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!

 

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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!

Hear from medics, involved in creating the issue, about the role that creativity plays in medicine for them - including illustrator of the zine Dr Kathryn Raj.

The 2026 Clegg Scholars Nilay Sah, Rojbin Yigit, Anna de Beer and Ella Banbury share insights from medics they’ve interviewed who have taken a non-traditional path in medicine.

Explore ways that you can integrate creativity into your medical studies and career!

For the last time, as host - stay safe, stay sharp! 

Zaynah

 

Listen to Zaynah’s favourite Sharp Scratch episode: “I’m Not Like Other Medics—Deconstructing the medical student stereotype” 
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PYI9EmWsmmOliekGYsORl?si=ACsbahwWRcau8CCAOlzLpg or (https://tinyurl.com/yjrkd9h5) 

On Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/im-not-like-other-medics-deconstructing-the-medical/id331561304?i=1000759002063 or (https://tinyurl.com/253k4ajw)

 

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“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!

 

Links mentioned during the episode:

Zaynah’s interview of Claire Oxlade and Dame Sally Davies about the play Lifeline: https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100170 

Get your BSAC membership here: https://bsac.org.uk/membership/

 

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Does your digital footprint represent you personally, or are you perceived as a doctor while you doomscroll? Can you ever be sure that *all views are your own* ? Are you an avatar representing medicine or a private citizen? 

 

Zaynah Khan sits down with Dr Jonny Guckian, together with panellists Kayode and Korianne, to discuss whether medics have a duty of care on social media. They share storytimes of social media horror stories for medics, lessons learnt (sometimes the hard way), and how medics can ethically use social media without the fear of getting struck off!

 

Read the study that Jonny mentions: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211883726000262

 

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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?

 

In this episode, Zaynah Khan sits down with Dr Iain Beardsell, director of undergraduate medical education at UHS. Together, with panellists Éabha and Elgan, they discuss the implications of this investigation, and how it affects clinical placements and teaching for current medical students.

 

Read the full investigation here: https://www.bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-285592 

 

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