Show Notes
New editorial scholar Zaynah Khan is sliding into the hosting seat for Sharpscratch. We've delved into the Sharpscratch vaults to retrieve three episodes for you to listen to over the next month as Zaynah settles in. They're some of her favourites - we hope you enjoy. Here's the first, originally broadcast in May, 2024.
Often, we think of medicine as a science. We think of doctors as scientists and scholars. We pride ourselves in being ‘in STEM,’ supporting evidence based medicine and learning the so-called ‘medical model.’ Our view of medicine, it’s teaching and its assessment is framed by medical science, and we may not think of ourselves as creatives. In this episode, the panel discuss whether there is room for creativity in medicine, hear from some creatives in medicine, about how their art has contributed to their practice of medicine and their careers, and think a little about the creativity hidden within medicine. With thanks to Roshni Beeharry, Megan Brown, Antonia Peilober-Richardson, Raymond Matthews and John Launer.
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More from Sharp Scratch
What does it take to be a successful medical influencer? Dr Rohin Francis (a.k.a Medlife Crisis) debunks the misconceptions, and reveals hidden challenges. The panel, which also features new Sharp Scratch host Catherine Wang and FY1 doctor Judy Ugwuja, discuss how they feel when they see increasing numbers of medical influencers online - is it starting to get a bit cringe? What are the dos and don’ts of making content as a doctor, and should the GMC be better at regulating this? Hear the panel discuss all on this week’s episode of Sharp Scratch - enjoy!
Does medicine allow you to be creative? In Zaynah’s last episode as host of Sharp Scratch, she is joined by incoming Editorial Scholar Catherine Wang to explore her chosen topic of the 2026 BMJ Student print issue: medical humanities!
“I like science and I want to help people” is a classic med school interview answer to “Why medicine?”... Can a medical degree train you to help others, even without traditional doctor-ing? In this episode, Zaynah Khan sits down with Claire Oxlade, and medical student Maira, to discuss what medics can do to impact public health. Claire is the global engagement lead of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC), working alongside medics, scientists, policymakers and parliamentarians on antimicrobial resistance. This Sharp Scratch episode explores what “diplomacy” means in relation to public health and medicine, and potential careers that your medical degree equips you for - that you might not have considered before!
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The BMJ in a recent investigation found a “black hole” of medical student funding, with NHS trusts failing to account for over £400m meant for training future doctors. What does that mean for us as medical students?