Advertise on podcast: Career Conversations

In this episode Dr Jan Engel-Morton discusses Expedition & Wilderness Medicine with Dr Naomi Dodds. Dr Dodds explains the roles and responsibilities of an expedition medic and their personal experience of getting involved in Expedition Medicine. They also discuss how interested physicians can get into Expedition Medicine and find opportunities for work. Dr Naomi Dodds is an Anaesthetist based in Aberdeen, a qualified UIMLA International Mountain Leader, and Mountain Rescue Team Doctor. She is Co-director of the International Postgraduate Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine and Education Lead for the International Committee of Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom). Dr Jan Engel-Morton is a Medical Education Fellow and Registrar in NHS Lothian. --Useful Links-- PG Diploma - https://rcpsg.ac.uk/education/international-postgraduate-diploma-in-expedition-and-wilderness-medicine Adventure Medic - https://www.theadventuremedic.com/ -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode of Career Conversations, Dr Emma Spencer discusses the importance of digital health literacy - the ability to access, understand and use digital health tools - with Professor Mahmood Adil, RCPE's outgoing Clinical Data & Digital Health Lead. Prof Adil describes his career journey into digital health, his role at the College, and he provides insights into the evolution of digital health over his career and the fascinating opportunities this has afforded him, including his work with the Manchester Commonwealth Games. The introductory resource on clinical data and digital health can be accessed on RCPE's Education Portal: https://learning.rcpe.ac.uk/data-digitalhealth Professor Mahmood Adil was RCPE's Clinical Data & Digital Health Lead. He is a global expert in clinical data, digital health & innovation fields. He has over 25 years of medical, public health, executive management, academic and policy experience and has delivered on key senior positions in the UK, USA & Middle East. Dr Emma Spencer is Co-Vice Chair - Education of RCPE's Trainees and Members' Committee and resident doctor in internal medicine. RCPE would like to thank Professor Adil for his contributions and service as our Clinical Data & Digital Health Lead. Recording date: 17 April 2026 -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Heather Kennedy talks with Dr Amy Perkins about a career in Dermatology. Dr Perkins highlights what attracted her to the specialty, discusses her route to becoming a consultant, and gives advice for any medical students or resident doctors looking to develop their interest in the career. Dr Amy Perkins is a Consultant Dermatologist at NHS Forth Valley and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow. She sits on the board of examiners for the Royal College of Physicians and is completing a Master’s degree in Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine at the University of Manchester. Her interests include dermatology education, health misinformation on social media, digital health communication and the ethical integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare. Dr Heather Kennedy has completed IMT and is currently working as a locum in NHS Fife. She is a member of the Trainees and Members' Committee. Recording Date: April 2026 -- Useful Links -- British Association of Dermatologists - https://www.bad.org.uk/ DermSchool 2026 - https://bad.org.uk/events/18th-annual-dermschool-preconference-session Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment in Dermatology - https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/specialties/dermatology -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks with Dr Toby Merriman about what it means to be the medical registrar. Based on research during his Masters in Medical Education, Dr Merriman discusses the different ways that people cope with being the medical registrar and some of the benefits of this difficult but rewarding position. Dr Toby Merriman is an Acute Medicine Registrar working in NHS Lothian. While completing a Masters in Medical Education at the University of Dundee, he became interested in professional identity formation and the socialisation factors that influence this complex process. Inspired by his own experience, he studied the professional identity of the medical registrar for his Masters research. Along with his clinical work, he maintains an interest in simulation, clinical education and narrative research. Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. Recording date: 24 March 2026 --Links-- JRCPTB Specialties - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/ Dr Merriman's talk at the Medical Trainees' Conference 2026 (you must be a member to view) - https://learning.rcpe.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=28041 -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees https://x.com/RCPEdinTrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks to Dr Clare Bostock about the important topic of work-life balance. Dr Bostock also discusses the concept of hyper-doing and shares advice gathered from their own experiences on when to recognise hyper-doing and reclaim the balance between the personal and the professional. Dr Clare Bostock is a Consultant Geriatrician in Aberdeen. Outside work, she enjoys creative writing and a variety of sports, including triathlon . She confesses to being a 'hyper-doer' and is always looking for fresh ways to 'hyper-don't'. Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. Recording Date: 18 February 2026 -- Useful Links -- Reframing failure; redefining success - Clare Bostock, 2025 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14782715251368571 Hyper-doing? Hyper-don’t - Clare Bostock, 2023 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14782715231189297 Burnout and Work–Life Balance: Getting Personal - Clare Bostock, 2019 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.4997/jrcpe.2019.202 Digital Life: Value or Vice? - Clare Bostock, 2019 - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.4997/jrcpe.2019.408 -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

Dr Katherine Ralston (Consultant Physician and Geriatrician) joins Aoife Duignan (RCPE Trainees and Members' Committee) to discuss preparing to finish training and achieving your certificate of completion of training. Dr Kat Ralston is a Geriatrician working in West Lothian. Dr Aoife Duignan is Co-Chair of the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Registrar in Geriatric and General Medicine in Edinburgh. Recording Date: 29 January 2026 -- Useful Links -- JRCPTB Guidance - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/training-certification/completing-training Consultant Conversations Podcast Episode - https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/consultant-conversations/what-i-wish-i-knew-preparing-for-and-becoming-a-consultant-7-mar-2024/ -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

This is a co-release with our sister podcast, Clinical Conversations. In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks with Dr Manav Sharma about the specialty, Aerospace Medicine. They discuss the pathways which lead to the specialty and some interesting cases. Dr Manav Dutt Sharma is an aerospace medicine physician, former Indian Air Force flight surgeon and human factors specialist with over 23 years of experience at the intersection of aviation and healthcare. He has led an award‑winning primary healthcare centre in the Air Force, works on safety, service quality and systems improvement in hospitals, and has authored a forthcoming book, From Runways to Recovery Rooms, on what healthcare can learn from aviation. Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. Recording date: 12 December 2025 --Links-- JRCPTB Specialty - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties/aviation-and-space-medicine Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/ -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this updated episode of Career Conversations, Dr Gabrielle Woodward-Smith discusses their experience of applying for Internal Medicine Training (IMT) using the Oriel system with Dr Marilena Giannoudi, and Dr Emma Spencer highlights important changes in the application process. -- Useful Links -- https://www.oriel.nhs.uk/Web https://www.imtrecruitment.org.uk/ https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties Disclaimer: Please always refer to official recruitment websites for the latest guidance as application dates and processes may differ to those described in this episode. Update recording date: 28 October 2025 [original release: 10/2022] -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees https://x.com/RCPEdinTrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

During SAS Week 2025, join us for a conversation about SAS doctors: an alternative to traditional training. Dr Marilena Giannoudi (RCPE T&MC Podcast Lead) is joined by Dr Libby Crawford, a SAS Doctor in Newcastle and RCPE's SAS Doctor Lead, and Dr Sue Pound (RCPE Vice President) who discuss the career option of being a SAS doctor and how RCPE can support you. You can contact Dr Crawford by emailing [email protected] -- Links -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/sas-doctors https://www.thefederation.uk/training/training-certification/portfolio-pathway-formerly-known-cesr -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi speaks with Dr Hannah Preston about their article on less than full time working as a trainee doctor. They discuss the results of the study as well as some of the barriers that still exist for trainees wishing to work less than full time. Dr Hannah Preston a Renal Registrar in South East Scotland, currently undertaking a clinical PhD in manganese enhanced MRI in kidney disease. She has been a member of the Trainees and Members' Committee (T&MC) since 2019 and is currently Co-chair after previous roles in education and development of the RCPE podcasts including Clinical Conversations, Career Conversations and PACES. Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members' Committee (T&MC), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. Recording date: 19 December 2024 -- Useful Links -- Preston H, Spencer E, Ker R, Guckian J, Giannoudi M. Less than full-time training, barriers and future needs. A UK-wide online survey of doctors in training. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. 2024;54(3):204-211. doi:10.1177/14782715241273741 For information on the T&MC newsletter, please email [email protected]. -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks with Dr Rebecca Sagar about a career in Diabetes and Endocrinology. Dr Sagar highlights the benefits of following this career path, discusses how she got into the specialty and provides advice for those who are interested in it. Dr Rebecca Sagar currently works as an NIHR Clinical Lecturer and SpR in Endocrinology at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals. She has a sub-specialty interest in Adrenal and Metabolic Bone endocrinology. She holds national roles including acting as the current chair for Young Diabetologists and Endocrinologists Forum (YDEF). Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair and Co-Podcast Lead for the Trainees and Members’ Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. Recording date: 17 October 2024 -- Useful Links -- Young Diabetologists & Endocrinologists' Forum - https://www.youngdiabetologists.org.uk/ -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Crowe and Dr Aoife Duignan delve into the challenges and rewards of becoming a parent while working in the medical field. They explore crucial topics such as navigating maternity and annual leave, breaking the news to your employer, and the logistics of returning to work. The discussion also covers the importance of keeping in touch days (KIT), understanding your rights in the workplace, and the resources available to support breastfeeding and arranging childcare. Dr Crowe and Dr Duignan share insights on managing antenatal leave, handling illness during external childcare, and calculating accrued annual leave, offering practical advice for balancing parenthood with a demanding medical career. Dr Kirsty Crowe is a specialty registrar in renal and internal medicine based in the West of Scotland. She is deeply committed to enhancing medical education, particularly in addressing barriers that hinder patient engagement with healthcare. Prior to commencing her higher specialty training, Dr Crowe completed a Clinical Teaching Fellowship, reflecting her dedication to effective medical education. Her interests extend to supporting the inclusivity and wellbeing of trainees, a focus she explored during her Scottish Clinical Leadership Fellowship with the NHS Lothian Medical Education Directorate and the GMC. Dr Crowe is also actively involved in networks that support renal trainees in engaging with quality improvement and research activities. Dr Aoife Duignan is a specialist trainee in geriatric and general medicine in South East Scotland. With a strong commitment to representing her peers, she has previously served on local and regional trainee committees and held the position of Vice Chair for Representation on the Trainees and Members' Committee (TMC). Dr Duignan has a history of organizing Core Medical Trainee teaching and currently oversees the regional Geriatric Medicine training days. Her interests lie in enhancing the quality of internal medicine training, fostering near-peer support, and providing guidance for those planning maternity leave, returning to work, and undertaking Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training. Recording Date: 15 August 2024 Please note: this episode was recorded prior to the British Medical Association (BMA) and others replacing 'Junior Doctor' with 'Resident Doctor'. -- Useful Links -- BMA on Maternity, Paternity and Adoption - https://www.bma.org.uk/pay-and-contracts/maternity-paternity-and-adoption NHS Scotland Maternity Policy - https://workforce.nhs.scot/policies/maternity-policy-overview/maternity-policy/ Maternity Action - https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/rights-for-parents-with-more-than-one-job/ Tax-free childcare information - https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare -- Follow us -- https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE Events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events -- Become an RCPE Member -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

This week, Dr Marilena Giannoudi focuses on the geriatric career path with Dr Kat Ralston. This episode covers the day-to-day as well as the advantages, challenges, and the pathway to this profession. Dr Ralston provides many resources to inform your journey into geriatric medicine and discusses a few interesting cases she has encountered. Dr Kat Ralston is a geriatric medicine registrar in Edinburgh. She is also the Education Co-Vice Chair and the joint Podcast Lead for the RCPE Trainee & Members' Committee (T&MC). Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members’ Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. --Useful Links-- Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/specialties/geriatric-medicine British Geriatrics Society https://www.bgs.org.uk/ Clinical Frailty Scale - https://www.bgs.org.uk/sites/default/files/content/attachment/2018-07-05/rockwood_cfs.pdf REDMAP Framework https://www.spict.org.uk/red-map/ Think Delirium Toolkit https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/2442/rrheal/education-networks/rural-teams-education-network/think-delirium-improving-the-care-for-older-people-delirium-toolkit The Geriatric 5M’s https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.14979 Silver Book II Geriatric Syndromes (British Geriatrics Society) - https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/silver-book-ii-geriatric-syndromes ACB Calculator https://www.acbcalc.com/ -- Related episodes -- A Fresh Look at the Geriatric Giants – Front Door and Beyond, Clinical Conversations Podcast https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/clinical-conversations/a-fresh-look-at-the-geriatric-giants-front-door-and-beyond-26-feb-2024 Frailty for the Non-Specialist, Clinical Conversations Podcast https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/clinical-conversations/frailty-for-the-non-specialist-11-mar-2024 Recording Date: 02 April 2024 Choose RCPE as your College of Entry for PACES -- We encourage you to sit PACES with our College. We have a friendly and experienced examinations team who expertly support candidates, and we deliver PACES at centres across the UK. Select RCPE as your College of Entry when applying online through your My MRCP(UK) online account. -- Follow us -- www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE Events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

This is a co-release with our sister podcast, Clinical Conversations. In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi speaks with Dr Neil Shepherd about remote and rural medicine. Dr Shepherd highlights the benefits as well as the challenges of working in remote and rural areas and some of the professional support in place for this career path. Dr Neil Shepherd considers himself to be a rural generalist. He completed his GP training in 2014 and acute care rural GP fellowship in 2018. He currently works as a rural emergency physician in Caithness General Hospital, a Locum GP in Orkney and as training programme director for broad based training with NHS Education for Scotland. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members’ Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. Recording date: 5 November 2024 --Useful Links-- BASICS Scotland - https://basicsscotland.org.uk/ Broad Based Training Information - www.scotmt.scot.nhs.uk/recruitment/b…training.aspx Rural and Remote Health Credential - www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/news/rural-and-…nd-urgent-care/ GP Fellowships - https://www.scotlanddeanery.nhs.scot/your-development/gp-fellowships/ UCLan's National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine - www.uclan.ac.uk/centres/ncrrm -- Follow us -- www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events Disclaimer: Please always refer to official recruitment websites for the latest guidance as application dates and processes may differ to those described in this episode. -- Become an RCPE Member -- www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi discusses the career path in Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) with specialists Dr Sarah Schoeman and Dr Michael Ewens. This episode will give you insights on a typical week working in GUM, how to get into this field, what it takes to specialise in it and the many advantages of this rewarding profession. Dr Sarah Schoeman is a GUM Consultant in Leeds based at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Sarah was appointed as a GUM consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust in 2010 and became Clinical Lead for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust HIV service in 2015. Sarah’s areas of special interest include education and training, HIV and genital dermatology. She is currently co-Chair of the GUM SAC alongside Dr Andy Williams and together they represent the GUM SAC on the BASHH board. In addition Sarah is a current clinical member of the HIV CRG, Clinical Lead for the West Yorkshire HIV Network, Clinical Lead for the Leeds Fast Tack Cities project, a BASHH Sexual Health Dermatology SIG member and BSSVD council member. Dr Michael Ewens is a Consultant Physician in Genitourinary (Sexual Health & HIV) and Internal Medicine. He specialises in the sexual healthcare of trans individuals, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, focusing on conditions such as proctitis and sexually transmitted enteric infections. Additionally, Dr Ewens is an expert in Combination HIV Prevention and HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), including investigative approaches to these areas. Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members’ Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD. --Useful Links-- Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/specialties/genitourinary-medicine British Association for Sexual Health and HIV - https://www.bashh.org British HIV Association https://www.bhiva.org/ HIV Trainee Association https://hivta.org.uk/ JRCPTB Training Information - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties/genitourinary-medicine Love GUM - https://lovegum.bashh.org/ Get Involved in GUM - https://padlet.com/stashh1/get-involved-in-gum-kz9569d4dbswatyz --Relevant podcast episodes-- Living with HIV (18 Sep 2023), Clinical Conversations Podcast - https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/clinical-conversations/living-with-hiv-18-sep-2023/ GUM Clinic (21 Oct 2024), Clinical Conversations Podcast (2024) - https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/clinical-conversations/gum-clinic/ Recording Date: 23 February 2024 -- Choose RCPE as your College of Entry for PACES -- We encourage you to sit PACES with our College. We have a friendly and experienced examinations team who expertly support candidates, and we deliver PACES at centres across the UK. Select RCPE as your College of Entry when applying online through your My MRCP(UK) online account. -- Follow us -- www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees -- Upcoming RCPE Events -- https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events Feedback: [email protected] This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).