Medical Student’s Guide to Eating Free in the Hospital

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By Robbie Gillies & Marcus Yip

There is no such thing as a free lunch, right? Wrong. This is a myth. In fact, the only certainty in life is that as a Med Student, you will perpetually be both hungry and poor. In recent years a shortage of viable free-food available to students in the hospital has driven the evolution of a cunning and audacious scavenger. For the savvy Med Student, those that are prepared to apply their strong work ethic to mastering the art of ‘free eating’ are finding that the world is their sandwich platter. These are their methods.

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The secrets we keep: Hiding your personal life in medicine

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By Stephen Surace, Writing Competition Honourable Mention 2016

Topic 1: Write about your experiences studying medicine with a disability, mental illness or as a part of a marginalised group

At first I was excited by the opportunity to write about being a minority in medicine. Finally, a chance to release all the drama and excitement that I must surely have bottled up. However there was just one problem: except for one noteworthy time, I have kept my sexuality very separate from medicine.

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Medical idolisation: The curse and the cure

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By Rose Brazilek, Writing Competition First Prize 2016

Topic 3: Does popular culture’s depiction of medicine do more harm than good?

From Scrubs to Grey’s Anatomy, television shows depicting doctors appear to be sure-fire media sensations. Initially omnipotent and superlative in early shows such as Ben Casey and Dr Kildcare, portrayals have shifted to the ‘anti-heroes’ of today in House, Grey’s Anatomy and  ER.  ‘Cultivation theory’ proposes televised narratives are the basis of cultivation of assumptions and conceptions concerning cultural norms, memes and values. It is this theory which may explain the importance of physician portrayal in all forms of media, and how perception of medical professionals has altered as the televised climate has similarly shifted.

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