Annabel Collins, a Year 12 student with aspirations to study psychology at university, shares how her work experience at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences broadened her understanding of medicine, research and the vital role of psychology in healthcare.
This summer, I was incredibly lucky to be given the opportunity to gain work experience at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS). As a year 12 student wanting to study psychology when I go to university, my time with NDS provided me with a holistic understanding of science with great insights into medicine as well as the importance of psychology. Not only did the experience enlighten my knowledge, but it also gave me the opportunity to create new friendships and have an amazing week!
One of my first activities was learning about the work carried out at the transplantation labs and QUOD biobank. This was my first time entering a real lab setting and we had to wear lab coats and gloves for protection. I learned what a biobank is, how samples are collected, and the importance of consent and ethics. I also had the opportunity to hear about the importance of transplant research as there is a shortage of donor organs. I was able to have hands-on experience looking at kidney samples under a microscope to identify the structures within the kidney tissue. I also practised taking biopsies (using foam!) and measured the protein concentration in pre-prepared kidney samples.
Later in the week, continuing the theme of organ donation, I also got to explore and learn about clinical trials, with a focus on how organs can be preserved through perfusion. Again, this was a hands-on experience, using a grapefruit as an example organ, pumping juice through it to mimic a perfusion machine. I also learned about the SENTINEL trial, which was carried out within NDS, and how skin grafts from the donor to the patient receiving the organ can be used to monitor organ rejection.
During the week, I also attended an ethics debate, which I found particularly interesting as I want to study psychology. We discussed ethics within hospital and surgery settings. Through this I learned about the importance of decision making in healthcare, which can include assessing a patient's cognitive capacity and whether they are able to make informed decisions, which is key in medicine. Additionally, we discussed the importance of doctors diligently explaining procedures to patients to ensure that they are not scared to receive treatments and understand exactly what will be happening to them and any risks involved, which is especially useful when dealing with more vulnerable groups, such as children or the elderly. The debate helped me to better understand the wide reach psychology has and its vital role throughout a hospital setting. It also opened my eyes to potential future career paths within medicine broadly.
Another exciting aspect of my week at NDS included attending the student symposium in which students from the University of Oxford presented their work. This was an amazing opportunity that enabled me to hear about the research the students were carrying out within the university. The projects covered a wide range of topics, from research into prostate cancer, hearing loss, and malaria. This was truly inspirational and made me think about how these topics could be linked to psychology, for example, I discovered that up to 40% of prostate cancer patients are at risk of clinical anxiety and depression, which could be limited using cognitive behavioural therapy.
My time at NDS was such an amazing experience, and I am so grateful to the NDS team, who made my week so memorable. I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to learn about some of the work going on within several departments within NDS, giving me a unique perspective. The week opened my mind and challenged my thinking and gave me food for thought about how my future could look. The team made me feel so incredibly welcome and even celebrated my birthday with me. A huge thank you to everyone at NDS!