It is easy and perhaps comforting to believe that the road to our goals and success will come through a well mapped out and predictable route. During medical school and throughout life however, we often find that our expectations regarding how we reach a destination are significantly different to reality. Although less conventional routes into medical school may be less known about and in some cases initially appear to be the result of failure, they are far more common than many realise and can produce incredibly successful students and doctors.

In this episode of “The Student Dose” Claire speaks to Dr Bakhtar Ahmed, an NHS doctor and founder of The Medic Life, an organisation that aims to help prospective students gain places at medical and dental school. Together we reflect on Bakhtar’s personal experiences during his career, the challenges he has faced and how optimism and the love of his work has led him from strength to strength. We also focus on how and why how we made it into medical school matters less compared to how that journey has shaped us today. We later discuss the work done by The Medic Life and the need to provide prospective students with essential and affordable support during their application. 

You can find Bakhtar on Instagram @the.medic.life and see his work at The Medic Life on their website @themediclife.com.

Podcast hosts: Claire McGinniss, Charlie Carey and Katie Rooney

Guest: Dr Bakhtar Ahmed

It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views aired are of those in this discussion in its own context at the time of the recording. As mentioned, the hosts are ambassadors of the “You Okay, Doc?” charity, which is focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. As a result, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that some listeners may at times find upsetting. If you find yourself significantly affected by the discussion, please consider seeking professional help. Recording for this series took place throughout 2022. 

As a charity, we need your help to keep going. Please check out our website: https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page @youkaydoc to find out more and stay up-to-date. If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? Charity via text message. To donate £3 text “DOCTOR” to 70970.