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THE AMBITION OF THE SOCIETY

--- Sharing common interests in ophthalmology ---

While it is certainly a niche within the medical world, ophthalmology is incredibly varied once you scrape the surface. It is a brilliant mix of medicine and surgery and provides a unique work life balance seen in few other specialties. However, it is not for everyone! For those that it is for though, it is essential to connect and network. Currently there is unfortunately no way of prospective ophthalmologists finding each other at Leeds, and this needs to change.

--- Supporting medical students who want to specialise in ophthalmology ---

The ophthalmology exposure that most students receive at Leeds Medical School is one week. While it is understandable that it cannot be the main focus of training, for those that are considering it as a specialty, one week is insufficient. This is compounded by the fact that the application is very competitive and rather convoluted (e.g., Duke Elder Exam). A central aim of the society is to enable those that have the ambition to be ophthalmologists, a place to discuss ideas in a supportive, mutually beneficial environment. Starting applications for ophthalmology ST1 begin at medical school for many medical students in the UK; unfortunately, Leeds are behind the curve on this, as there is almost no support at medical school for this.

--- Levelling the playing field ---

There are currently a disproportionate number of Oxbridge students being accepted into ST1 positions. This society will aim to understand exactly why this is, and provide a platform to enable medical students who want to specialise in ophthalmology, the chance of being the ultimate competitors in this field. Primarily this will be achieved by reverse engineering the ST1 application requirements and providing students with a toolkit with which to work through this checklist. Most importantly, this is done while at medical school. Thus, during foundation training, there will be more time available to gain extra application points elsewhere. Considering the fantastic £8.5m investment Leeds recently received, I am confident that I can achieve buy-in from special trainees as well as consultants in achieving this aim. Certainly, the people I have approached so far for help on this project, have been more than willing to share their time with students.

OBJECTIVES

- Create an ophthalmology society that integrates into the medical school and lasts beyond the time any one student is a part of it.

- Aim to have alumni that can give back to the society as they pass through and benefit from it.

- Develop relationships with trainees and consultants.

- Increase the exposure that medical students have to ophthalmology.

- Provide tangible and useful experiences, as well as relationships, to those students who have decided that ophthalmology is for them.

- Break down any negative stereotypes and myths within the medical student body around ophthalmology and surgical specialties in general.

- Increase the proportion of successful ST1 applicants from Leeds Medical School.

- Foster mentor-mentee relationships with Leeds ST1-7 trainees, consultants and medical students.

- Provide opportunities and support for medical students to take part in audits and research (e.g., how to apply for funding, how to find and approach potential supervisors).

- Develop a social media presence with the aim of becoming authoritative in particular areas of ophthalmology.

- Promote the incredible ophthalmology faculty and staff at the hospitals at Leeds and beyond. This would be achieved via YouTube and podcasting.

ACTIVITIES

- Run keynote speaker events and grand rounds that bring together trainees, consultants, medical students and other medical professionals within ophthalmology.

- Run specialist-led ophthalmology workshops such as training in slit lamp, micro-suturing and simulator training.

- Run ophthalmology workshops to match the MBChB curriculum - perfect for exam and OSCE preparation.

- In the real world, the specialty of ophthalmology comes into contact with many medical specialties. Therefore, it is very important to run cross-society events with PERKS, ENT, Dental societies etc.

- In addition to this, Cutting Edge has made incredible progress with those medical students wanting to follow surgical specialties. This would be a very synergistic society to tie into and would help establish our society with ultimate longevity.

- Create opportunities for medical students to gain exposure to ophthalmology technology companies. It is a very technology focused field and there are vast opportunities outside the NHS for medical students to get involved with - this society will tap into these.