Sharp Scratch: Podcasting the topics that medical school won’t teach you

Abstract

I launched Sharp Scratch with The BMJ’s multimedia team in the spring of 2019, during my year running all things student at the world’s fourth leading medical journal. It’s a podcast where medical students, newly qualified doctors, and expert guests meet in a studio to talk about the things we need to know to be good doctors but that we may not learn at medical school. I’ve since returned to medical school and joined a new year group, where I often find myself in a circle of strangers. Many times in the last 12 months, the professionalism strand of my medical degree has put me in a circle with students I have met once or twice to discuss personal stories and to reflect. Many of the stories are familiar. The student with mental health problems shadowing an intimidating doctor on placement who feels unable to disclose their needs. The delirious or psychotic patient who inappropriately comments on a student’s appearance. The student who overhears a joke about a patient and feels a line has been crossed. And a general anxiety about a future career where we will have to respond well in situations even more complex than these. When I’m in a circle of reflecting students, I don’t always say what I’m thinking. But I’m usually thinking about an episode of Sharp Scratch.