December Issue

Our final newsletter issue of 2021! Packed full of reflections, lessons and opportunites.

🎊Season’s Greetings

Welcome back BMP Network! We hope you had a restful holiday and Christmas Break, and may the new year bring you more success!

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📝 Message from the Founder

A new year brings new insights and reflections on the past. Have a read of a message from our founder and CEO, Sharon, on what she’s learnt in the past year and looks forwards to in the new year👇🏾

Sharon

Another year (almost) done! It’s so crazy to think 2021 is over and 2022 is soon to begin, but grateful we’re alive and well. The last time I wrote a contribution to the newsletter was a year ago, only three months into BMP.

Now we’re 15 months in, and the growth of our network always overwhelms me. I want to thank everyone once again for all the support and for being part of the journey!

As we’re approaching the New Year, it is natural to goal set, reflect and reset. Something I advised last year was thorough self-introspection, and I 100% still stand by this, but this year I would also encourage everyone to drop the goal setting. Controversial – I know – but allow me to explain.

Ali Abdaal discussed in a video that the problem with goals is winners and losers have the same goals. It’s a very simple sentence, but I was so stunned by this because it’s true. What needs to change is the habit.

For example, if my goal is to have a clean room – but I still have a habit of being messy – once I’ve achieved this goal, two days later, my room is going to be messy once again (my housemates can testify to this lmao).

Goals are temporary changes. It’s not bad to have goals, but what really needs to change is the HABIT. It’s a bad habit that leads to a messy room. Let’s focus on building healthy habits to help us operate to our fullest potential and purpose.

Another thing – tiny changes, remarkable results. This is something I’ve been aware of for a while but haven’t put into practice. The power of compounding over time is fascinating but can be detrimental.

Did you know that if we become 1% better every day for a year, we end up 37 times better by the end of the year?! However, if we become 1% worse each day, we could plummet close to 0. Times multiplies whatever you feed it. Word to Ali Abdaal.

As individuals and as a network, I hope we can put this into practice. I’m so excited to see where 2022 takes the Black Medic Plexus – 2021, it’s been good. Stay blessed all, and stay tuned!

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🎞 December Highlights

• We brought you Days in the Life of each member the last month and it was really well received! Have a look at each member’s stories in case you missed it under our Highlights Section

  

• Every BMP team member and many in our Network were doing up Jaiye Central at Wizkid’s London O2 Headline Show: Made in Lagos! Check out our latest reel which features some of the shots from the night.

  

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💎 BMP Recommendations

Adewale

This is a book that I couldn’t put down.

I actually had the audible version where 50 Cent reads to you but have recently secured a paperback version too. It’s a book for the future leader and ‘hustler’ and will inspire you in more ways than one. Get your copy now!

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👀 Things to Look Out For!

RCEM Emergency Medicine Undergraduate Essay Prizes 2022

1. The RCEM Undergraduate Research Essay Prize

2. The RCEM Undergraduate Quality Improvement Essay Prize

Prizes include:

• £500

• Reasonable travel, accommodation and registration fee for the RCEM Scientific Conference 2022

• One year membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

Applications along with a completed application form which both must be written in English should be submitted in Microsoft Word format electronically to Theo.Chiles@rcem.ac.uk by 17:00 Friday 25th February 2022.

More information can be found here

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✍🏾 BMP Resolutions

New Year Resolutions with a medic twist! Read the team’s medic resolutions as they enter the New Year.

Drop a comment at the end to tell us some of your medic resolutions!

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Ib

Be more hands on in placement. I want to take control of my learning and do things that will further improve my knowledge as well as sharpen my clinical skills.

Be intentional with my days at the hospital. E.g set tasks and small goals that I wish to achieve each day so I don’t feel like I’m wasting valuable time.

To grow in confidence & practice clinical examinations on patients without doubting my abilities.

To take a breath & pace myself.

To believe I can so I will.

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Liam

I aim to focus on learning and not just grades.

At face value, this statement may sound strange. Still, within Medicine, it can be really easy (but hard at the same time🥴) to exclusively focus on getting good grades and being a bookworm.

However, Medicine is more than that. I always remind myself that I am training to become a doctor.

A doctor is more than a big brain and top grades. A good doctor needs to have a delicate balance between their scientific/clinical skills and human factors. Human factors include; situational awareness, communication, leadership, teamwork, care and compassion, to name a few.

Going into this new year, as well as good grades, I aim to take the steps towards becoming a balanced doctor with an advanced human factor skillset. I hope to achieve this through increased patient contact and by undertaking more projects going into 2022.

Remember… learning does not only take place within the classroom.

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Sharon

To stop relying on motivation. My resolution is to just do it.

 I’ve been very down for a while, which has affected how ‘motivated’ I am to do certain things. While acknowledging and processing my emotions is essential, I can’t rely solely on motivation to do things. Motivation is a myth, and it’s a sugar rush. I’ve always thought I need motivation first, but in fact, it comes AFTER the action. So just do it. 

The motivation and drive will come.

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Osas

To balance my time better and prioritise medical school and my studies more.

To be more selective about which opportunities I choose to take so I don’t have too much on my plate and burn out.

To take extra time to read around the subject to gain a deeper understanding.

To take initiative more by making the most of the people and resources I come across at medical school.

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Victor

To finish my intercalated degree in Pharmacology with a good grade and prepare myself for clinical years. I'd also like to take steps to become more productive with my days. 

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Adewale

Secure a place in a London-based University to study an intercalated degree!

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Junior

Attempt more practice questions.

Use more resources to consolidate my knowledge.

Spend extra hours at placement to fine tune my clinical skills.

Find ways to study smarter.

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