Sharp Scratch

BMJ Podcasts
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  • MEDICINE
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

Bringing together medical students, new doctors and expert guests to discuss everything you need to know to be a good doctor.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Is there a universal medical school experience? - 150th Episode!

    In honour of the 150th episode of the Sharp Scratch podcast, Zaynah Khan invites previous student editors to explore experiences of medical school during different times – from 20, 15, and 5 years ago to discuss whether or not medicine has changed for students. What is it that medical students care about while at uni? Are there new or different challenges? Have new opportunities opened up? Is there a universal experience of medical school? Thank you to Laura Nunez-Mulder, Tiago Villanueva, and Neil Chanchlani for joining this episode!    Follow us on Instagram, X, Bluesky and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/    https://x.com/BMJStudent    https://bsky.app/profile/bmjstudent.bsky.social     https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod      Fill in our feedback survey to let us know your thoughts about Sharp Scratch and content from the BMJ and BMJ Student: https://forms.gle/hr9BWNYx6DkVrBSP7

    41 min

  2. 9 JAN

    Do you take medicine home with you?

    In this Second episode, Zaynah Khan - the host,  Matt Morgan - an NHS Intensive Care Consultant and Writer, and panel member Nikki Nabavi - who is an FY2 Doctor, explore how medicine seeps into their personal lives, through the example of language. Together they discuss examples of medical jargon and work terminology that become inside jokes or are used completely out of context in their personal lives. Part 2 following the last episode in December - be sure to listen to that if you haven’t, yet!  Happy New Year :)    Resources The Dictionary of Blood and Silence   Follow us on Instagram, X, Bluesky and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/   https://x.com/BMJStudent   https://bsky.app/profile/bmjstudent.bsky.social    https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod     Fill in our feedback survey to let us know your thoughts about Sharp Scratch and content from the BMJ and BMJ Student https://forms.gle/hr9BWNYx6DkVrBSP7

    29 min

  3. 12/12/2025

    How do we describe medical experiences to others? - Christmas Episode

    In today’s Holiday Special, host Zaynah Khan is joined by Matt Morgan, an NHS Intensive Care Consultant and Writer, and panel member Nikki Nabavi, who is an FY2 Doctor. Together, they explore the unique sensory and emotional experiences that healthcare workers go through, and the limits in medical language being able to encapsulate those to others outside of healthcare. Matt discusses starting the Dictionary of Blood and Silence and the process of coining new words to articulate medical experiences. Part 1 of 2 - stay tuned for Part 2!   Resources The Dictionary of Blood and Silence   Follow us on Instagram, X, Bluesky and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/   https://x.com/BMJStudent   https://bsky.app/profile/bmjstudent.bsky.social    https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod     Fill in our feedback survey to let us know your thoughts about Sharp Scratch and content from the BMJ and BMJ Student https://forms.gle/hr9BWNYx6DkVrBSP7

    36 min

  4. 28/11/2025

    Navigating medicine when you're deaf or hard of hearing

    In this episode, host Zaynah Khan is joined by Resident Doctor, Benedict Richards and panel members George Webster and Anna de Beer. Both Benedict and George are hard of hearing, and share their lived experiences of navigating medical school and clinical practice. Together, they also discuss ways of supporting a colleague who may be deaf/hard of hearing.   Videos played in the episode: Examples of mild/moderate/severe/profound hearing loss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbBZjT7nuoA Example of student using a hearing aid - with teacher speaking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l37lzLIgQU   Fill in our feedback survey to let us know your thoughts about Sharp Scratch and content from the BMJ and BMJ Student https://forms.gle/hr9BWNYx6DkVrBSP7      Follow us on Instagram, X, Bluesky and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/   https://x.com/BMJStudent   https://bsky.app/profile/bmjstudent.bsky.social    https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod

    37 min

  5. 14/11/2025

    How to avoid the 'Surgical Scaries'

    In this Surgical themed episode, host Zaynah Khan sits down with Ms Samantha Tross, the first black female Orthopedic Surgeon in the UK. They are also joined by previous editorial scholars on the panel - George Webster, Éabha Lynn, and Laura Hope Nunez-Mulder. Together they discuss first or memorable experiences of surgery in medical school / as a doctor, and Samantha shares advice on navigating surgery, especially as a woman of colour.    Fill in our feedback survey to let us know your thoughts about Sharp Scratch and content from the BMJ and BMJ Student https://forms.gle/hr9BWNYx6DkVrBSP7    Follow us on Instagram, X, Bluesky and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/  https://x.com/BMJStudent   https://bsky.app/profile/bmjstudent.bsky.social    https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod

    44 min

  6. 31/10/2025

    Dissection Horror Stories - Halloween Episode

    In this Halloween episode, host Zaynah Khan sits down with expert guest Dr. Jennifer Wallis, a Senior Teaching Fellow and Lecturer in History of Science and Medicine at Imperial, and medical student Anna de Beer. They'll be sharing real-life dissection horror stories and experiences from current times, while also exploring the dark side of medical history and past influences of cadaveric dissection.   Fill in our feedback survey to let us know your thoughts about Sharp Scratch and content from the BMJ and BMJ Student https://forms.gle/hr9BWNYx6DkVrBSP7    Follow us on Instagram, X, Bluesky and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/  https://x.com/BMJStudent  https://bsky.app/profile/bmjstudent.bsky.social  https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod

    34 min

  7. 10/10/2025

    Practicing creative writing to be a better doctor

    In this episode, new host Zaynah Khan meets with Author, Poet, Creative Writing Lecturer, and Ex-Doctor Gita Ralleigh. They are joined by Khadijah, a medical student taught by Gita, and panellists Elgan and Maira who help explore the role of creativity within medicine and how writing can help enhance clinical practice.    Fill in our feedback survey to let us know your thoughts about Sharp Scratch and content from the BMJ and BMJ Student https://forms.gle/hr9BWNYx6DkVrBSP7   Follow us on Instagram, X and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/ https://x.com/BMJStudent https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod   READING LIST ⁃ ‘Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing’ by Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan ⁃ ‘The Undying’ by Anne Boyer ⁃ Arthur Frank’s framing of patient narratives ⁃ ‘The Empathy Exams’ by Leslie Jamison ⁃ ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi ⁃ Patient made writing and art ⁃ John Clare’s poetry ⁃ ‘Time is a Mother’ by Ocean Vuong ⁃ ‘Giving Up the Ghost’ by Hilary Mantel ⁃ Phil Whitaker’s commentary ⁃ ‘The Story of a Heart’ by Rachel Clarke ⁃ ‘The Prison Doctor’ by Dr Amanda Brown ⁃ ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’ by Jean-Dominique Bauby

    42 min

  8. 21/09/2025

    Re-release: Reasons to be hopeful

    In the final instalment from the Sharp Scratch archives, incoming Sharp Scratch host Zaynah Khan is rebroadcasting one of her favourite episodes- on hope. This episode was originally published on April 15, 2024. With the rapid unfolding of recent events in medicine, it can be easy to lose hope for the future. From low pay and staffing crises to the rapid changes to postgraduate training, it can feel like things are getting worse. But is this really the case?  In this episode, the panel discusses what 'hope' really means and whether there's any hope for a better future in medicine (spoiler alert: there is!). They're joined by Anna Baverstock, a consultant pediatrician and well-being lead based in Somerset.   Follow BMJ Student on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/ X: https://x.com/BMJStudent Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharpscratchpod

    44 min
See All (153)

About

Bringing together medical students, new doctors and expert guests to discuss everything you need to know to be a good doctor.

Information

  • Channel
    BMJ Podcasts
  • Creator
    The BMJ
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2026
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 643134
  • Show Website
    Sharp Scratch

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