Andrew Lindsay gave a presentation as part of the 2014 Careers After Biological Sciences at the University of Leicester. Having graduated from the University in 2002, with a degree in Medical Biochemistry, Andy went on to study Medicine at Newcastle. He is currently a Specialist Registrar in Emergency Medicine in London. His talk included anecdotes from the various roles he has carried out since qualifying as a doctor, as well as offering advice for anyone interested in becoming a medic.

1. Medicine and Beyond
Dr Andrew S. Lindsay
Emergency Medicine SpR
North East and Central London
12th February 2014

2. About me…
 Emergency Medicine SpR – North
East and Central London
 Currently working at University
College Hospital (London)
 Graduated MB BS Medicine from
Newcastle (2007)
 Particular interests are;
 Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine
 Paediatric Emergency Medicine
 Medical education

3. So what do I do??

4. What I actually do…
 Medical practitioner for 7 years, (6 within the
NHS)
 Part of a total of 1.3 million NHS Employees
 UCH Accident and Emergency department has
135,000 patients per year, (370 per day)
 Initially assessing and treating the most
critically unwell or injured adults and children
 Directly helping the most dependent And
vulnerable people in society
 Often in charge of supervising medical /
nursing care within the entire department

5. My average day…….
 No two days are ever the same, always
depends on what comes through the front door
 Have to be prepared for anything – No matter
how weird or wonderful
 Often very physically and mentally demanding
on 10-12 hours shift
 Can be exciting edge of the seat stuff like
“ER” on TV!!
 Heart attacks, meningitis, strokes, car accidents,
Haemorrage, burns and cardiac arrests
 But can be very unglamorous and harrowing
 Drug overdoses, potentially abused children,
random bodily fluids, boils, bugs and bums, and
drunks, lots and lots of drunks….

6. How did I get to where I am now??
 Started at Leicester University September 1999
 Graduated - BSc (MBioChem) - 2002
 Moved to Newcastle and continued Medicine
September 2002
 Graduated MB BS (Medicine) – 2007
 Foundation training (F1/F2) at Durham University
Hospital
 Moved to London for registrar posts
 Emergency medicine & Acute medicine
 Anaesthetics & Intensive Care
 A&E at the Royal London Major Trauma Centre
 Year out - Olympics and Australia – (2012/2013)
 Returned to London – SpR in Emergency Medicine

7. Why pursue a career in
medicine?
 Rewarding career
 Helping to care for the vulnerable and unwell
 Providing support to patients, families, the
desperate and terminally ill
 Challenging and stimulating
 Many career options and specialties
 Opportunity for foreign travel and practice
 Respected profession
 Similar opportunities throughout the UK
 Quite well paid compared to many other careers
 High level of job security

8. Disadvantages to medicine

High level of pressure, particularly with time pressures and
targets

Very strict codes of conduct and professional ethics

Can be extremely physically and mentally draining

High levels of stress, long hours and can be hard to plan things
around the job

Decisions are often life changing and can be difficult to deal with
if you get it wrong

Can see some of the worst sides of human nature

NHS is ever changing environment, particularly because of
multiple changes in DOH / Government policy

Never ending requirement for further professional assessments,
exams and revalidation

9. How do you get into medicine?
The Application bit…
 Decide early as possible
 Get any kind of work experience possible
(or volunteering, SJA, nursing homes)
 Choose medical schools wisely (Graduate
course / entry requirements / Bursaries
available)
 26 Medical schools now require the UK-CAT
(UK-Clinical aptitude Test to apply)
 Get input from someone in the profession
on your UCAS personal statement (if
possible)
 Get someone good at English to proof read
and check it

10. How do you get into medicine?
Prepare hard for the interview




Medical stories in the media
Current NHS / DOH / Government policies
Know course benefits / structure / ethos at your chosen
university
Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) and foundation
programme websites to understand current career path
and training
 Obtain a person specification from the MMC website


Slant your personal statement to show those qualities
Same qualities in potential medical students as required
in junior doctors to training posts
 Good communications skills are vital


Find anything that demonstrates you have excellent
communications skills
Involved in everything we do

11. Other medical opportunities (1)
 Medical research
 Teaching activities and medical education
 Life support instructor
 Formal links with university institution
 Medico-legal and private practice
 Shaping health care organisation and services





Clinical Commissioning groups (CCGs)
Hospital Management and executive activities
Public Health
DOH / Government advisory roles
Major incident planning and management
 Charities
 MSF, Red Cross, cancer research, British Heart
Foundation

12. Other medical opportunities (2)
 Working abroad
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Canada
 Middle East
 USA / South Africa
 Pre-Hospital Care
 BASICS
 HEMS
 Ambulance services
 Aviation medicine

13. Other medical opportunities (3)
 Expedition medicine
 Event Medicine
 Motor racing
 Sports medicine
 Medical writing, media and journalism

14. Medicine and beyond (1)
 Life support instructor
 ALS
 APLS
 MIMMS
 BASICS
 Major incident management
 Receiving hospitals for
 Hackney riots - (August 2011)
 Tottenham Court Road fire - (December
2013)
 Apollo theatre collapse - (December 2013)

15. Medicine and beyond (2)
 Expedition medic
 Mount Kilimanjaro
 Successfully summited x 2
 London 2012 Olympics Field of play medical team
 Equestrian
 Velodrome
 BMX
 Basketball
 Football

16. Medicine and beyond (3)
 Lead event doctor for
Wakestock festival (July 2012)
 Wembley medical team
 CMO for London 2012 Olympic
football gold medal match
 International and FA Cup final
football matches
 Pop concerts
 American Football (International
series)
 Rugby Leagure World Cup (2013)
 Australian Safari motor racing
 International off road racing
(Motocross, 4WD and Quadbikes)

17. Medicine and Beyond (4)
 Medical Officer for Royal
Flying Doctors Service
(RFDS) – Western Australia
 Pre-Hospital Care (PHC)
 Aeromedical retrieval
 HEMS with FESA helicopter
team
 Police helicopter
 Air-Sea rescue
 Remote area medicine

18. Summary
 Medicine is an exciting and varied career
 Different specialties and opportunities
allow many different career paths
 Its very demanding but the benefits
massively outweigh the downsides
 Plan any application as early as possible
 Tailor it to demonstrate the attributes
medical schools are looking for
 Work experience is a MUST!!!
 Prepare well for the interview
 Know the course structure
 Recent developments in medicine and
within the media

19. THANK YOU
Any Questions??