to this point but now you’re here, and this is when the fun starts.

I’m James and I am your MedSoc president. Now you might not know what MedSoc is so here’s the rundown. MedSoc is your society, taking care of you both inside and outside of Uni. We will be doing everything we can to make sure you have the best year and that it’s something you won’t forget. We will be planning your freshers (and we are planning BIG) as well as all our famous balls and our probably more infamous events... MedSoc have hundreds (perhaps billions???) of things for you to get involved with so get excited. We will be here for you throughout your whole time here at Southampton so make full use of everything we have to offer. My job within MedSoc is to run the MedSoc committee, represent you to the faculty and SUSU and oversee all our sports teams and sub-societies. You will find out more about these last 2 very soon if you haven’t already.

If I had to give a single piece of advice it would be: Join in with everything. Trust me. You might think that you will try; go one step further. Uni is your time to do anything and everything you want, so take full advantage. Yes, you need to focus on uni work blah blah blah. But you need to focus on yourself too, trying new things and meeting new people. In addition to making your life more fun, it will pay you back endlessly when it comes to your studies. So put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to join in with things you might otherwise have never thought of. I know it is all very new and scary but try not to get too caught up in the work, that will come with time, but everything else you have to do for yourself.

Anyways enough from me, I’m sure you have better things to be doing right now so I’ll leave it here. I’m really excited to meet you all but for now enjoy what’s left of summer. Lots of MedSoc love and see you around

MEDSOC COMMITTEE 2020/2021

Vice-President/ Faculty Officer – Calvin De Louche Hi Freshers,

Firstly, a massive congratulations on getting into Southampton Medical School. My name is Calvin, I’m originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands and I’m just about to start my 3rd year of Medicine in Southampton. You’ve all gone through quite a lot and done incredibly well to get here given everything that has gone on in the last few months and I can promise you that these next few years will be some of your best, filled with memories that will last a lifetime!

As the MedSoc Vice-President and Faculty Officer, I split my time between helping out and supporting MedSoc, but also meeting with your year representatives and key staff from the Faculty of Medicine, to discuss important issues and feedback that is often generated by the student body. Your feedback allows me to work collaboratively with the Faculty towards changing and moulding the various programmes, so that they can be adjusted according to what you think works and what doesn’t. I also represent the academic interests of students from all years and programmes to both the Faculty and the University, working to ensure that you feel fully supported to be able to learn and study to the best of your ability.

My advice for first year would just be to throw yourself into absolutely everything you can. By putting yourself out there and stepping out of your comfort zone, you will open up a whole world of really incredible experiences. Nominating yourself to be a year representative is a great way to immerse yourself in life as a medical student. You’ll also gain a great insight into how MedSoc runs, as once you become a year rep, you’ll be invited to join the MedSoc Committee. Comprising around 20 students from all programmes, my team of reps form the vital backbone of the representation structure that we have in place. You’ll represent your entire year group both academically and socially to both MedSoc and the Faculty. It is a great way to meet and socialise a whole bunch of different people. I’ll be on the lookout for some fresh reps from first year soon, so make sure to keep an eye out for more details at the start of Semester 1.

If you do have any questions about life studying Medicine, then please drop me a message (I’m reachable at [email protected] or by any social media),

or even better, come and have a chat if you see me around (Covid permitting of course). I am always here to help, so please do get in touch if you need something.

There’s no guarantee you’ll ever remember to bring your sociological shades or even have a clue about the proximal attachments of the hip flexors, but you’ll almost certainly remember the great time you had in your first year at Medical School. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and I wish you the best of luck for the year ahead. This is undoubtedly the start of a very exciting new chapter in your lives and we as MedSoc can’t wait for you to experience all of things we have planned…

Take care and see you soon, Calvin

Secretary – Hailey Laurayne Welcome to Southampton! Firstly, congratulations on getting this far! The application process is difficult to start with and on top of that, this year has been crazy, to say the least.

My name is Hailey, a 4th year, international student from Barbados and your MedSoc Secretary for this year. This role allows me to be part of mostly all things Medsoc! I’ll be the person behind your weekly bulletins and most of your interaction with Medsoc in general. Feel free to come to me if you need anything (MedSoc or Non- MedSoc related!)

Designs and Promo Rep – Seetal Assi Hi everyone,

My names Seetal, I’m a fourth year medic. Firstly, welcome to Southampton MedSoc!! Here’s a bit of information about MedSoc’s new role!

This year I am the Design and Promo rep, which means that I’ll be promoting our infamous MedSoc events on our social media pages as well as being involved in the overall design of MedSoc.

The social events here at MedSoc, I believe, are a key part of your medical degree. Don’t be afraid to get involved, there will be something for you! Whilst this year may not be as socially diverse as we’d like, the events reps as well as the rest of the committee are working to make sure you guys have the best experience at University!

So stay tuned and hope to hear more about upcoming events!

Enjoy

Treasurer – Sukhmani Cheema Hi everyone,

I’m Sukhmani and I’m your treasurer this year. I’m a second year medic and less than a year ago I too was a fresher just like you! I think the best way to describe med school at Southampton is that it feels like you’re part of a big family. I know uni can feel like a big step, but know that everyone here is so excited to have you join and we are so proud of what you’ve achieved so just know you deserve a massive well done! As for my role, I pretty much sort out all the money in Medsoc to make sure there’s enough cash in the bank so we can bring you all the events to help make your year as fun as possible! So basically to put it simply I’m the monopoly man If you ever have any questions about first year or even wanna have a chat about where to get the best munch in soton, you can always drop me a message and maybe I’ll even treat you to a cheeky cuppa

Events Rep – Ajay Wijeyendram & Ben Moran Hi,

Ajay and I are best mates and have been running amok at Medsoc events for 3 years now. We are your resident big boozers that love goin out. It’s our job to make sure you have loads of great Medics events this year and we won’t disappoint Feel free to message us for any recommendations or if you want help sorting nights out

Balls rep – Anna Datsenko Hi freshers!!

I’m Anna and I’m a BM5 third year and I’m your Ball Rep for the year! We as Medsoc are all so excited to welcome you to Southampton! Back when I was a fresher, Medsoc was amazing at making me feel welcome and helped me settle into life here & I would love to make you feel as at home here as I do now!

Medsoc hosts two balls a year, one during the lead up to Christmas and one after we come back from our Easter break. They’re our most highly attended events of the year & definitely not something you want to miss out on so keep your eyes peeled for when tickets go on sale! As Ball rep, my role is pretty exciting and rewarding because I’m in charge of planning everything about them and luckily for you guys, I’m giving them a little revamp this year! (That’s if good old ‘Rona lets me )

You’re entering such a fun period of your life and the biggest advice I can give to you is to step out of your comfort zone and say yes. One of the best decisions I made in my first year was joining a society - especially a Medsoc sports society. Joining one is a guaranteed way to make a lot of friends and will make your years in Southampton very special. Especially if it’s something new that you’ve never tried before ☺ I know your fresher experience will be quite different to what you may have expected but don’t let that put you down. You will still get to make friends and enjoy yourself, there’s still so much to see and explore in this new place that you’ve moved to so take every opportunity that comes your way.Plus, all of us in Medsoc are already trying our hardest to make sure you get the first year you deserve!

If you see me around, please come over, I’m always very willing to stop and chat about anything you may need! And lastly, even though the workload may feel quite challenging at times remember you’ve worked hard to get here, and definitely deserve a place here. I promise!!

Sending you all lots & lots of love & I’m really looking forward to meet you all!!

Charities Rep – Lydia Alcock Hello New Med Students,

Im Lydia and I’m your charity rep for this year which means I’ll be organising events throughout to raise money for our chosen charities, voted for by the current students. This years charities are Refuge and the Murray Parish Trust. These fantastic charities have made a big impression on Southampton Hospital, where you’ll find yourself throughout a lot (!) of your degree, as well as having a wider reaching effect nationwide. I urge you to take a look into these charities to see the life changing work they have done so far and their plans for the future.

This year you can expect a variety of activities ranging from Raffle Prizes, BBQs, Christmas Carole services in Winchester and shows hosted at the SU. Keep your eye out on the MedSoc bulletin for our announcement of events and put the books down for one night without a guilty conscious because your money will go to a good cause (instead of Jesters)! As always in MedSoc, we are open to new ideas so if you have any suggestions do not hesitate to message me ([email protected])

*can cut this paragraph if you want* I hope the money we raise for Refuge, a domestic abuse charity supporting women and children, will in some way help the tragic news relating to the rise in domestic abuse cases seen throughout Covid. The Murray-Parrish trust was set to advance paediatric Emergency Medicine at Key Trauma centres in the south of England; their next ambition is to fund a intra-operative MRI Suite at Southampton Children’s Hospital which will revolutionise paediatric neurosurgery, modelled on the work in Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool.

I hope you enjoy the start of this new chapter, what a crazy time to enter Med School. It’ll be a great learning experience and a fantastic to recount that you began university in the middle of a pandemic! Best of luck and I hope to meet you soon :)

Sports and Societies Rep – Aysun Ocak Hello Freshers! I’m Aysun, third year BM6 student, and I’ll be your Sports and Societies Rep this year! First of all, HUGE congratulations for making it this far and getting into Medicine. Yes, you are in for a tough few years but I can assure you it will also be the best years!

My role is to be the point of contact between Medsoc and its sub societies, helping societies and representing all medics who play sport.

We have two very exciting Varsities planned each year so if you’re part of any Medsoc sports teams I will see you there!

A very important event I will be planning is the Medsoc Bunfight, this will be during Fresher’s week and here you will be able to find out more of what Medsoc societies have to offer you and how you can get involved. So, make sure you are there!

As Medsoc we have lots of sub-societies ranging from academic, charitable & sports club- so I’m sure there’s something to interest you all. Any questions or problems, society related or not, do not hesitate to contact me.

My top tips for uni would be to get involved, try something new, meet new people and just have fun!

Excited to meet you all xx

Education Lead – Abdi Malik Hey Freshers!

I’m Abdi, a fourth-year BM6 student and also your Education Lead for this academic year. Firstly, a big congratulations on getting into medicine - these will be some of the best years of your life!

My role is to coordinate the many educational subcommittees we have here at Southampton. There are many academic societies which cover all aspects of medicine. These societies run awesome events throughout the year, giving you an insight into these specialist careers and holding revision sessions to help you prepare for exams. You will have a chance to learn more about the societies and how to sign up during the MedSoc bunfight. Another

aspect of my role is running the MedSoc Education Facebook page where we will share all of the events being hosted by our wonderful societies as well as external opportunities related to medicine and careers. You can join this by searching it on Facebook or by following the link I’ll share in the first issue of the MedSoc bulletin which you will receive in a few weeks. Our Dropbox is also a nice resource to get started with revision notes some of the older years have shared – feel free to add along the way to return the favour and help others.

We are here to make your transition into medical school as smooth as possible, so if you have any issues or questions please get in touch. Otherwise, I hope you all have a great year and I’m looking forward to meeting you all. If you have any questions do get in touch.

Welfare Rep – Victoria Wong Hey everyone!

Lastly from this year’s Medsoc committee is the creator of this Fresher’s pack- your Welfare Rep! My name is Victoria, I’m going into my 3rd year of BM5, and I’m super excited to have you all join us! To help you guys out, I’ve included top tips and key contacts in this booklet for you guys to find your feet in your first few weeks and months at Southampton. Sadly, we weren’t able to print it out for you but this electronic copy will be immortalised on the MEDSOC website as a reminder that you saved a bunch of trees.

Before anything else, I would like to start off by saying a massive CONGRATULATIONS to every single one of you!! Now that you’ve made it, all of us on committee are beyond excited to see you blossom into confident young doctors-to-be. So much so that we have created a whole TWO pages of top tips on page 33 to help you thrive on your first year!

But there are inevitable challenges which come with Medicine: more lecture/contact hours than your typical student, dealing with life and death situations on the wards, and feeling like the learning will never end. But that’s where my role comes in. I work both independently and also with the faculty’s pastoral team to support you with whatever difficulties you may be facing during your time with us. And how do I do this?

Firstly, the MEDSOC families are a tradition at Southampton which has stood the test of time. I’ve personally matched you all up so try your best to get to know each other well!

A source of wisdom and advice, my medic mums were always there for me when I needed them. More details can be found on page 16 for when you can meet your eager parents! Secondly, we have a ‘How Do I...?’ guide which aims to answer any question regarding wellbeing, welfare, and special considerations. Finally, always feel free to contact me directly on [email protected], pop into the Medsoc office or a drop-in session, or slide into my DMs on the Medsoc Welfare Instagram @medsocwelfare. My job is to do my best to ensure your time here is as fruitful and as enjoyable as possible.

So go forth and immerse yourself in the following pages of sage advice and don’t hesitate to contact us using the info on page 41 with any questions you may have! Enjoy the rest of your summer, all the best with moving in, and see you in September! xx

FRESHERS CHECK LIST

Here’s a list to help you keep track of the numerous forms and other things that you need to complete before September: ❏ Enrol online at www.southampton.ac.uk/areyouready ❏ Follow the instructions received from the Student Office about completing the Enhance Disclosure and Barring Service check ❏ Pay for DBS expenses online ❏ Complete your immunisation form – remember to bring it with you ❏ Pay for travel expenses online* ❏ Buy a lab coat (you will need this for anatomy)* ❏ Join the Southampton MedSoc Freshers 2020/2021 Facebook group. This is where all the info for upcoming events and general info relevant to your year will be posted so joining this is a must if you want to be in the know! ❏ Sign up for the MedSoc bulletin ❏ Make contact with your MedSoc parents and sign up for the BBQ

BM4 and BM6 – here are some additional facebook groups you can join for information relevant to your course - BM4: Official Southampton MedSoc BM4 2020/2021 - BM6: Official Southampton MedSoc BM6 Freshers 2020/2021

* You don’t need to do this if you’re a BM6 student ** Returning BM6 students don’t need to do this

YOUR GUIDE TO FRESHERS!

Moving in What you need: - Food: Try and have a few easy meals ready for your first few days so you can concentrate on having fun and meeting new people. - A few home comforts: Your new room walls might seem a bit bare and unhomely when you first move in, so if you want to liven it up a bit: bring photos, posters, etc. - Printer: not essential but saves on printing costs in the library, especially if you want to print lecture slides out. - A lab coat: You will need this for the anatomy lab. If you don’t already have one you can purchase them at the freshers’ fair. The lab staff will also lend you one for the first two weeks to give you time to purchase one.

What you don’t need: - Toasters/kettles: These aren’t provided in halls but there is no point in everyone turning up with a brand new kettle each. Unless you have a spare one at home hanging around, it's best to sort this out and get one with your flatmates once you arrive. - Textbooks: Although a list of recommended textbooks is sent out, PLEASE don’t go out and buy them before you start. There are two libraries full of books you can borrow, so it might be worth trying a few out before investing in any. There’s also the MedSoc ‘bring and buy’ sale for books in the first term so watch out for that. - Fancy medical equipment: You won’t be expected to use a stethoscope until the second half of first year so there is no rush to purchase one (and even then there are spares or you can share!). Discount vouchers for Littmann® stethoscopes will be available from external organisations in induction week.

Freshers’ fortnight top tips Get a door wedge: It’s a great way of getting involved in what’s going on in halls, people will be much more likely to come and talk to you in your room if your door is open so it’s a fab way of making friends. Don’t burn out: Medics often have lectures that start before freshers’ fortnight fun has ended so you don’t have the luxury of sleeping off the night before during the day. Don’t feel that you have to go out every single night as you’ll just wear yourself out. Go to the introductory lectures: Dull as they sound, lectures such as the fire safety and library lecture are registered. Best to get them out of the way otherwise you’ll be asked to do it later. During your first few days to take some time to wander around the university/hospital to get your bearings. We will also come and say Hi in your induction lectures so keep an eye out! Get involved: Societies are a fantastic way to meet new people so get yourself down to the Medsoc bunfight on Highfield campus on the 24th of September and sign up to whatever you like from the vast range available to you! Most will have free taster sessions before you commit yourself to a membership to a team. It’s important not to spread yourself too thinly but you can always try a few societies to see which ones you enjoy the most.

MedSoc Families An exciting feature of life at Southampton Med school, the MedSoc families are an amazing way to get top tips for success at uni. I have assigned you with your very own MedSoc family, with which you should get in contact using the information we send. Please make contact with your families as soon as you can as they will be a massive help throughout your first year!

Your ‘parents’ are older medics who have volunteered to help you settle in and you’ll also have siblings who are fellow freshers. Some of you may have an extended family with grandparents, brothers, and sisters in older years too. Your parents will be full of medical school wisdom- they may even give you a helping hand by checking over your essays if you’re lucky!

Getting around! For many of you, this will be your first experience of living away from home and in a new city, which can be daunting. In first year, your lectures will be based at Southampton General Hospital (affectionately called SGH), in the South Academic Block, or they will be on Highfield Campus (the main University campus). Most of you will be living in halls, the majority of which will be split between Glen Eyre, Wessex Lane and Mayflower, three of the largest Southampton University halls.

Bus The UniLink bus service has a great service to many locations around Southampton, with Highfield campus as its main hub (Highfield Interchange), and supplying all halls. Highly accessible, they have an app with live bus times and their office is on Highfield campus. But be warned: the buses can get very busy in the mornings with everyone heading to lectures at the same time, so it may be worth getting a slightly earlier one.

Walking and Cycling Most places are within half an hour walk on a nice day and many students cycle, especially to the hospital. PLEASE WEAR A HELMET WHEN CYCLING – Dale Road leading to SGH is steep with many cars driving through it, and we like our medics without head injuries.

Getting to... Highfield Campus Lectures are usually in the Nightingale Building (indicated by yellow star) - From Glen Eyre • Walk – Glen Eyre Road, cross by the Shell garage and enter campus ~14 mins • Bus – U2C at the top of Glen Eyre Road gets you to the Highfield interchange if you’re feeling REALLY lazy (and U2B will get you home) ~3 mins • Cycle ~10 mins - From Wessex Lane • Walk – turn right outside of Wessex Lane main entrance, walk along Langhorn Road until you get to Burgess road, turn left and keep walking until you reach Highfield campus ~20 mins • Bus – U1C from the bus stop opposite Wessex Lane main entrance, get off at Highfield interchange ~7 mins • Cycle ~10mins - From Mayflower • Walk ~46mins • Bus - U2B to Highfield interchange ~25 mins • Cycle ~14mins Southampton General Hospital (SGH) – lectures are in South Academic Block (SAB, yellow star). As you enter the front entrance of SGH, turn right at the M&S cafe, then left after the lifts and go to the end of the corridor. - From Glen Eyre • Walk ~ 40mins • Bus – U6H from the bottom of Glen Eyre Road, or campus (allow 40mins to get to the hospital for a 9am – traffic is busy!) • Cycle ~15mins – see map below! - From Wessex Lane • Walk ~ 1 hour • Bus – U6H from Langhorn Road (or U1C to campus and switch to U6H) • Cycle ~20 mins - From Mayflower • Walk ~47mins • Bus – Bluestar 17 • Cycle ~15mins

Top tips for lectures at SGH - You do not need to dress smart or wear your ‘medical student’ badge when just attending lectures – but you will for MiP (see page 15) - Lecture theatres (LT) 1 and 2 are on the 2nd floor (but if you arrive late, pop up to the 3rd floor and take the back entrance to show respect to/ minimise embarrassment from lecturers) - Bring a jumper to LT1/2 – they can be very chilly! - Cyclists, invest in a good bike lock. Unfortunately, many a bike has been stolen from SGH bike sheds. Those few extra pounds could make a big difference! - Remember you’re at a hospital so no talking about patients in public places whether this is in Subway, Costa or on the bus! - Changes due to Covid19: o You can only enter from the South Academic Block (SAB)

Facilities at SGH - MedSoc Office o There is usually someone from MedSoc committee in the office at lunchtime (12-2) o Any questions, comments, concerns or if you just want a chat pop by and we’ll always be happy to help! o This is the place to pick up ball tickets, MedSoc jumpers, and we have textbooks you can buy - Health Services Library o Located on level A of the SAB, opposite the MedSoc Office o The library is open from 8am-6pm daily, so feel free to do your work in here inbetween lectures (although in the first few weeks I’d advise spending your lunchtimes getting to know your coursemates rather than in the library!) o The staff are super lovely and can help you with finding books, referencing, and any other academic queries o Changes due to Covid19: ▪ The library is not yet open for browsing books or study space ▪ There is a Click and Collect service where you will be able to request books available using the Place Hold option in WebCat ▪ You will be contacted by email when your book(s) are ready and you can collect them, contact free between 11am and 3pm Tuesday-Thursday ▪ You will need to bring your University ID card and wear a face covering when you are in the hospital - The Common Room o We have our very own medical students’ common room where you can chill, eat/heat up your lunches, study, chat with friends etc o This is also located on the ground floor of the SAB o We will give you the common room door code at the start of the year

- Toilets in SAB o Level A- corridor opposite the library leading to the common room o Level B- on either side of the lecture theatre foyer and in CLAS corridor o Level C- along pathology corridor leading to SAB from main hospital - Drinks and Food o AMT coffee in Coffee Lounge on level A sells food and hot/cold drinks, also give free hot water if you need to fill a reusable cup o Water fountain to refill bottles next to AMT stand o Changes due to Covid19: ▪ When in the SAB, you will not be able to buy food and drinks from the main part of the hospital - Lockers o If you like, you can keep your things in the lockers on level B, just pick up a locker token from the MedSoc office

Work Here at Southampton, there are multiple different courses studying with slightly different course structures. The standard 5-year course is called BM5. Similar to BM5 we have the BMEU course. Students on this course are from Germany and study alongside BM5, in Southampton, for the first two years, however after second year they relocate to Kassell, Germany, where they have the same examinations as sat in Southampton but do their placements in a German hospital setting. BM6 is the same as the BM5 course, with an additional foundation year. BM4 is the 4-year accelerated graduate entry course. The first two years of BM4 is entirely separate until the end of year two. Following this, BM5, BM6 year 4 and BM4 year 3 join together and the last two years of placement are integrated. See the relevant information for what to expect work-wise from the first-year of your course below, from people who have studied on your specific course. More information will be provided in the first week of lectures, and you will find out about 2nd year – final year as you progress through the years!

BM5/ BMEU Lectures: In the first two years it is mainly lecture-based teaching, some days you will be based on Highfield Campus and other days at SGH. At school you were in lessons 9-4 every day, and it’s easy to say that the 9-5 lectures will be just as easy, but there is a lot of content thrown at you in these lectures and it can be exhausting! Despite this, make the effort to go to lectures. Most lecturers will put their lecture slides on Blackboard, so it can be tempting to skip lectures and just read them at a later date. However, lecturers often add things to aid your understanding that aren’t on the slides, so you’ll be thankful you went when it comes to revision time as it makes learning that little bit easier. Lectures are subject to random registration. If you take an hour a day to go over key concepts, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress when it comes to revision period. Last-minute anything, especially revision, doesn’t always go as hoped for. Everyone will learn what works best for them in terms of deadlines, revision and exams, just try to stay on top of the workload. Changes due to Covid19: Lectures will be online for the time being through recorded Panopto recordings on Blackboard or using Blackboard collaborate. Essays: You’ll be given your first essay pretty soon after you have started. Firstly, don’t panic, it is formative, and there is plenty of help at hand. Plus, you’re a first year student, not a leading academic. - Start research early, reading journals takes a while! It’s okay to use Wikipedia to look up a quick definition, but never reference it

- Reference, Reference, Reference: This again takes quite a long time to do until you’ve gotten used to it! It’s a good idea to use a reference manager software program such as EndNote – it makes life so much easier when it comes to referencing. Library services will provide you with information on how to get this. - Plagiarism! Make sure you don’t copy anything word for word, unless you’re quoting it. All submissions throughout medical school and beyond are scanned by plagiarism software to check for breaches of academic integrity. - If you’re really stuck ask for help! MedSoc family members or other older students are very useful resources. Tutorials and Practicals: These really are worth going to, you tend to learn a lot more in a shorter space of time with smaller group teaching. These are all registered so if you can’t make it send the tutor(s) an email explaining why. Changes due to Covid19: This will be some of the face to face teaching you will get through rotations of various tutorials and some anatomy teaching. Medicine In Practice (MIP): In first year, MIP involves spending an afternoon at a General Practice (GP) surgery every other week to practice basic history taking skills on real patients. It’s a lovely change from lectures and a taste of the real deal. MIP sessions are registered because it is very important you attend, if you miss too many MIP sessions then you have to do remedial work in the summer which isn’t so fun. Student Selected Unit (SSU): Your weekly timetable will include 2-3 hours of SSU which is a module that you can choose. In the first term, you will be divided into groups and asked to create an intervention plan for a particular area of medicine. Then at the end of the term you will present your intervention in a poster presentation with your group. In second semester, there is another SSU but this is more varied as it’s medical humanities therefore you get to explore more creative routes of expressing medical knowledge. Then at the end of the term you present an authentic piece/song/poem/product/creation to your group.

BM6 Year 0 BM6 year 0 is a class of approximately 30 students and you only have three days of lectures a week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Students can also have placements fortnightly on Wednesday (9am-1pm) when there aren’t any lectures that day or on a Monday. This means you have a lot of free time to yourself, use it wisely. Put yourself out there and experience stuff, you can learn a lot from the BM6 year. You may feel that as a BM6, you do naturally interact with the BM5 freshers as lectures are separate so come to Medsoc events and join societies! It is genuinely the best way to get to know each other and have a great time. This will also be a good opportunity to make friends in the older years, as they can always send you helpful resources. Make sure you work hard and play hard, because you deserve it.

When you are assigned your placement areas, you are given the doctor’s name and email address. It will be quite good if you could email them saying that you are a BM6 medical students and to kindly let them know that you will be arriving, and they can be expecting you. Make sure you go to placement and you get your placement card signed. You should make sure that you have your medical student badge on you at placements and wear professional clothes. The BM6 foundation year is a good opportunity to fine tune your learning style for future years. The good thing is that all lectures are printed out for you, and that is great. Turn up to all lectures! Very important. The best thing about being in a small class is that you can ask questions to the lecturer about stuff you are not sure about. Make sure that you go over the lecture again after, this can be done on the weekend. So, Sundays are usually days that no one is going out, everyone is at home so instead of wasting time make sure you use it to get revision done. Just to know the content well so that when you are studying for your exam, you’re not learning it for the first time. Another useful way of studying is by using textbook from the library. Note that there will be books in the main library on campus and one in the hospital, so if you ever need one and cannot find it then do make sure to check both. A lot of BM6’s advice is to read the Marieb book alongside the lectures, just in case you do not understand some parts. This year will be a good way for you to learn how to study for year 1 and so on, as well as find what makes you comfortable. So go out there and explore everything medicine and university has to offer. Make sure you help each other because BM6 is also a family, if you ever need help don’t feel shy to ask, people are always there to help.

BM4 A typical BM4 week will cover one clinical topic, such as acute kidney injury, anaemia, or myocardial infarctions. On Monday mornings you always start your day at Highfield campus with your graduate group (of roughly 8 people) that you stay with for a semester. During these sessions you’ll be given a number of patient’s studies to go through that give you a flavour of the week to come. You’ll also divide that week’s learning objectives, which you’ll be expected to cover between you. I’ll come back to why on Friday. After grad group you’ll then have lectures at Highfield campus that usually focus on the science of that week. Tuesday morning is going to be your earliest start of the week but most people find it their favourite day of the week. Over at Winchester hospital the fantastic clinical teachers there teach you who run a number of insightful clinical lectures and skills session in the morning. In the afternoon half the year stays on at Winchester and will get further clinical skill or ward based teaching. The other half will get the afternoon off as they come back to Winchester on Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday morning is spent at the Southampton General Hospital (SGH) with further lectures. Then those who don’t return to Winchester have the afternoon off, a good time to join any of MedSoc’s sports or societies.

Thursday mornings start over at SGH with anatomy session, using prosections (already dissected specimens) to expand your knowledge of the week’s topics. In the afternoon half the year again get the afternoon off, usually spent by students preparing their leaning objectives for Fridays graduate groups. The other get free taxis to their GP teaching and get a chance to implement the knowledge and skills learnt during the week on expert patients. Worth mentioning that the two halves of the year rotate weekly - so one week you’ll have full day at Winchester and GP teaching the next week you’ll split Winchester teaching over two days and not have GP Friday morning is grad group again, however this time you present the learning objectives you divided between you on Monday. This isn’t forcing you to try to present an 8min lecture on one of the week’s lectures but is a chance to be a bit more creative. Might be that you facilitate a discussion on an ethical topic or go through areas you may have found needed more explanation. Friday afternoon is a more relaxed informal plenary were an expert clinician is invited. This isn’t another lecture but a Q&A to answer any questions that may not have been answered in the morning’s graduate groups.

The best advice for first year in any of the courses is to get involved with clubs and societies and meet as many people as you can! The next 4/5/6 years of your life will be spent in Southampton and the people around you can and will make it memorable. Try to stay on top of your work and learn which way is best for you to study! Students in the years above will always be happy to provide you with advice for exams – we have all been there and know how it feels!

Things to Do in Southampton Nights Out In freshers’ fortnight the University offers some great nights out, but here’s some info for when that’s all died down. Jesters aka ‘The Palace of Dreams’, once ranked as Britain’s worst night club, is loved by medics and you’ll soon learn why. It’s cheap, it’s messy, and it’s always full of medics. Warning: set aside a pair of shoes as your ‘Jesters shoes’ as they’ll likely get wrecked (ladies – definitely no heels). Bedford Place: A hub of clubs to choose from if you fancy dressing up a bit: Buddha Lounge, Revolution, Orange Rooms, 90 degrees, TOKYO BAR, Popworld... I could go on! Club nights: Monday night? Jesters. Tuesday night? Sobar. Wednesday night? Oceana. Thursday night? Café Parfait. Friday night? Switch. Saturday night? Jesters.

Surrounding Cities Southampton has loads to offer, including restaurants, cinemas (including the Union Films at the Students’ Union), theatres, museums, art galleries, and green spaces! Plus lovely historical cities, such as Winchester and Salisbury, and beach cities, such as Brighton and Bournemouth, are only a short train journey away. Also, the beautiful New Forest National Park is in easy reach and the Isle of Wight is a short ferry ride away!

MedSoc Events MedSoc run some fab events during freshers weeks and throughout the year! Check out page 35 for dates to put in your diary!

SUSU Events From a Fresher’s to a Xmas ball, and regular events in the SUSU building on campus, be sure to keep up with the student union’s news!

Keeping safe Don’t walk home alone. If you’re walking home make sure you go in a group! Get a taxi: Make sure you have a hidden stash of money for a taxi so you don’t get caught out. The clubs aren’t far away from any of the student accommodation so taxi fares are reasonable. MEDSOC will always arrange taxi deals for our big events. Don’t take short cuts: There are a few alleyways around campus and Portswood- these are best avoided, especially at night. Crossing The Common in the dark is definitely not recommended! Use the safety bus: Run by SUSU, for as little as £1.50, it will take you directly to your door from Highfield campus any night during term time. If you don’t have any cash, you can deposit your Student ID and pay when you pick it up from SUSU the next day. Safety in halls: If someone in your halls is making you feel uncomfortable seek help; there are many people you can call. You are entitled to feel safe where you are living. See MEDSOC yellow pages for contacts.

Getting the Balance Right At university, the style, pace, and settings of teaching differ from college/sixth form so the first couple of weeks will be an adjustment for you. Being surrounded by 200+ people who are just as smart as you is also a change to get used to. But remember, everyone is in the same boat! You might feel the need to compete with your peers and you may revaluate your academic standards - but take into account that achieving 80- 90%s in Med School is very difficult and most of us average around 65%, which might not be what you’re used to. This doesn’t mean you’re failing (or that most of us are failing…) this just means we’re in Med School. You are not expected to know everything. All medical schools have their own curriculums and beyond all those curriculums there’s a lot more medical knowledge available, it’s a process of lifelong learning. And that’s okay. So when met with disappointment, remember that you are good enough to have made it in medical school and you will rise above whatever has put you down. However, know that everyone is unique so focus on yourself and find your feet at your own pace. Most of your peers haven’t figured it all out either, even if they claim to have done so. So if it gets overwhelming, which is not uncommon, do not suffer in silence! Check out pages 29-30 for advice on who to talk to. Do not try and equate your work ethic/hours to fellow university students doing other courses. You’ll find you have many more lectures (some days you have more contact hours per day than they do per week!) and especially during revision period you will have to work harder. You won’t have as much free time as they do. Medical school is … not easy. Yes, you’re studying on a course to get a degree. But unlike other degrees at university, medicine grants you the privilege of having the lives of patients in your hands.. You’re not here to ‘just’ pass exams. You’re a doctor-in-training who needs time to develop their confidence and skills. Allow yourself that time. Before you can expect to be able to take care of others you must take care of yourself. Don’t get sucked into the stereotype of the overly stressed medical student who neglects themselves, it’s not a competition on who is doing the worst. Physical needs such as a healthy sleep schedule, regular exercise, eating and drinking well, and being very careful with drugs (especially alcohol) are obvious but often overlooked factors. Social needs are just as important to allow your studies to be and stay productive so there’s always time for it. Spending time with friends: going out to dinner, taking a trip to the New Forest, watching a movie, attending a MedSoc event (eyy) are vital for your wellbeing. Your emotional needs are valid, so allow yourself to feel. Be it positive or negative, know that nothing in this life is permanent and will pass. Even negative emotions have a positive purpose. However if they are preventing you from your daily activities and/or are regarding taking your own life, please read pages 29-30 carefully.

Mental Health 30% of medical students suffer with mental health issues, 80% struggle to get support. These kinds of figures extend into the world of fully fledged doctors too. You're not alone. (Student BMJ, 2015) Mental health problems affect many medical students. However, while medical schools have a duty to provide support for students with these illnesses, a combination of stigma, fear, and misunderstanding often prevents students from coming forward to ask for help.[1] So how do you recognise whether you may be suffering from the common mental health problems? Depression is a feeling of low mood that lasts for a long time and affects your everyday life. It can make you feel hopeless, despairing, guilty, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted. It can affect your self-esteem, sleep, appetite, sex drive and, sometimes, your physical health. In its mildest form, depression doesn’t stop you leading a normal life, but it makes everything harder to do and seem less worthwhile. At its most severe, depression can make you feel suicidal, and be life-threatening.[2] Anxiety refers to strong feelings of unease, worry and fear. Because occasional anxiety is a normal human experience, it's sometimes hard to know when it's becoming a mental health problem – but if your feelings of anxiety are very strong, or last for a long time, they can be overwhelming.[2] Eating problems aren’t just about food. They can be about difficult things in your life and painful feelings, which you may be finding hard to express, face or resolve. The most common eating problems are: - Anorexia – not allowing yourself to eat enough food to get the energy and nutrition you need to stay physically healthy. Sometime people assume that anorexia is about slimming and dieting, but it is often connected to very low self-esteem, negative self- image and feelings of intense distress. - Bulimia – finding that you eat large amounts of food all in one go, often because you are feeling upset or worried (this is called bingeing); then feeling deeply guilty or ashamed, and taking steps to get rid of the food you have eaten (this is called purging).[2] Other common signs that you’re not coping well and may need support are: - Panic attacks – intense episodes of overwhelming physical sensations such as rapid heartbeat, sweating and nausea, feeling faint and unstable limbs. - Self-harm – a way of expressing very deep distress, where you take actions to cause yourself physical pain. After self-harming you may feel a short-term sense of release, but the cause of your distress is unlikely to have gone away.[4] - Suicidal thoughts can be part of a mental health problem. Not everyone who thinks about suicide goes through with it, actually most don’t ever go on to attempt to take their own lives. However, if you start to feel you may act on suicidal feelings and become unable to keep yourself safe then this a mental health emergency. It's

important to treat it as seriously as you would any physical health emergency, and SEEK URGENT HELP.[3] - 1 in 10 medical students experience suicidal thoughts.[4] Look after your mental health. Talk about the way you feel (see page 23 for contact details). Connect with others through simple activities such as regular contact with friends and family, joining a society or sport group, and/or volunteering locally which can all help you feel a greater sense of belonging and help challenge feelings of loneliness. If you’re coming to university with an existing health condition, it is important for you to tell the occupational health service because the medical school has a duty to support their students (i.e. you) but can only do so if you’re open and honest about your health. Being open and trustworthy is an important part of being a doctor – patients and the General Medical Council (GMC) expect this of practising doctors. Failure by a doctor on the medical register to disclose a health matter that could potentially impact on patient safety is a breach of this duty. As a medical student, you should understand that your ill health could put your ability to study at risk. When you have this understanding – and show this by getting help and support – your health condition rarely prevents you from completing the course. One way to demonstrate understanding from the start is for you to declare whether you will need additional support when they begin their course.[5] GMC Myth Busters - Myth: ‘If I have a mental health condition, it will damage my career prospects.’ Mental health conditions are common in the general population and commonly occur in doctors. Legally, employers can’t discriminate against you if you have a mental health condition. - Myth: ‘Seeking help is seen as a sign of weakness.’ Seeking help is the strong thing to do. It is also the right thing to do. Your medical school has systems in place to support you and they want you to do well. - Myth: ‘Mental health conditions are personal and do not concern the medical school.’ Your medical school needs to know if you have a condition that may affect your performance. It will be able to support you and make adjustments to help you study. - Myth: ‘Once I’m a doctor, if I have a mental health condition, the GMC will automatically put me in their fitness to practise procedures.’ The GMC is only interested when a doctor’s mental illness puts patients at risk. The GMC never removes doctors from the register solely because they have a mental health condition. - So be honest, reach out for help, and get the support you need - you won’t be punished for being human. We as medical students may be perfectionists but we aren’t perfect.

What to do when something is wrong... Going to university is a big change to adjust to so don’t worry if you are finding things difficult. If friends and family aren’t providing the support you need or you’d like more then: - Talk to your Medsoc parents – they may have had a similar issue in the past and could offer some advice. - Talk to your flatmates/coursemates. You many find that you’re not alone in whatever’s troubling you. - Check out the How Do I..? guide on the MedSoc website for a comprehensive guide on next steps for a variety of difficulties.

There are lots of services to access for help whatever the issue and it’s all confidential: - If you’re feeling suicidal and you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe right now, go to the nearest A&E or call 999 and ask for an ambulance. If you don’t want to go A&E, contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123 (they’re available 24/7). - If you have any problems, email me (Victoria Wong) at [email protected] and I’ll try my best to help or to point you in the right direction for help. - You will be assigned a personal academic tutor who will usually be a clinician or researcher affiliated with the medical school who you can go to if you have any worries (personal and academic, it’s in the name!). If they’re unreachable, you can just pop by the Student Office at Medicine in Building 85 or email fmed- [email protected] and they will try their best to help. - Email or book an appointment with any of the faculty senior tutor team (pastoral) through 02380595571 / 02381206586 fmed- [email protected]) - Talk to Zoe Sheppard, the pastoral tutor for year 1 and 2 medical students. She’s lovely and will always make time for you! (Her email is [email protected].) - If you need advice about any issue, including finance, your exam results, appeals, housing, then contact the SUSU Advice Centre on 0238059 2085 or

Sources (This is an example of how to somewhat reference correctly….) [1] Why medical students’ mental health is a taboo subject. Anna Sayburn. BMJ. 2015. http://student.bmj.com/student/view- article.html?id=sbmj.h722 [2] Mind. Types of mental health problems - Mental Health problems introduction. https://mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/mental-health-problems-introduction/types-of-mental-health- problems [3] Mind. Symptoms, feelings, & behaviours - Mental Health problems introduction.https://mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of- mental-health-problems/mental-health-problems-introduction/symptoms-feelings-behaviours [4] Rotenstein LS, Ramos MA, Torre M, et al. JAMA. Prevalence of depression, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among medical students. 2016;316:2214-36. [5] GMC and Medical Schools Council. Supporting medical students with mental health conditions.http://www.medschools.ac.uk/Publications/Documents/Mental-Health-Guidance.pdf

email [email protected], or visit the 1st floor of Building 40 from 9am-5pm during weekdays. - Support for disabilities, mental health problems or specific learning difficulties can be accessed via Enabling Services. They offer a range of appointment options: face to face, telephone, and Skype (with exception of Counselling appointments). These can be arranged by either ringing 023 8059 7726, emailing [email protected], or attending their Drop-In from 1-3pm (weekdays during term-time and Mon/Wed/Fri during vacation periods) at Building 37 on Highfield. - Register with a GP surgery in your area. You probably know that your GP should be the go-to person for non-urgent medical matters. Know that medical matters include both physical AND mental. Talking appointments are part of a GP’s duties. - Look at the MedSoc website (https://www.sotonmedsoc.org/welfare) for specific helplines!

Got a late offer? Don’t worry! Getting ready for uni in one month is possible, you just need to be organised! Want to know how other late offer holders have managed in previous years? Ask them! Join the Late Offers Facebook Group (the Medsoc Committee and Late Offers Contacts are in the group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1030751870428785/

Or alternatively email one privately: - Fahim Syed ([email protected]) – BM6 - Matt Pitson ([email protected]) – BM6 - Yanika Johnson ([email protected]) – BM5 - Carolina Penner ([email protected]) – BM5 - Danayan Luxmanan ([email protected]) – BM5 - Eddie Sewell ([email protected]) – BM5

MEDSOC SOCIETIES

Come along to the Medsoc Bunfight on Thursday 26th September and join our wonderful societies...

Psychiatry Society Southampton Student’s Pathology Society Dermatology Society JamSoc GP Soc Medics reveal Southampton Cardiovascular Society Save a Baby's Life (HeartSoc) Southampton Saving Faces John Bullar Ophthamological Society Medical StreetDoctors Southampton Leadership Society Sexpression Southampton Southampton Obstetrics & Gynaecology Society Doctors of the World: Southampton Medic's Choir University of Southampton Paediatric Society Southampton Christian Medical Fellowship Society for Endocrinology (CMF) Southampton Inspire Academic Society Teddy Bear Hospital Southampton Medical Imaging Society Southampton Nutritank Southampton Oncology Society Southampton Southampton Muslim Medics Society of Anaesthetics and Critical Care Women in Medicine Southampton Sports and Exercise Medicine Humanities, Ethics and Law (HELM) Society Southampton Surgical Society Afro Caribbean Medical Association (ACMA) Students4Students Grad and Mature Medics (GraMMs) Neurosurgery and Neurology Society DoKnit Southampton Wilderness and Expedition Equality in Medicine Medicine Society (SWEMS) Our Sports teams... Friends of Medecins Sans Frontieres (FoMSF) Southampton Medic's Badminton (Hawks) Universities Allied for Essential Medicines Ladies Basketball (Swifts) (UAEM) Southampton Men's Basketball (Badgers) Heartstart Southampton Ladies Football (Swallows) HIVE Southampton Men's Football (Roosters) Medsin Southampton Mixed Medics' Hockey (Gophers) Mixed Medics Revue Medics' Lacrosse Southampton International Medics Society Bluetits Netball Club (SIMS) Men's Rugby Club (Moose) Widening Access to Medicine Society Southampton Medics' Tennis (Tigers) (WAMSoc)

MEDSOC COMMITTEE TOP TIPS

First and second year don’t count Remember that being towards your final grade (but you uncomfortable right now is do need to pass them) so don’t normal! The most uncomfortable be afraid to go out, just make situations this year almost always sure you work harder around turn out to be the best – don’t be exam time. Pick GUM for your scared to venture out your Year 3 project and tell Raj Patel I comfort zone! sent you ~ Hailey

~ Ben

If you feel like something related

to your studies could be done better, then please do let me, or one of your year reps know. We have a whole support structure in place to ensure that student feedback is listened to and acted upon, so make sure to speak out, because we really do want to listen to what you have to say and act upon it. ~ Calvin

Make the most of everything university has to offer. Branch My top tip is to prioritise yourself out from medicine, join a above all else. Don’t spread society you’ve never done yourself too thin and stay before, play a new sport or organised to keep a healthy, even start a new hobby. The balanced lifestyle. Remember years will fly by and before you that you don’t need to be the know it, you’ll be on placement best to be a great doctor. Most of and all the experiences and all though, have fun! Put yourself memories you would have out there and enjoy everything made along the way will be

Medicine and Medsoc have to what matters! offer you. ~ Ajay ~ Victoria

Look out for and support one Don’t stress too much about work another when things get difficult. especially during your first term, I We’re all in this journey together. know it’ll most likely be quite a change Always be yourself, and never from how you were taught in school so compare your achievements and ambitions to those of your peers. take this term to figure out how you Everyone works differently so want to write up and learn from all make sure to take some time to these lectures. Now is the perfect time really consider the ways in which to find new learning styles that work you work best. Knowing this will for you! Plus, having a clear, concise really benefit you throughout set of notes to look back on will save your entire time at Medical School. Most importantly, have you a lot of unnecessary stress come fun and enjoy the ride… exam season! ~ Calvin ~ Anna

My top tip would be to make sure you engage with as many societies My #1 tip for getting through, at as you can! As a fresher last year, least first year, is to make time for I found participating in different doing extracurriculars. I wouldn’t societies a great way to meet new have gotten as far as I did in first people and try something new. year without my friends from the When you first start medschool, it’s gophers, the MedSoc committee easy to let your degree consume and everyone else I met, helping all of your time, but what’s really me through with advice and important is making sure what you support when I needed it. It really strike a good work-life balance. does make a difference, being Don’t stress too much because able to take some time out from you have to remember you’re only studying, to just be you and have in your first year - so make the some fun, is essential. most of it! ~ James ~ Sukhmani

SAVE THE DATES

WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO!

Academic Societies

Families BBQ

MedSoc x NurSoc Carnival

JamSoc

Medics Revue

Charity Take Me Out

MedSoc Spring Ball

Sports Societies

@SotonMedsoc

@Medsoc_Soton

@MedsocSoton @medsocwelfare

Medsoc Soton

And our website for a whole host of information for you: www.sotonmedsoc.org

University of Southampton Medical Society Registered Address: MedSoc Office, School of Medicine, Southampton University Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD Supporting Motor Neuron Disease Association and The Movember Foundation. Charity Number 1148683 E: [email protected] W: www.sotonmedsoc.org F: www.facebook.com/sotonmedsoc

See You Soon!!!!