Articles & Resources for Junior Doctors
How to Get Into: Intensive Care Medicine ST3
About the Author Mayur Murali, ST7 Intensive Care Medicine & Anaesthetics, London and PhD Student, Imperial College London I am an ST7 Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) and Anaesthetics Registrar. I…
Doing an MBA as a Medic
My journey towards completing an MBA started in a theatre coffee room on a grey Tuesday morning in Buckinghamshire. I had just taken my first steps onto the surgical training…
Providing Effective Patient Education: Tailoring Communication to Meet Patients Where They’re At
One of the most important responsibilities of healthcare providers is ensuring that patients fully understand their diagnoses, treatment options and any potential risks. Effective patient education should be an integral…
How to Get Into: Neurology ST4
About the Author Zhilin Jiang, Neurology ST4, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery I joined Optimise Interviews after using it as a preparation resource for my neurology interviews in…
How to Get Into: Dermatology ST3
About the Author Dr. Wei Chern Gavin Fong, Dermatology Registrar (ST3) and NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow, University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust I am the Dermatology sub-lead…
How to Get Into: Rheumatology ST4
About the Author Urwah Ahmed, Rheumatology ST4, Cheltenham General Hospital I have been the Sub-lead for the Rheumatology section of Optimise Interviews for the past year. As part of this role,…
How to Get Into: Diabetes & Endocrinology ST4
About the Author Dr Ashutosh Kapoor, Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Barts Health NHS Trust In conjunction with my clinical commitments, I am an avid tutor and have held multiple…
How to Get Into: Respiratory ST4
About the Author Dr Nicola Smallcombe, Respiratory Registrar, North East and Central London I am an ST5 Respiratory Registrar working in North East London. I am also the Respiratory…
How to Get Into: Geriatrics ST4
About the Author Dr. Kalaprapa Asavisanu (Mot), ST5 Geriatric registrar, South East London. I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2017. I did my foundation training in the…
Getting Ahead in Ophthalmology: A Practical Guide for Medical Students
Did you know that AI tools are revolutionising the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, or that ophthalmologists perform over 10 million cataract surgeries annually? Ophthalmology is a dynamic field that blends…
How to Get Into: Gastroenterology ST4
About the Author Michael Colwill, Gastroenterology ST5, St George’s Hospital I am the Gastroenterology lead for Optimise Interviews and as such have created the interview stations, acted as an…
MRCPCH Written Exam – Tips for 2025
Understanding the MRCPCH Exams The MRCPCH (Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health) exams are a series of assessments designed to evaluate the knowledge, skills, and competence…
How to Get Into: Cardiology ST4
About the Author Dr Rahul Ghelani, Cardiology Registrar, North East and Central Thames London. I initially attended Optimise Interviews in 2022 when applying for a cardiology registrar number. I subsequently used…
CME vs CPD – What’s the Difference?
What are CME and CPD? As healthcare is constantly evolving, medical professionals need to continually enhance their knowledge and skills. This helps them to keep on top of new evidence…
CST Portfolio Self-Assessment Scoring 2025
Core Surgical Training (CST) is one of the most competitive core training programmes out there, and your CST portfolio self-assessment score in 2025 could make the difference between getting your…
Obstetrics and Gynaecology ST1 Interview Guide 2024/2025
As September rolls around, many of you are gearing towards your Obs and Gynae ST1 speciality interview for the February intake. If you have been called for an interview, congrats!…
The Ultimate Guide to a PGCert in Medical Education
As doctors in the ever evolving and increasingly competitive medical field, we recognise that professional growth is a constant requirement. A key avenue for such growth is further education, and…
The Return Journey: Returning to the UK From Australia
Transitioning back to the UK from down under can indeed be a significant step, especially for a doctor. Whether it’s prompted by familial ties, rekindling connections with friends, or simply…
Gastroenterology ST4 Interview Guide
Gastroenterology is a popular choice, and competition is tough. In the first round of 2023, there were 309 applications for 111 positions, making a ratio of 2.78 applicants for each…
Clinical Radiology ST1 Interview Guide
The Radiology ST1 interview represents a critical juncture in the career path of aspiring radiologists. This article aims to navigate prospective Radiology ST1 candidates through the nuances of the interview…
Neurology ST4 Interview Guide
Neurology is a diverse field where trainees operate both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to assess patients dealing with both immediate and long-term issues. This speciality…
Preparing for the Ophthalmology ST1 Interview 2025
The Ophthalmology ST1 interview stands as a pivotal milestone for aspiring ophthalmologists, marking the initial step towards a fulfilling career in eye care. This is the last active stage in…
Ophthalmology ST1 Application Guide 2025
The ST1 application for Ophthalmology is known for its competitiveness and demands more than just academic knowledge. OST has the 5th highest competition ratio of all CT/ST1 specialities at 9.91…
A Guide to the Doctors’ Mess Committee
I am currently an F3 doctor enjoying working in New Zealand. During my F2 year in Exeter, I was the president of the doctors’ mess. When I first joined the…
Comprehensive Guide to the Prescribing Safety Assessment
What is the Prescribing Safety Assessment? The Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) is a collaborative effort between the British Pharmacological Society and MSC Assessment. This online assessment is a pass/fail evaluation…
IMT Application & Recruitment Guide 2025
Internal Medicine Training (IMT) is the largest hospital-based training program outside of the foundation program and is second only to GP training in size, with 1670 posts available in 2023….
How to Pass the MRCP PACES – Revision in 2024
After passing the gruelling MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 Written exams, the PACES exam is the final obstacle before receiving the coveted MRCP UK diploma and becoming a part…
The Best MRCP PACES Resources in 2024
It hopefully should be obvious to all candidates preparing to sit the MRCP PACES exam that a crucial part of passing the exam is the careful selection and good use…
Teaching Fellow Jobs: Top Tips for Successful Applications
Taking some time out of training after finishing the Foundation years is becoming an increasingly popular option for Junior Doctors. In fact, it is so popular, that those who choose…
The Sought-After Side Hustle: How to Make it Happen as a Doctor
I’m sure you have all heard of a ‘side hustle’ by now. That’s not surprising considering that a recent survey estimated almost half of UK adults (44%) now have one,…
IMG Jobs: Foundation, FY2 Standalone, or JCF?
Hey there, I’m a junior doctor who’s got quite a diverse background. I was born and raised in sunny Sri Lanka, did my med school in the city of Dublin,…
Difficult Cannulation – A Practical Guide to IV Access
Often, I have seen the sincerest of doctors struggling with intravenous cannulation, including myself, in the wards or ITUs. You may have mastered the basics taught in medical school, but…
The Medical Training Initiative (MTI) Demystified
My journey started with a dream. A dream to experience multifaceted healthcare systems and expose myself to risks outside my safety bubble. Anaesthetics was my first love during my internship….
A Back Pocket Guide to Your First ‘On-call’ Shift
If you’re new to the UK, new to medicine or just looking to hone your skills further; I hope this guide will shed some light on the mysteries of the…
Making the Transition: IMG to NHS
As the world becomes more globalised, it’s no surprise that the medical profession is experiencing an influx of doctors from overseas. Many international medical graduates (IMGs) choose to come to…
The Emotional Turmoil of Guilt as a Junior Doctor
Starting as a Foundation Year 1 doctor in the NHS can be quite daunting. Amidst the pressures of patient care, long workdays, and a sense of duty, guilt often creeps…
Guide to the 2023 MRCP PACES Exam Format
The MRCP PACES examination is a challenging but essential part of the journey to getting your training number as a higher medical speciality trainee in the UK. The exam assesses…
Equipment You Need For Your First Medical Expedition
So if you’ve joined us from our previous post, welcome! If not, it’s about getting your first expedition as a doctor, so if you’re new to expeditions, it might be…
Navigating the Emotional Landscape of IV Cannulation
Picture this: You’re a Junior doctor beginning your first-ever shift in the Acute Medical Unit, faced with a patient in shock who’s in urgent need of an IV cannulation. You…
Ultimate Guide to the PLAB 1 Exam
Are you a foreign medical graduate thinking about a career in the UK – the tiny island nation that gave the world English, Shakespeare, and Harry Potter? If you graduated…
Easter Sri Lanka Attack: My Experience at the Major Trauma Centre
April 21, 2019 – a date etched in the hearts of Sri Lankans forever. The day that started with the hope of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, turned into…
Quick-start Guide to Your First Shift in the Emergency Department
Starting a job in the Emergency Department (E.D.) soon and worried about what this infamous department might be like? Then this is the guide for you! Screenshot it, bookmark it…
FRCA Primary MCQ Examination Guide 2024
As a foundation doctor or core anaesthetic trainee who wants to progress to ST4 anaesthetics, one of the biggest hurdles you will face is the FRCA Primary exams – a…
From Drowning to Breaking the Surface: My Reality of Being an FY1
The transition from medical student to FY1 can be a daunting and challenging experience. It’s a time when you leave the comfort of your university and enter the world of…
Becoming an Offshore Medic – Work on an Oil Rig
I’m Dr Hrushikesh Ramchandra S, MBBS. Today I am going to share some of the salient features related to Rig Doctor/Offshore Medic. I was a rig doctor for almost 7…
Top Medical ST4 Interview Tips
Hints and Tips by Dr Nikhil Ahluwalia Dr Nikhil Ahluwalia is a cardiology registrar based in London, and founder of Optimise Interviews. Optimise Interviews has worked with hundreds of applicants…
How to Get Your First Medical Expedition
We all need a bit of variety in life. There’s no better feeling than replacing that pitter-pattering of junior doctor’s sketchers along the hospital corridor once in a while. Some…
Everything You Need to Know About the MRCEM Primary SBA Exam in 2024
Attention, doctors who want to pursue emergency medicine in the UK! The world of medicine is constantly changing and evolving. Whether it is treatment plans, exams or vaccinations, keeping up…
Ultimate Guide to Working in New Zealand as a Junior Doctor
Thinking of working in New Zealand after FY2? Great decision! New Zealand (Aotearoa) is an INCREDIBLE country with outrageously beautiful scenery, adventures for everyone and more beaches and mountains than…
Medical Portfolio Tips: Become a Portfolio Pirate
Do you struggle with keeping your portfolio up to date? Do you dread ARCP season? Are you an IMG who loathes the idea of portfolio? If your answer to all…
Core Surgical Training (CST) Interview Guide
The Core Surgical Training (CST) interview is the final hurdle you will have to go through before you can get your hands on the prestigious CST training number. But despite…
Going From Healthcare Professional to Digital Nomad Medical Writer
I can’t have been the only one who at some point during my eight-thousandth step up to the ward on the top floor has thought to myself “I’m done. I’m…
Core & ACCS Anaesthetics CT1 Interview Guide 2025
Core and ACCS Anaesthetics interviews have always been highly competitive, but in the round 1 application, you’ll be competing with more applicants than ever before! This is no surprise given…
The Ultimate MRCP Part 1 Exam Guide 2024
During your med school days, you might have assumed that any discussion about the MRCP Part 1 Examination was regarding Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography, a fancy imaging test for the bile and…
Top 10 Tips for Surviving “The Night Shift”
Feel a sense of dread every time you see “nights” on your rota? Freshly graduated and haven’t worked a night shift before? Or just simply “not a night owl”? Well,…
The Best Free Online ECG Courses & Websites
If you’ve read our guide to ECG courses for doctors, but want to see how far a free ECG course can get you, look no further! In this article, we…
A Guide to ECG Training Courses for Junior Doctors
Performing and interpreting ECGs are skills required for all UK junior doctors so that a rapid assessment can be made in acute medical scenarios. A quick and careful examination of…
CST Recruitment & Application Guide 2025
Core Surgical Training (CST) is the most common pathway for foundation-equivalent doctors to start their training in surgery, leading to higher surgical training. CST is a highly competitive programme which…
You Will Make Mistakes… and That’s Okay
By Dr James Davidson Founder of MedCourse Black Wednesday is upon us once again – a day where most trainees change their rotation and thousands of freshly qualified doctors hit…
The 34 Best Free Resources for UK Junior Doctors 2022
As part of our #BlackWednesday series, we will cover 34 of the best resources for those FY1 (foundation year 1) doctors landing on the wards for the first time on…
My COVID Meltdown | Dr Besu Asfaw
Written By Dr Besu Asfaw Clinical Fellow in Medical Microbiology, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust On the Second Anniversary of the Beginning of the UK’s Pandemic Response I considered myself a…
Ultimate Guide to Quality Improvement Projects
Quality improvement is a core part of working within NHS and healthcare environments. Every department within a trust will be running several quality improvement projects at any given time to…
The Ultimate Guide to ACCS Training 2024
Adrenaline junkies rejoice! Doff your bike helmet, slam the remains of your coffee, and have a gander at the options that Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) Training can bring to…
IMT Interview Guide 2025
So, you’ve decided to apply for IMT, nailed your application, and have been shortlisted for an Internal Medicine Training (IMT) interview. What next? In this guide, we’ll run you through…
IMT Application Scoring 2025
Let’s not kid ourselves – for eligible candidates, the self-assessment score for IMT application in 2024/25 is the single most important part of the application process (right up until the…
The Ultimate Guide to Internal Medicine Training (IMT) 2024
Have you ever sat in a medical handover, exhausted following 12 hours of extinguishing fires across the hospital, and listened to the conversation between medical trainees thinking “I have no…