Science with a medical flavour

1. Science with a medical flavour Dr Gail Nicholls – School of Medicine Dr Charlotte Haigh – Faculty of Biological Sciences Dr Melvin Holmes – School of Food Science and Nutrition Helen Knowles - Careers Consultant for Faculty of Biological Sciences

2. This session will discuss some of the courses that have medical-related content which may be of interest to: • students applying to medicine/dentistry who are thinking of options for their 5th UCAS slot • students to consider whether medicine/dentistry are the right options for them • students who are interested in medicine but already know they don’t want to be a medic

3. Plan B….. Dr Gail Nicholls Director of MBChB Admissions

4. Plan B………. If anyone’s got a Plan B, now would be a good time.

5. Why a Plan B? • Pressure of number of applicants per place • Medicine not right for the candidate

6. Numbers of applicants 16 applicants per place RAF pilot: 450 applicants per place

7. A typical applicant at interview • Excellent GCSE or AS grades • Predicted or achieved 3 As at A level (orABB for A2L) • A good UKCAT score • A good personal statement A typical applicant who gets to the interview stage would have all of the following:

8. Is medicine right for them? What makes a good doctor? GMC 2011

9. Final word • Candidates should remember that a 5th option will not influence their application to Medicine at Leeds……..

10. Science with a medical flavour- what are the options? Dr Charlotte Haigh – Faculty of Biological Sciences

11. Courses with a medical flavour include: • N.B. This list is not exhaustive – there are other courses with a ‘medical flavour’. In some the medical link is explicit, others less so.

12. What do these 2 drinks have in common? ‘Researchers identified the process which allows harmful clumps of protein to latch on to brain cells, causing them to die. They were able to interrupt this pathway using the purified extracts of EGCG from green tea and resveratrol from red wine’ Green tea and red wine extracts disrupt Alzheimer's Research conducted by Biochemists and Neuroscientists

13. How does the human heart develop in the foetus? Work by anatomists, physiologists, cell biologists and biophysicists ‘First comprehensive model of human heart development using observations of living foetal hearts found surprising differences from existing animal models’

14. Medical devices for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disease ‘50 years after 50’ work on designing and manufacturing devices such as hip and knee replacement and heart valves Work conducted by Engineers, biologists, biochemists and anatomists

15. Breast cancer drug could halt other tumours Research conducted by biochemists, biological scientists, cell biologists and biomedical scientists’ ‘The drug, geldanamycin, is well known for attacking a protein associated with the spread of breast cancer. However, a laboratory-based study found it also degraded a different protein that triggers blood vessel growth’

16. Further opportunities • This is just work done in Leeds which involves, staff and UG/PG students in various disciplines that are medically related • Many more opportunities with these degrees outside of the University

17. Science with a medical flavour- what are the options? Dr Melvin Holmes – School of Food Science and Nutrition

18. Science with a medical flavour- what are the options? Helen Knowles - Careers Consultant for Faculty of Biological Sciences

19. Alternatives to Medicine Helen Knowles Careers Consultant for Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Leeds

20. Destinations of FBS graduates 2010/ 2011 • 09/10 survey population 498(415) 83.3% response rate • 10/11 survey population 535(465) 86.9% response rate • In full-time paid work only (inc. self-employment)   •  191 46.8%  190 41.0% • In further study only •  105 25.7% 125  27.0% • Increase in further study, decrease in employment

21. Further study 09 /10 10/11 11/12 • Higher degree (R) 30 22.6% 46 25.4% 54 33.96% • Higher degree (T) 37 27.8% 81 44.8% 63 39.62% • PG Dip/Cert. 28 21.1% 27 14.9% 13 8.18% • First degree 22 16.5% 5 2.8% 14* 8.81% • *Introduction of NEW FEES 12/13

22. What other careers might interest your students? Depends on what motivates them Helping people? Working in healthcare? What skills do they have that are required to become a doctor, that can be used in other careers?

23. Pharmaceuticals industry • Science based or business based careers? (using their science knowledge) • Motivation? – Being a part of an industry that is improving/enabling better lives for people. • R&D/STP harnessing science/new frontiers • Sales relationship building with NHS consultants/GPs • Both offer potential compromise IF Healthcare is a strong motivating factor

24. Facilitating subjects • Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths are considered to be ‘facilitating’ A2 subjects. • Universities rate them as showing academic ability and will be well regarded even if you apply for a new science or non-science related degree subject • Important to check out entrance requirements for each degree course at each university. Entry profiles on www.ucas.com

25. Courses where A2 Biology useful DefinitelyBiomedical SciencesApplied EcologyPharmaceutical ManagementPhysiotherapyBio-archaeologyMedical and Healthcare Technology courses PossiblyMedical EngineeringEnvironmental Science Environmental Management and TechnologyOptometryPharmacy Psychology

26. Courses where A2 Physics useful Definitely All Engineering coursesMaterials Technology coursesMedical EngineeringCybernetics courses Meteorology Astrophysics Possibly Archaeological SciencesMedical and Healthcare Technology coursesOptometryRadiography

27. Courses where A2 Chemistry useful • DefinitelyChemical EngineeringChemical ProcessingPetroleum Products EngineeringEnvironmental Pollution ManagementBiomedical SciencesMedical and Healthcare Technology coursesMaterials Technology coursesPharmacyPharmaceutical Management • PossiblyEnvironmental Science coursesEnvironmental Management and TechnologyArchaeological Sciences

28. Post Graduate routes into Healthcare Careers • ALL the therapies (full time/part time) • Nursing (new PG route at university of Leeds) • STP Clinical Scientist training route (part time job specific Training) • Physician Assistant (part time, university based) • See http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm For a full list of job details and training routes

29. Careers programme FBS - Health • Calendar of events which includes : • Healthcare careers for Scientists (November) 8/9 professionals attend includes : medicine/clinical roles/Dentistry/Therapies/nursing • Medicine Matters! (June) re UCAs process and tips for a good statement Co-run with a Junior Doctor) • Summer ongoing e-mail/telephone coaching with UCAS applicants

30. Examples of STEM Careers • There is a huge variety of exciting, well paid STEM related careers • Here are some of them • http://www.wherestemcantakeyou.co.uk/

31. Conclusion • STEM fields are incredibly interlinked and many play an important role in the field of medicine • Please encourage your students to think about the options carefully – there are a wide range of degree programmes that they might find very interesting and they can lead into some very worthwhile careers