When Cedar House closed its doors last year ahead of the first national lockdown, no-one could have imagined what lay in wait over the following 12 months. For all of us, the past few days have included moments of reflection on all that has been lost and gained, fought for and achieved in year quite unlike no other.
As Professor Hazel Scott shares in her Dean’s Update this month, the values and commitment of the School of Medicine – shared across student doctors and staff – have powered the School’s efforts to strive forward, finding new and creative ways to learn, teach and support one another and our NHS.
Throughout the pandemic, we have seen snapshots of how it has impacted different members of the School community, often taking them on journeys with unexpected challenges and obstacles, but also benefits and rewards.
Looking back at your stories
Natasha Varshney was completing a Master of Research intercalated degree, when the news came that the University’s labs would be closing and procured for COVID research and testing. She switched course, stepping into a healthcare assistant role for Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust back home. An experience she knows “will make her a better doctor.”
Victoria Simpson was gearing up for a research trip to Malawi as part of her intercalated master’s degree at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine when the pandemic hit.
Victoria's decision to take part in the COVID-LIV Virology study as a phlebotomist proved crucial to her securing a place on the academic foundation programme at Liverpool’s Royal University Hospital, “I know that so many of our plans have been shifted with the pandemic but, the way I see it, in one way or another, we’re exactly where we are supposed to be.”
Many Liverpool School of Medicine student doctors began volunteering to support the NHS, and, together with our NHS partners, the School was delighted to create the pioneering Sub FY1 role, enable those in their final year to step into a much-needed support role at that time.
Continuing in this innovative vein, Student Doctors James Barrie and Cora Marks, equipped with no more than a 3D printer, networking skills and a lot of hard work, created and distributed PPE helping protect key workers and providing a total of 85 face shields and 50 ear savers.
Students and staff alike became accustomed to learning, socialising and celebrating online with everything from graduation ceremonies to careers fairs to variety shows taking place over Zoom.
Student doctors in Years 3 and 4 were among the first students to return to campus, with a series of COVID-19 measures in place to facilitate safe clinical skills teaching. In November, the OSCE clinical examinations, postponed from earlier that year, were able to run successfully and safely in a virtual set up – a fantastic team effort from across the School, University and our NHS partners.
“It is this coming together of the whole School, working together with smiles on our faces during such a time that has really made this a special achievement.” said Clinical Examination and Procedural Skills Theme Lead Dr Jamie Fanning.
While changing circumstances have meant some year groups having to learn remotely at times, creative initiatives like February’s Year 2 Internet Hospital week have continued to offer a real taste of the clinical environment, and the opportunity to interact with real patients, virtually.
Dr Victoria Tippett’s video vlog, which she began during the first wave of the pandemic in March of last year, provides an insight into her experience in Respiratory Medicine at Aintree Hospital, as well as the events that have shaped the NHS student doctors will experience today.
As we moved into 2021, the School was proud to see over 500 of its student doctors respond to the call for support when the COVID-19 vaccine became available. Since then, they have been instrumental in its roll out across the North West, helping to protect the region’s most vulnerable and elderly, and experiencing many uplifting and emotional encounters along the way.
Looking forward
With the announcement of the roadmap out of lockdown, we are now looking forward to welcoming Years 1 and 2 back to campus after the Easter break, for in-person clinical skills teaching. And with graduation on the horizon, we are preparing to saying goodbye to our amazing Year 5 as students, and looking forward to welcoming you as our new colleagues.
We continue to be blown away by the resilience and strength of School students and staff, and cannot wait for a hopefully not so distant future where we can be reunited in our University home of Cedar House.
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