On the job training
After submitting an application that included ideas for three articles, Anna was invited to an interview at The BMJ offices in BMA House. “I ended up talking with the panel for just under an hour and was sure by the end they would be sick of me and I had no chance of being offered the place,” she said.
The call offering her the job actually came through whilst Anna was sitting her fourth-year finals. “I turned my phone on after the exam to find missed calls from an unknown number and an email offering me the job.
“It was doubly exciting to be done with exams for the year and have got the job – though I was still a bit concerned about telling the medical school I wanted to take a year out!” she added.
Anna is halfway through her year at the BMJ and has already experienced so much. She looks after content for students and junior doctors which includes writing articles, discussing pitch ideas, leading on social media and the student podcast, Sharp Scratch.
“I've had the chance to learn loads of new skills such as attending press conferences, writing news pieces and speaking at conferences. I work closely with the clinical editors at The BMJ as well as the Editorial Registrar, who is a FY3 doctor,” Anna said.
Podcasting
Podcasting has been a favourite experience for Anna.
“Podcasting was a completely new medium for me, so learning what makes good subject matter, how to structure the recordings and learning the best ways to reach out to expert guests was definitely a challenge.
“Recording the podcast is a lot of fun. We have a panel of medical students and junior doctors who come into the studio and it's a really nice atmosphere,” she added.
The podcast discusses the ‘hidden curriculum’ of medicine and is aimed at medical students and newly qualified doctors.