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ME4019 Acute Medicine & critical care - Block 2, Aberdeen (2026 - 2027)

Schedule Comments Summary (optional)

What helped you to feel welcome?

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The introduction lecture on the first day was a good way to not just be put straight into the ward as your first class of the block. Coming back from the 2 weeks summer break it would have bene intense to go straight on a ward but this made it more welcoming.
I valued the engaging teaching mentality, friendliness, and personability shown by the team. I appreciate that all of the medical staff and consultants are busy, but almost all of them took the opportunity to ask me questions, patiently wait for my answer, listen to my reasoning, and then, if I was wrong, correct me in an appropriate and constructive manner.
The warm reception and the opportunity to be able to ask questions and seek guidance
All the staff were nice
Everyone in the ward was nice to me and always tried to include me
The induction on the first day gave a clear idea of what was expected by the end of the block. This helped understand the main learning goals early on. From then on, it was about going to placement and trying to make the most of the allocated time.
All the doctors on the stroke ward gave me plenty of teaching and made sure I had something to do. They also helped with my knowledge of conditions and showed me how they operate specifically on their ward.

Comment on your interaction with patients on this block

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I got a lot of experience with patients. I was able to go and take histories and examinations of patients whenever I wanted and had seniors I could always talk to about this. I also got to clerk multiple patients in my acute week in AMIA and short stay which was a unique experience in being one of the first people to see the patient and then having to present to a senior. I learnt a lot from this.
Patients all willing to speak to me and no instances of negative encounters.
I met patients during ward rounds, I clerked patients and took histories/examinations
Good, as got to clerk in new patients and also practice in more formal setting with a supervisor on patients that had agreed beforehand
Patients were nice and patient with me when I try to take bloods
I saw a lot of patients and was able to look at examination and history takings by the doctors on the ward round.

As this block contains different specialties, please make it clear in your comments which specialty you are referring to. Please note any particularly good educational experiences and state why:

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I was on infection - the ward rounds were particularly good when I was with Dr Tonna as he pushed my knowledge boundaries in a difficult but well supported way. I learnt a lot like this. The FY's on the ward and Ceryn the PA were very good for supporting practical procedures.
I began with AMIA and ED and both of these weeks were very good and was always felt welcome there. Will also point out the nurses in 103 and RAAC were very friendly. During my weeks on the cardiology placement, I felt welcomed by the Physician Associate, the FY1s and FY2s, and the registrars. Most of the consultants were warm and inclusive, particularly Dr Noman and Dr Dawson, with Dr Stewart also being excellent. However, there was one consultant cardiologist who did not make me feel welcome during their on call week, which happened to be my very first week in cardiology. As a result, I found myself trying to escape to clinic or the cath lab whenever possible. This was because I was rarely spoken to, was treated as an obstruction on ward rounds, and was expected to carry patient charts at all times, despite this not initially being required for some patients, only to then be told it suddenly was. On one occasion, I was reprimanded in front of everyone present, being told that "Name, is not doing his job." I recognise that on ward rounds I should be helping things run as smoothly as possible, but I felt this comment was unnecessarily harsh and that I shouldn't have been spoken to that way. From that point, I largely disengaged from wanting to be there. I became little more than someone to carry notes, only being asked to read aloud NEWS scores. My only other interaction was being asked a difficult biochemistry question that we had not yet been taught. On this occasion, the FY1 was asked the same question and let off without penalty, whereas I was criticised for not knowing the answer, apparently because I had more recently covered biochemistry. These two experiences alone could have completely put me off pursuing cardiology as a specialty, had it not been for the excellent teaching I received from Dr Noman each week, Dr Stewart's open and friendly manner, engaging me in ward rounds, asking questions, and offering tuition, and the time I spent with Dr Dawson in clinic, where I was later invited to observe some procedures and again felt very welcomed. Had it not been for these three consultants, the overall experience would have been far poorer than it should have been.
I had the Gastro specialty. It was overall great and the very well organised timetable made it clear what I should do
Respiratory - Got to have 1 on 1 teaching on resp examination via Dr James Mitchell, Dr Lucy sexton + FYs were helpful as well
oncolody
Had a really helpful stroke teaching where we had a conversation with the registrar and then went to speak to a patient where we all had a go to do a history and examination.
Renal

Please suggest any improvements to this educational experience.

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When the fifth years started in the second/third week it became a lot harder to find jobs to do and stay busy. Not a lot can be done about this I would imagine but there was 4 medical students at once to one ward which made it more challenging as the weeks went on.
In cardiology, most of the other students were unaware that they could arrange to attend clinic, the catheterisation lab, or other procedures. I would recommend including information about these opportunities on the timetable, so students know they can arrange to attend, rather than the timetable simply stating "Team A 0900-1700."
NA
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We wish to recognise those who have excelled in your learning experience, e.g. quality of teaching, student support. Staff may be based in the University or the NHS. If you wish to nominate any member(s) of staff, please do so and state: 1. Who they are 2. Where they work 3. Why you have nominated them.

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Dr Noman Cardiology Dr Noman provided small group teaching and, at times, one to one teaching, which was consistently excellent. His teaching manner was engaging and thorough, often returning to the underlying physiology and anatomy to build genuine understanding rather than just facts. He was also an excellent and approachable consultant, offering friendly comments and reassurance throughout.
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Came across an FY1 named Vidyut who worked in the respiratory ward. He was very welcoming and made me feel like I was part of the team and also taught me how to approach inserting a cannula in a clinical setting which was quite useful.