June top picks: finding your place in medicine

I write this article during my final afternoon in the house where I’ve spent much of my early 20s. Earlier, I had visited The BMJ offices in London and said goodbye to some of the friends and colleagues who have made this job so special. For many of my friends from medical school, today was their last day at university. Some of the BMJ Student team are, literally, tomorrow’s doctors.

My gap year seems to be making my medical school experience last forever, however, I’ve learnt that this is a fleeting period. Three years ago, I sat in the same empty attic bedroom that I now write in, a lonely and directionless 20 year old. This evening, I will leave the same room having gained some marvellous memories, proud of what I have accomplished, and excited for what lies ahead. It has taken five years, including this one at The BMJ, but I have finally found my place in medicine. I belong here, and so do you. This is the premise of 2024’s BMJ Student theme—widening participation and diversity in medicine.

Although I believe that we all have a place in the medical profession, it doesn’t always feel that way. This year, it has been inspiring to work with students who are part of the movement to promote equity and inclusivity in medicine. In her opinion article, Ritu Bhatacharyya called for medical schools to provide free elective placement options for students in the most financial need, and Kevin Wu wrote about the importance of “Breaking the silence and confronting racism on the wards.” I’m often taken aback by the broad-mindedness of medical students and by how much knowledge they bring to the profession through the sharing of diverse cultural experiences.

Helping students to share their stories, to call for change, to improve medicine for generations to come, has been the privilege of my year at The BMJ. Though, of course, you don’t need to write a whole article to share your story. Our BMJ Student social media accounts have been showcasing the stories of doctors and medical students from all over the world, with our #YouBelongHere campaign. Check them out on X or Instagram. If you have a story to share and want to feature on the cover of this summer’s Student BMJ print issue, email elynn@bmj.com with a high resolution image of yourself and 100 words telling your story.

“We have 2307 ways to get through our course … because that’s how many students we have enrolled” Rakesh Patel, the director of the MBBS at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry observed in one of this month’s episodes of the Sharp Scratch podcast. I’m a firm believer that a more diverse medical student body can only be good for patients, just as there is not one kind of medical student, there is not one kind of patient. Our latest Sharp Scratch episode explored how we can best look after our transgender patients.

If Aamena Bharmal and colleagues’ editorial, updating us on the changes to foundation programme allocation, has you feeling pessimistic about the profession, perhaps taking a year to pursue a postgraduate degree could be the answer. Alexander Mafi offers a guide to postgraduate study. Whether you want to study full time, part time, at home or abroad, online or face-to-face, higher education has something to offer every doctor.