Well I've just finished what was officially one of the best weeks of TY. Last week instead of going into school like everyone else (ha hate that!) I had the privilege of heading into Trinity College Dublin to attend the "Transition Year Medicine Programme". At first I didn't know what to expect, only 36 people out of 300 applicants got in so I was really excited on my first day.
Day 1: After getting lost and arriving and going to a few different buildings I eventually found the TCD Biomedical Science Institute where all the TYs assembled for our induction. At the induction we were told a little bit about the college, a bit about the course and finally what to expect from the course. We then all had to introduce ourselves, all of us were a bit shy at first which is what you can expect from teenagers at these things. We were then split into groups and we got a tour of Trinity Campus with some first year med students. And of course, with Ireland and Dublin being the small place it is, I knew the person giving us the tour really well! I did St.John Ambulance with her before she decided to become a doctor. After the tour of the campus we went back to the college for Problem Based Learning and finally we got lunch. By this stage I had already gotten friendly with a few people. After lunch we went to the Physiology Lab where we got to electrocute each other using electrodes to make our muscles move involuntary. It felt so weird but was gas and a great ice breaker to be honest. No better way to break the ice than to electrocute someone! After Physiology we went back to the basement where we were told where to go the next day and had a review of the
Neurotransmitters day.
Day 2: On Day 2 we had to assemble at the William Stokes Postgraduate Centre in St. James' Hospital. Here we took part in a variety of different workshops and lectures. Our first lecture was with a 4th Year Med Student who taught us about patient contact and how to interact and help diagnose your patient. A few obscure mnemonics were thrown out such as WIPE-PP and SOCRATES which naturally got a laugh. We were then taught how to do a Musculoskeletal Examination and how to diagnose Cholecystitis (Gallbladder inflammation). We then carried out a clinical skills workshop where we learned about blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate etc. Finally we finished the morning with a workshop in CPR. After lunch we had a lecture on Anesthesia and then we were brought to a simulation theater where a mock scenario with a casualty was carried out using a robot which was deadly.
Simulation Theatre (google images)
Day 3: On Day 3 we were assembled in St. James' Hospital. This time we were brought to a teaching facility within the hospital where we got a talk on Radiology by an Interventional Radiologist. It was really really interesting and after hearing about it I would definitely consider Radiology as a specialty if I did Medicine. We then got a talk about HIV and social issues within the Hospital which was also really interesting to hear. After the talks we did an Interdisciplinary exercise. We were all given a different occupation within Healthcare such as a Doctor, Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. We were then given a case and we all had to discuss within our groups how we could provide the best possible treatment and recovery plan for the patient. This was to show that in healthcare everyone works as a team in order to make sure the best care possible is being provided. After lunch we were split into two groups. Half of us went to Caravaggio's Art Exhibition an the other half went to the Old Anatomy Building. Caravaggio's art was really really interesting but to be honest I spent the whole exhibition smirking with one of the X-Ray - Interventional Radiology people I had made good friends with on the course.
Day 4: Day 4 was a brilliant day. On Day 4 we were all assembled in St. James' Hospital where each person was assigned to a different ward in the hospital. I was assigned to Vascular Surgery - The Study of the Vascular System, so arteries, veins and lymphatic circulation. I shadowed two interns and a Senior House Officer as they carried out their day to day tasks. Throughout the day I got to meet lots of patients, assist a doctor take bloods, analyse patient charts, visit the radiology department, got a tutorial from a consultant cardiologist about angiograms, help a nurse dress ulcers and witness a few procedures in Outpatient Clinic.
Vascular System
Day 5:
Our last day was both a happy and a sad day. It was sad because a lot of us on the course were lucky to get really close with each other and we all got on so well, so it was going to be sad to say goodbye. I honestly made some of the nicest people and I really hope that i'll meet them again in the future. On our last day we were in at 10. We got a lecture on Concussion and Physiology and then we had a treasure hunt. We had to split into teams of 6 and go around campus to try and find the answer to various random questions about Trinity College Dublin. My team did quite well time wise, we were the first team back with all our answers and we were all convinced we had won. Somehow...we lost...don't ask ask me how and why, i honestly don't understand it because we were the first back and we knew for a fact that most of our answers were correct. But ah well, you win some you lose some...i wanted an Easter egg though...After the treasure hunt we were all presented certificates and then we got pizza. It wasn't over yet though. Because a few of us had gotten quite close, we decided we'd go out for food, so we got donuts and then went for coffee in one of my favourite spots in town, Accents on Lower Stephen's Street. There we spent a few hours having a DMC (deep meaningful conversation.
Physiology - Google Images
Overall I absolutely loved the placement and wish it was what i did every day. After doing ths placement I know medicine is definitely for me and it's what i want to do. Fingers crossed now the CAO and HPAT is good to me!
