Chloe 'Attends' the National Health Careers Conference

Last week, from the comfort of my dorm room, I attended the National Health Careers Conference hosted by Health Careers Live.

The conference included doctors, health care professionals, nurses and medical students from around the globe who presented on different subjects. For example, one conference I attended was about the ‘good news’ in medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the speaker outlined how the virus has compressed time - eight years of innovation and advancement compressed into eight months.

Hospitals have developed electronic data boards much like the flight information boards in airports to improve the flow of patients in hospitals, virtual surgeries where specialists from different countries can assist with complicated treatments and the McLaren car company making mini ventilators for critical patients.

However, the talk that stirred me the most was presented by two patients with Parkinson’s Disease. During the Q&A session, a student asked them what advice they would give to aspiring medics, and they said ‘to encompass a complete package’ - treating patients holistically, not as their condition labels them, but as people. Make sure to ask about their day and thinking of ways to improve the quality of their day to day life as well as the quality of their physical health.

I learnt that my kindness could impact someone's life just as equally as a treatment or surgery can, and I encourage everyone to be gracious to one another during this time - a smile can go a long way!

Chloe, Lower Sixth