Hey there guys! My name is Seán Reynolds and I’m the Auditor of Medsoc
2008/2009 and I’d like to welcome you to the Medsoc Survival Guide and to
Medicine in UCC. While you have been enduring blood, sweat and tears to
produce those points medsoc have been enduring similar circumstances to
bring you this guide…well if you count blood from paper cuts (Don’t worry
Dearbhla had bandages on hand!), sweat from carrying them to Brookfield
(Some of us more than others!) and tears of joy to know that we had
finished it (Or was that just me?) But seriously well done on getting here;
It’s a great feeling and you should all be very excited about the year ahead.
Our job as medsoc is essentially to help all ‘medheads’ to achieve the balance
between recreation and education. And this year we will have more events
than ever to help you do just that! This of course is all the result of this
years hard working Medsoc team. They are a great bunch of people and it’s
about time I introduced them!
Auditor: Yep that’s me! Most people think that being auditor means you are
shocking important and very busy, but I’ve learned as long as you look
shocking important and appear very busy that will do just fine…so sentences
like “I’m up the walls with medsoc stuff” and “rushed off my feet with this
medsoc lark” work quite nicely! I’m coming up with new ones all the
time…creativity is a tough job!
Vice Auditor: Behind every man is a good woman…but when it comes to
Siobhán McCarthy I’d rather have her in front of me, where I can keep an
eye on her! And with the negotiating skills I’ve seen from her so far, we’re in
for one heck of a MEDBALL!
Entertainments Officer: Christina Flemming is our entertainments officer
for this year (But I would encourage you all to call her crispy miss!!!) She’s a
versatile lady from curing lepers in India to tearing it up on the dance floor
of Feddies. You can rest assured that it will be a great event if Christina’s
behind it!
Education Officer: This is only the second year that Medsoc have had an
Education Officer and I can safely say she’s at least the second best
education officer Medsoc has ever had. But seriously she is putting a lot of
work into this role and we are all very excited to see the fruits of her
labour! Any education worries? This is the woman to talk to.
Treasurer: Eleanor Ryan is ensuring we don’t bust our budget or break the
bank this year. She has been scouring the country for the best bargains and
delectable deals, ensuring the best bang for your buck at all medsoc events!
P.R.O. Every poster, ticket, medsoc email and even the cover of this guide
are all down to the efforts of Marie Therese! She is even set to take on
cyberspace and bring the medsoc website into the year 2008. She will also
be seen broadcasting news of our latest event over the medsoc megaphone in
the middle of the quad!..please note she does not yet know this!
Sports Officer: Darragh (aka Spud) is taking on this role for 2008/2009. He
is dead set on ensuring maximal participation in all of this years sporting
events! We have noticed a keen interest in fielding ladies teams for every
year…His enthusiasm in this regard has been nothing short of astonishing!
Class Reps: Pooja and Shane are the 3rd year class reps so in the midst of all
their important class rep duties they’ll be giving us a hand from time to time!
Preclinical Rep (aka P.C.R.) This role will be filled by a 2nd year student very
soon! Their role is to organize the pre-clinical events for the first and
second years and to ensure they have a voice on the committee! This was my
job last year…so they have big shoes to fill…not literally of course!
So that’s about it from me, I hope you find the guide useful and if it helps
you in any way, from saving your pennies to which books to buy we’ll have
done something right!
Be sure to enjoy the exciting times ahead and speak up if you have ANY
problems.
The best of luck to you all!
Seán ReynoldsAuditor 08/09
medical@uccsocieties.ie
1 s t Med - Frequently Asked Questions
Hey freshers! Welcome to first med and congrats on getting
here! Siobhán here, your MedSoc Vice -Auditor for ’08-’09. We know
that as freshers everything is new to you and you will be full of
questions for MedSoc and the older years . We are more than willing
to shed some light on the situation (we’ve been there, we know how
it is!!). I’ll attempt to answer a few of the more common questions
that we as first years felt a little in the dark about. Hope this
helps!
What is MedSoc and how do I join??
The medical society is a society run by 3 rd year medical
students and is involved in all things Med ! As a medical student
you are an automatic member of MedSoc and will have a vote at the
AGM next year. Throughout the year we will be organising many
events. Some of the social events we will be running this year are
mystery tours, BBQs, the med hunt and the med ball (the highlight
of our social calendar in my opinion and a great excuse to dress
up!). MedSoc are also organising medical debates with the
Philosoph Society this year and some very interesting talks on a
variety of topics relevant to medicine. As always our Sports
Officer, Darragh, will be organising the battle for the Med Cup in
soccer and will be encouraging you as first years to seize the cup
from the present 5th years who have won 5 years running!
I’m confused, where do I turn?!?
The first question I asked myself when I arrived in Cork two
years ago was what in hell is going on?!? I felt a bit in the deep end
for the first few weeks to be honest. I would follow those who
seemed to have a better grasp of what was going on and those who
knew where everything was. I’m sure it was Christmas time before I
had an idea of where I was going and before I understood the
sometimes confusing curriculum of first med and what was to
come. I’m still a little hazy on what’s in store for me! So if you feel
a little in the dark and you see one of us hanging about don’t be
afraid to approach us and ask! I would also advise you to ask
questions of your lecturers. Put your hand up in lectures or if you
are like me and would prefer to avoid drawing attention to
yourself, approach them after class or send them an email. The
staff have always been super helpful to us and are never too busy
to respond to your queries! They often like to get feedback so they
know how you all are managing the course material and how it is
taught.
How can I make my opinions heard?!?
Any problems you encounter during the year should be
discussed with your class reps. 2 class reps will be elec ted from
your class to represent you as a whole (so choose carefully! (“,) )
Being a class rep is a great opportunity to get to know people in
your class and to make yourself known to the med school! Elections
will be held in your first week of college. Yo u can also approach a
member of MedSoc and we can help you out. The Pre -Clinical Rep
will be making announcements in your lectures on a regular basis
and this would be a prime opportunity to get in contact with us.
So exams and the Curriculum…what do I ne ed to know?!?
This is the fourth year of the new curriculum and f or those of you
who have questions about it our Education Officer, Dearbhla, has
kindly outlined the main aspects of each of your modules for the
year. She has also given some advice on books to make sure you are
properly informed before you purchase . I still have a few books in
mint condition collecting dust on my shelves from my spending
spree in early October of first year . Ensure the books you buy suit
your way of studying, you’ll notice that we all have differing
opinions on books but there are some that we are unanimous about .
Check them out in the library or have a flick through them before
you buy them to get a feel of what they are like or you could be
cursing them come exam time!
I’ve no idea where I’m going!!!! Help!
My advice for you would be get to know Brookfield very well.
Most of your lectures will be held in the lecture theatres on the
ground floor of Brookfield and you’ll spend many hours in the
depths of the library cramming in Guyton & Hall if my first year was
anything to go by. A good tip for printing in Brookfield is to use
the Med IT lab on the first floor of Brookfield (just past G10),
accessible only with your I.D. card. As for the location of your
dissection labs and physiology tutorials the Windle building is
located on main campus behind the east wing of the quad and is
easy enough to find, I promise! I would advise you to get to know
the libraries as it will save you time searching for books as will the
library search system. Try to get familiar with the ucc internet
sites as they are choc full of useful information and the forums are
extremely handy for discussing all things med! As for the geography
of Cork I think for many months I knew my way around better by
night than by day! Join MedSoc on our society nights out and we’ll
show you around to our favourite haunts and you’ll be finding your
way in no time!
So seriously how many hours should I be studying to do well!?!
As my English teacher used to say ‘How l ong is a piece of string??’ I
spent most of first year comparing my study to others but in truth
only you can know if you really know your stuff. My advice is to
start early and keep up with the work as it tends to pile up! Try to
prepare for lab sessions and DR...you’ll be embarrassed if you are
put on the spot!(and it usually only takes a few mins to look over!)
Don’t leave everything to the last few weeks before your exams
(trust me it’s not pretty!) and most importantly Don’t Freak!! If you
are finding something hard, chances are everyone else is in the
same boat! But college is not all about study!! Adopt a work hard
play hard attitude! As I’m sure you know from the Leaving Cert and
prior college years it is so important to take a break from the
books and have a good time! Enjoy fresher’s week as it only happens
once a year!! Rag week in early ’09 is also a must! Also class parties
are an excellent opportunity to get to know your classmates and
MedSoc parties can get you in touch with other years. Making
friends with those who have been ther e before you can be of great
benefit as they have been known to offer gems of wisdom in the
past!
Hopefully I’ve been able to answer just a few of your
questions (you can quiz me if I haven’t!) All I can say now is G ood
Luck and Enjoy 1st year! It’s a great year if you get the balance
right! And my last piece of advice is
Siobhán McCarthy – Vice Auditor!
And now Eleanor our treasured treasurer tells us how to get through first
year on €20!...there or there abouts!
Welcome to medicine in UCC and congratulations on getting thus far . As treasurer of
the medical society hopefully these few suggestions will help you in your transition to
life as a UCC student (and a broke one at that
).
expertise in this area unlike our own native celebrity accountant
I don’t claim much
(Eddie
Hobbs, a corkonian rebel and wanna be doc by the looks of it!). Well first things first,
books and other medical associated paraphernalia
(sorry for being such
as party pooper as such an early stage in our acquaintance but you are here to learn!).
You don’t need to rush out and buy everything on the booklist on your first day, have a
look at the available copies AND alternative subject texts in the Boole
and Brookfield
libraries and decide which one suits your style of learning,
speak with students in other years and get their suggestions (but do beware that some
unscrupulous ones may be suggesting books they wish to flog onto unsuspecting first
years at our annual pre-clinical book-sale; but on the whole, students in other years are
honest, honestly!! ). Histology recommended texts are possibly not required at this
stage (but that’s not saying histology isn’t important, it is! Which you will realise during
your second and third year pathology course) use the library and that wonderful invention
–the internet, this could be your first saving required to necessitate your socialising
needs. The notice boards in the student centre, the students’ union bookshop John Smiths
bookshop on campus and of course the veteran students at the book-sale are all good
sources of second-hand books in reasonably good condition. Lab coats (snap popper
buttons are best) may be sourced from some of the banks enticing medical students to
open up student accounts with them, student notice boards and students at the book-sale
(prestine white lab coats while being requirements for the wards, one’s that are physically
clean whilst a little work weary are perfectly acceptable for the dissection room and
physiology labs, so there’s no harm in asking…). Lab coats are also available in Finn’s
Corner, a sports and uniform shop on Washington street/Grand Parade for around fifteen
euro and also in John Smith’s bookshop on campus. Dissection kits are not required and
stethoscopes, pen torches, patella hammers etc. are not required until second year, third
year and beyond……….
Food-
another basic necessity, Tesco’s in Wilton and Paul street
shopping centre’s and Lidl on Clashduv road are probably the best value for money, tesco
value packaging is edible and shopping at these locations (especially Tescos) is
considered a cheap social outing, where you will meet fellow students and who knows
maybe Mr/Mrs Right are just around the next aisle . Canteen food
whilst not always up to the standards of the experienced palate is another option, it cuts
out the preparation time but is not always (probably never) the best value for money, and
remember at the end of each week as supplies become sparse
and
will keep you going until that grant cheque comes through or until you
can go home to raid your mother’s cupboards (home cupboard shopping sprees are
highly recommended for the broke student ). Do try to include some fruit and veg (and
lead by example), especially try to include vitamin C in the form of
to keep scurvy at bay
this variety
colleagues
and
and avoid too much vitamin C of
helping to keep our esteemed and enthusiastic dental
also at bay .
Transport- how to afford the bus-fare home whilst still budgeting for your social
life??? Well either put the money aside each week or don’t go home each week, it’s that
simple!! Travel around Cork city and to and from lectures??- shank’s mare i.e. walking,
it’s free and good for your health, well when you don’t get a mouthful of exhaust fumes
from the yummy mummies carrying their precious little darlings to school in their SVU’s
(the hills in Cork can be a killer for those little tots-that’s why 4x4’s are essential!!!)
Alternatively you could take your chances with our fantastic suburban public
transportation system (note the sarcastic tone) and get to lectures at some reasonable
time-the new fandangle bus lanes do help somewhat in the drag race against the SUV’s
(hee hee hee)
, cycling is another alternative
and you can race
the buses, and be the winner of the drag race whilst obtaining a body like Betty. Or
failing all else you could just bum a lift off your fellow classmates who aren’t too
worried about their carbon footprints or can’t afford to be fussy about them-remember
they’re broke too and may have no alternative but to live at home and commute!!.
Sport and leisure- well we have the Mardyke Arena which is paid for by your
capitation fees and thousands of past students who didn’t get the opportunity to avail of
the facilities as it wasn’t built during their years of study -so be sure to avail of the
facilities- remember you are only as healthy as your body and mind so be sure to give
them a little bit of exercise and relaxation respectively, then there’s the weekly/daily
walk/cycle to Tesco’s for grub/socialising, your walk/cycle to and from lectures-they
count too!! and if by that stage you still would like a bit more activity there are many
sports clubs within the university to tickle the fancy of many an amateur, enthusiast and
sport nut and they’re also free to join. The lough
and accompanying
fowl and the lee fields are also in close proximity to Brookfield for that evening stroll
when the weather permits and doesn’t necessitate waders and kayaks/canoes to negotiate
the streets of Cork (again noting also free!!!). UCC also hosts a variety of societies, most
importantly the med soc, while it has taken many years, it has finally come to perfection
in 2008/09 with the appointment of this years fantastic committee , Surgeon Noonan
(be sure to give them your support throughout your student life in UCC and upon
qualification), the surgical society and friends of MSF, there are also numerous other
societies with many interests allowing you to enjoy your experience of college life (again
the are relatively free to participate in and are very enjoyable).
Music, Entertainment, Cinema – there are societies such as the DJ society, live
music society that put on FREE sessions/concerts in the college bars and on campus at
various times during the year especially during fresher’s week (i.e- this week) and rag
week. The music department and the Glucksman gallery also have free concerts and
exhibitions. The Granary theatre- UCC’s own theatre on Mardyke walk also have a
number of performances at reasonable prices. And if think that you’ve missed your
calling, why not join societies such as the choral society, drama or the trad music society.
Go along to societies day in the Áras na Mac Léinn and see what’s on offer. Film soc also
have a variety of screenings throughout the year so even the cinema can be availed of on
the cheap!! So UCC offers a crammed packed social life which can becheap and
cheerful 
And now onto what we know many of you have come to university for Socialising….
alcohol (in moderation of course!!! that goes without saying…) and nights out
.Fast Eddie’s nite club
on Tuckey street
which I’m sure that you all will become acquainted with and yes we’ve organised
concessions for our society nights!! (Your hardworking committee are ever mindful of
student pockets) and Costigan’s bar on Washington street are the official club and bar
of this years medical society.
Well that’s all my words/thoughts of wisdom, I hope that you enjoy your time in
medicine, UCC and Cork, cherish your student years, they’re the best!! (speaking from
experience as an old veteran student of many many years, almost as old as some of the
lecturers-well not quite but on the road and still broke!!!!!), look out for and look after
each other and don’t forget to ask for student discounts
ask……. And be prepared to budget
trips
,
it’s FREE to
for essentials such as holidays/day
and
remember that being a student means being prepared to
and
always always
Eleanor Ryan (Treasurer 2008/09)
Our Education Officer’s advice on first year in a nutshell…a really big nut! A
MUST READ!
Meducation
Greetings 1st meds! Welcome to the wonderful world of medicine – a world of chaos,
debauchery and, occasionally, some study! My name is Dearbhla and I’ll be your friendly
neighbourhood Education Officer for the coming year. I thought I would take this
opportunity to give you an overview of 1st year – modules, grades and such- and some
sage(y) advice. This can be a really exciting but also slightly daunting time for you all.
Apologies if this article seems a bit scary or overwhelming at first but trust me, it’ll make
much more sense later. 
Some tips/thoughts on 1st Med:
1. 1st year can feel intimidating at the start because you’re hit immediately by a lot
of volume and a lot less guidance. But don’t worry, everyone’s in the same boat
and you’ll soon develop your own routine and study methods!
2. The key to doing well in 1st med is to be ORGANISED. It can be challenging
trying to juggle several subjects at the same time so it really pays off if you plan
your study well. Always bear in mind how much you want to cover and in
roughly what timeframe. Don’t be disheartened if you always feel like you’re at
the bottom of a mountain! You’re supposed to feel like that. As long as the peak
is someway in sight, you’re doing fine.
3. Get lots of advice from students in the years ahead of you. It could be your buddy,
one of those excellent Medsoc members, some random person in the queue for
coffee (which could very well be me!) etc. Med students are usually very willing
to help and enlighten so talk to/stalk as many as you can find!
4. DON’T cram. It doesn’t matter if you were an Olympic-worthy crammer in the
past. Cramming just doesn’t work for anyone in medicine and you only end up
really stressed out.
5. Remember not to be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes and so much
of what you’ll learn will be by trial and error. Trust me, you’ll remember your
mistakes above all else and that’s what it’s all about really.
6. Try to keep things simple where possible. It’s easy to find yourself lured deeper
and deeper into a topic but try pull yourself back a bit so that you don’t lose sight
of the bigger picture. If you have a good framework or grounding in something,
it’s easier to flesh it out later than to try and remember all the ‘small print’ stuff
on your first gulp.
7. Don’t worry if something doesn’t make total sense initially. It’s usually much
clearer when you come back to it again because the ‘jigsaw puzzle’ is more
complete. This is why it really helps to revise.
8. Don’t ignore the lecture notes. Often most of the necessary (and most examlikely) material is contained within them and they will help focus your study
when you go to bigger textbooks.
9. Above all else, have loads of FUN this year! It’s so important to keep a balance in
your life and Medsoc (the shameless self-plugging continues) have many great
nights out planned to ensure that you do! As long as you’re reasonably consistent
with your study, you have nothing to worry about so keep up all the things that
you enjoy and that matter to you.
Modules and Progression
FM1001 Foundations of Medicine I – Introductory Human Biology (15 credits)
FM1002 Foundations of Medicine II – Cardiovascular, Haematological and
Respiratory Biology (15 credits)
FM1003 Foundations of Medicine III – Gastrointestinal, Nutritional and Metabolic
Biology (10 credits)
CP1002 Clinical Science and Practice – (10 credits)
BH1002 Foundations in Behavioural Science – (5 credits)
And a SSM (Special Study Module) – (5 credits)
The above are the modules you’ll cover over the course of the year. Each of the
Foundations of Medicine modules (or the ‘FM’ modules as you’ll often hear them
abbreviated as) lasts approximately 7 weeks. FM1001 will be your first and lectures
in this module usually last up until the start of November. Then you’ll start FM1002
(all the FM modules are of a similar duration) which is covered partly before the
Christmas holidays and partly afterwards until around the end of January. This is
followed by FM1003 which continues until the end of period 2, i.e. the end of March.
Lectures in CP1002 and BH1002 take place throughout the year (period 1 and 2). The
teaching periods for the SSMs vary.
Module Advice
The ‘FM’ modules
These are the biggest and most important modules you’ll study this year. Each module is
divided into 3 subjects – Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology – with a common,
integrated exam at the end. While this integrated study style does prove helpful in
completing the picture, it can be a bit of a pain in the ass around exam time when you’re
trying to juggle all together (but more about that later)! That said, there’s no need to be
worried because you definitely will get used to it and will master the art of studying for
the ‘fms’ in no time! It’s an adjustment for everyone.
FM1001 Foundations of Medicine – Introductory Human Biology
This is the 1st module you’ll cover this year and while it’s not particularly difficult, it may
seem challenging initially as you try to adapt your study methods to college life and to
the demands of medicine. So don’t fret if you’re feeling a little lost at first…just ask for
some help. The main theme of this module is the Musculoskeletal System i.e. muscles
and such. The most important advice that I can give is to study the stuff from the start.
Don’t let it build up as it will swallow you whole (not to be over-dramatic or anything)!
Anatomy
This is the largest anatomy component of 1st year. It covers things like the muscles of the
upper and lower limbs, bones, joints etc. The recommended books for 1st year anatomy
include Gray’s Anatomy, Snell’s Clinical Anatomy and Moore’s Clinically Oriented
Anatomy. The most popular of these is Gray’s Anatomy – partly because it’s red, it
conjures McDreamy images, but mostly because it’s an excellent textbook and because
Dr. Kathy Quane (your lecturer) will follow it with her lecture notes (Note: it nearly
always helps if you’re studying a book that your lecturer is clearly referring to as it helps
you follow his/her train of thought studywise and also examwise). Fraher’s
Supplementary Notes for medical students is a required buy and is a wonderful,
condensed anatomy book that is much more student-friendly for study. I advise making
this book your main text/bible and using Gray’s Anatomy to effectively ‘fill in the
blanks’, i.e. complement the supplementary notes with some info from Gray’s on nerves,
blood supply and relative locations. In general, the majority of your MCQs (Multiple
Choice Questions) will come from lecture notes and Fraher’s notes. The remaining
minority will come from Gray’s but you’ll gradually learn with time, things that are
likely to appear in MCQs. The SAQs (Short Answer Questions) in Anatomy take the
form of diagrams (e.g. a dissected forearm showing the various muscles, arteries and
nerves for you to label). Therefore, it really helps if you own an anatomy atlas also (or
alternatively, use the diagrams at the back of your Dissection Room Preparation Sheet
which come from Netters. These often highlight the labels that your lecturer thinks are
particularly important for you to know). Popular atlases include Netter’s Atlas and
Gosling’s Atlas, both of which are excellent. It is vital to practice labelling diagrams as
they account for a considerable portion of your anatomy marks and often if you have a
good visual, this can aid you in the MCQ component. Students can also benefit from
watching some anatomy DVDs such as Anatomy revealed or from using websites such as
www.fleshandbones.com which has some really good and relevant diagrams. Don’t
worry, I know it seems like A LOT now but you’ll eventually work out what study
methods suit you best 
Examwise, know your lecture and Fraher’s notes really well for the MCQS. Practice
them as much as possible as it helps you identify some of the more obscure things you
could be asked and teaches you what MCQs tend to focus on. The diagrams in the SAQs
can prove difficult at first but just practice labelling as much as you can and if ever in
doubt, a good rule of thumb is to think back to your lecture on the topic and try remember
what the lecturer highlighted as important. This sometimes gives you a bit of a (much
needed) hint!
Histology is also included in the Anatomy component of these exams. It’s worth a
small(ish) percentage of the anatomy total but is still not worth leaving out as (a) it is
kind of important for pathology later on and (b) can make a difference to your grade.
Your lectures notes and the departmental Histology manual are totally sufficient for
study. You need to watch the MCQs here though as they sometimes can be tricky.
Biochemisty
I’m afraid that this is a subject that I can’t give you a whole pile of advice on as I think
you’ll actually have a different lecturer to the one that was there for the past 2 years. In
this module, the biochem content includes things like cell structure, membrane, transport,
DNA, RNA etc. It’s usually pretty straightforward and a nice revision mostly of leaving
cert biology material. Your new lecturer will probably recommend a good book but in the
past Baynes Medical Biochemistry was the recommended text. It’s not an amazing book
with a fair few inaccuracies but will be useful for your next two modules (particularly the
2nd one). It’s quite specific for medical students though which is helpful. Lehninger’s
Principles of Biochemistry is probably one of the best books around, especially if there’s
something you don’t understand, but really isn’t suitable as a main text as it’s much too
detailed for our course.
Examwise, going by past experience, lecture notes in biochem tend to be most helpful.
This is usually one of the easier subjects!
Physiology
This subject is probably the most challenging of the three but that said, is still absolutely
fine as long as you keep on top of it, take good notes and find a book that you can
understand! Dr. O’Regan, your lecturer here, will focus on topics such muscle
contraction, nerve conduction and distribution of ions across cell membranes.
Recommended textbooks include Guyton and Hall’s Textbook of Medical Physiology
(which is what most people buy) and Berne and Levy’s Principles of Physiology. I found
Guyton an excellent book for this first module. Its descriptions are fairly easy to
understand and it covered the material pretty well and similar to Dr. O’Regan’s approach.
However, ‘Physiology’ by Linda.S.Costanzo (part of the Board Review Series) is an
absolute must-buy for studying physiology for the next 2 years (and beyond!). It’s a
small, supplementary text that just offers really great, simple and concise explanations of
things that sound very wordy in some of the more intense main texts. Many people often
find Lecture Notes in Physiology (the book) very helpful also. For this module, I advise
you to take really good notes during Dr. O’Regan’s lectures as his own personal ones
are usually very good and his lectures will make much more sense if you do! Otherwise,
they’ll just seem like a random collection of pretty words  Also, use his lecture notes
(and this goes for all the physiology you’ll ever study) to focus your learning when you
go to the book. e.g. read around whatever is covered in the lecture material but try to
resist the urge to run off in tangents if caught for time…Guyton is one big (weaponworthy) book!
Examwise, I’ve always liked physiology MCQS as I feel they test your basic
understanding of a topic and do not try and trick you! Some people find MCQ books
helpful. I think in general, you’ll have no problem with them if you know your lecture
material and lecture-related material in a main textbook really well. There are usually 2
short answer questions here. It helps if you plan your answer before writing it. Think of
the various points in your head and try cover everything before an exam as you often
don’t have a choice.
FM1002 Foundations of Medicine – Cardiovascular, Haematological and Respiratory
Biology
This is the 2nd module and is often the one people find most exciting! One of the
downsides of it though is that you’ll have half your lectures in it while trying to study for
your FM1001 continuous assessment at the start of December so some of it tends to get
pushed to the side. Just try to attend all your lectures still!
Anatomy
Here you’ll study topics such as the heart, the lungs, the larynx etc. Most of the same
advice for FM1001 also applies here. However, you may have to use Gray’s Anatomy
more so here as some of the lecture content isn’t covered in Fraher’s notes.
Biochemistry
Justin McCarthy is your lecturer for this subject and he’ll cover a lot of stuff related to
glucose metabolism, fat metabolism and such. Baynes is the book he recommends but his
lecture notes are usually in themselves, completely sufficient. However, definitely study
the MCQs at the back of Baynes as a lot of them will appear (in a slightly altered format)
in the assessments.
Physiology
You really need to watch this subject as the physiology of this module, while not
particularly difficult, is a bit unwieldy in terms of volume. There’s a lot of material in
cardiovascular, haematological and respiratory physiology and it can be challenging to
stay on top of it. I think Guyton is okay for cardiovascular physiology, if not amazing.
Costanzo’s ‘Physiology’ is invaluable for this subject though! Lecture Notes on Human
Physiology by Bray is also brilliant for this module so if there are some topics you don’t
understand completely here, I advise looking at both of those books as they explain this
section of the course really well.
FM1003 Foundations of Medicine – Gastrointestinal, nutritional and metabolic biology
This 3rd module usually begins around February and lasts up until the end of the college
year. It focuses on the gut and its derivatives, metabolic (i.e. related to various chemical
reactions) diseases and the physiology of secretion, absorption and such.
Anatomy
The same advice as before applies here really. The upper part of the gastrointestinal tract
is probably better covered in Gray’s though.
Examwise, both the MCQs and the SAQs can be a bit tricky here, particularly if related
to things like the pharynx and the larynx (which they love to give you) so make sure to
know these areas pretty well as it can get a little confusing!
Biochemistry
Prof. Heffron is usually the lecturer for this subject and he covers a lot of metabolic
processes and cycles (e.g. Krebs cycle) with clinical correlations (i.e. When Metabolic
Reactions go wrong…cue tv3esque music!). He’ll give you some recommended reading
from Baynes to do. I thought Baynes was a good book for this subject as it helps
consolidate his lecture material without adding too much extra to it. Devlin’s Textbook of
Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations is a great book though if you ever want to read
about a disease he mentions that’s not covered (in depth) in Baynes or if there is some
process that you don’t understand. It’s worth checking out of the library.
Examwise, this subject differs from the norm in that with the continuous assessment,
you’ll get only MCQs (i.e. no SAQs) and in the summer exam, you’ll only get essays (or
longer SAQs). Heffron really likes his structures so the more you can remember the
better. The structures of the various hormones (e.g. aldosterone, cortisol) that he’ll
mention are the most important to know.
Physiology
Dr. Gebruers lectures physiology for this module. It’s really vital to be able to understand
GI physiology so find a book that you’re really comfortable with! Guyton isn’t great here
but Berne and Levy’s Principles of Physiology and Boron and Boulpaep’s Textbook of
Medical Physiology are both excellent books for this subject. I think I would probably
prefer the former as it’s always easy to understand and not overly-detailed. Boron and
Boulpaep is guilty of the latter but is great for describing the processes at a molecular
level so is a helpful guide for Dr. Gebruers lectures which tend to focus on this molecular
aspect. Again Costanzo’s Physiology is a brilliant supplementary book here, especially
with regard to secretion and absorption so definitely take a look at it!
Examwise, you really need to know (and be able to reproduce) your diagrams and to
understand what’s going on in the lectures both for MCQs and SAQs. Secretions have
been popular exam questions in the past (Note: It’s often very helpful to look over old
exam papers in the various subjects to get an idea of the kind of questions asked and
where the focus lies). In general, be really accurate in your essay answer as you’ll lose
more for inaccuracies here than you normally would elsewhere!
The Exam Format (and rough dates) of the ‘FM’ modules
I have already made a few references to this but just to clarify.
For each module:







Continuous Assessment(CA) = 150 marks
End-of-year Assessment (EA) = 150 marks
3 components in each exam: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology
You must achieve an average (based on the CA and EA) of 40% in each of the
components and an overall grade of 50% in order to pass (i.e. you need to get at
least 40% in each subject but have a total exam mark of 50% or more).
In the continuous assessment, 50% of the marks are allocated to the MCQs and
50% to the SAQs. In anatomy, the SAQs take the form of diagrams to be labelled
(and also include a short ‘fill-in-the-blanks’ histology question). In biochemistry,
the SAQs usually ask to list, name or complete an equation etc. In physiology,
they are best regarded as mini (usually around a page) essays – descriptions or
explanations. The whole paper is an hour and half long.
The continuous assessment for FM1001 is usually around the start of December,
for FM1002 around the end of January and for FM1003 the end of March.
The end-of-year exam follows a fairly similar format. However, there are more
MCQs and there are essays in biochemistry and physiology. They’re usually
pretty straightforward and not that different to your SAQs (just a little longer
really). The whole paper is 3 hours long.
(Note: in terms of grades: 1H (70-100%) is the highest grade, then 2H (60-70%) and
then a Pass (40/50-60%). This grading system applies to all university modules)
CP1002 Clinical Science and Practice
This is a really great and fun subject that brings together elements from all your other
modules to complete the clinical picture. In short, you get to play doctor! You’ll have
lectures and clinical lab sessions or tutorials in this every week. You’ll cover things
like how to take a history, how to perform an exam and case studies related to
different systems (e.g. an Asthma case when you’re studying respiratory stuff). It’s a
great practical subject in terms of ‘labs’ but at the same time incorporates a lot of
problem-solving during the tutorials. Talley and O’Conner’s Clinical Examination is
the recommended book and I really like it. It’s a bit detailed for 1st year standard but
your lectures and labs will teach you what’s important for your level and what you
can maybe leave out for now! The best advice that I can give here is to prepare really
well for your tutorials as it really stands to you not only around exam time but also
over the subsequent years. Use clinical labs as a good opportunity to hone your skills
accurately first time around as it can be a little hard later to translate what’s in the
clinical books into the more literal, practical stuff.
In summary
Despite what all the above might suggest, you actually do have a really brilliant and
fun year to look forward to! My hope is that this article will be able to give some
semblance of guidance during the year, should you ever feel a little lost or
directionless. I have tried to highlight the general consensus of my classmates but that
said, this is still just one student’s perspective - so talk to as many as you can and
you’ll eventually figure out what works for you. It’s always worth bearing in mind
that so much of the advice that we can give you now comes from our own mistakes
and from what we wish we had done so don’t feel like you have to be in control from
the outset! Feel free to email (dearbhlakelly2@gmail.com) or approach me if you
ever have any questions. I wish you all the best of luck this year 
Now Christina’s A to Z of Med at UCC! THAT RHYMES!
* UCC MEDSOC ESSENTIAL A - Z *
A
is for ANATOMY. It may interest you or it may bore you to the point of no return either
way it is kinda vital. If you find it seriously tedious, for exam purposes there are two
essential things you should note: 1)Frahars notes…know word perfect!! 2) Gosling
diagrams…these are the actual diagrams used on exam papers as we realised when it was
too late…wipe a tear for third years please!!!!!
B
is for BROOKFIELD!!! This is the stylish, new Health Science building you’ll grow to
love… (Ahem cough!!!) I kid you not it is your now home especially for the preclinical
years (Med I and II). You will study here, eat here and on occasion even sleep here (in
that order) so get to know our way around in the early days.
C
is for COSTIGANS our super cool new society bar…be there or be square!!! Most
society events and all class parties will be held here. Location: Washington St. (just ask
one of the many Corkonians in the class and they’ll let you know)!!
D
is for DENTS. Oh yes the ever elusive dental students. You will envy all their “free time”
at first and if you live with one….Aaaagggghhhh!!!! But don’t be too hasty to judge. In
2nd and 3rd year you will have path and pharm modules together and they don’t have it so
easy then. They’re a nice bunch of guys and gals so make friends with them!
E
is for ENTERTAINMENT and EDUCATION and damn right they come in that
order… (Ah, sorry for that Dearbhla)!! While I take care of organising really cool
medsoc nights out Dearbhla will be organising many interesting debates, book sales and
OSCE prep sessions to name but a few, so take part and get involved. These events are a
great way to make loads of new friends.
F
is for FRIENDS. You will need some of these along the way. It’s a hard slog but it is a
lot easier when you’re surrounded by good friends (both med and non-med) and it’s
important that you all help and look out for each other. Go for pints, a game of ball, even
a shopping extravaganza whatever you’re into make an effort!!!!!!!!
G
is for “GOOD STUFF”. Uttered loads during clinical skills labs whether your answer is
right, wrong or totally unrelated to the topic. It gives you licence to hazard a guess
without ridicule and to ask obvious questions so do!!!
H
is for HISTOLOGY. What is this you will ask and why should you bother studying it???
Don’t worry because many of us still don’t know and amazingly we all made it to third
year.
I
is for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. The eager beavers of the class who probably
know what anatomy, physiology and biochemistry entail before starting med school. This
is a cool bunch of people get to know them you can learn a lot from them especially
about different cultures. A note to all the international students, UCC has a special
international students department that can be contacted with any queries you may have
about your transition to Irish education.
J
is for JUDGEMENT. You’re obviously an intelligent young/experienced specimen to
say you have gotten this far so don’t underestimate yourself and your ability to make
decisions. What works for someone else may not be what works for you so find your own
niche, fit in and work and play at a rate that most suits your abilities.
K
is for Kyphosis (Curvature of the spine) which you will undoubtedly be affliceted with if
you spend too many hours at your study desk but getting out to all our medsoc events will
provide adequate prophylaxis!
L
is for LEPTOSPIROSIS. This is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus
Leptospira (especially L..Icterohaemorrhagiae), that occurs in rodents, dogs and other
mammals and may be transmitted to people….. -------- sheer rubbish like most things
insinuated about our poor medical profession today…!!!
M
is for MYSTERY TOUR. The most exciting thing about starting college has to be
heading off to a random unknown place surrounded by 100 strangers you hardly know!!!
Mystery tours are the best craic ever especially as it’s such a good event for getting to
know everyone in your class. First year mystery tour (gate-crashed by many 2nd and 3rd
yrs as it is such a laugh) is on Sept 24th so be there…location???? All will be revealed my
dear friends. The MED BALL is also planned for the 14th November and is always a
savage night.
N
is for NOONAN (ie) SURGEON NOONAN. A society, run by fourth meds who like to
try to save some lives, they travel to Africa each year doing voluntary work in various
hospitals. Fundraising events will be held throughout the year so take part and
DONATE!!!!
O
is for OSCE…huh?? These little practical exams are how the med school actually reward
the bluffers of the class. If you’ve good communication skills and can perform some
simple examinations this is an easy 1H in the bag…the message here DON’T NEGLECT
CLINICAL!!!
P
is for PASSING. As a wise medical student once asked me “What do you call a med
student who only achieves a pass in all exams???”…..Hmm…A doctor!!!!!!
So less of the stress guys!!
Q
is for Q+1…second only to Brookfield HSC on the frequenting stakes Boole Q+1 is
where it’s at for med students so save on accommodation costs and just bring a sleeping
bag.
R
is for RUGBY. The annual Med/Dent rugby match is always an exciting affair and with
our title to retain I hope to see you first year guys running laps of the Farm and doing
thousands of push-ups to get in shape and do us proud!!
S
is for SEÁN!! Mr. Auditor of MedSoc ‘08/’09. This guy is a legend and is always
“clowning” around!! He’s Commander and Chief of our powerful little society and boy
does he like to crack that whip and get us working. Cathal did warn him how much us
med students like to whinge so if you’ve any problems feel free to off-load onto him…
T
is for THIRD YEARS. That’s us always willing to give some friendly advice/a shoulder
to cry on or even just an ear to rant to…believe it or not but you WILL need us!!!
U
is for UCC. In the seclusion of Brookfield HSC 24/7, one might forget they are still a
student of UCC. Try and “visit” main campus when ever you get the chance as it is a hub
of college life, the atmosphere is great and it gives you the chance to meet and befriend
people from other faculties.
V
is for VIOLATED!!! Right boys I’ll now tell you the truth about what really happens
behind the doors of those sordid Clinical Skills Labs. Well basically you take you’re tops
off while us girls perform some “Inspection”, Palpation, Percussion and Auscultation.
Really its not toooo bad…hehe!!!
W
is for the WINDLE building, aka “where they keep the dead bodies”!! This is where DR
sessions take place usually twice weekly. Once you overcome the initial jitters its actually
becomes just another mundane task that is bringing you one step closer to your ultimate
goal. One piece of advice…don’t go wild on the ól the night before…been there done
that…NEVER AGAIN!!!
X
is for X-CHROMOSOMES. If you have two of these you will soon realise (if you
haven’t already) that this is a man's world we live in. Your nights on the pull are now
transformed forever. While the guys are considered to be super hot-tottie for studying
“med” I’m afraid when you girls mention your “curse” of study to an eligible bachelor he
will probably say “OH” before running a mile. If he doesn’t, grab hold quick!!!!!
Y
is for Y-CHROMOSOMES. [Y] < [X] in most medical classes. Contrary to what
Warren (our beloved ex-Ents officer) believes this is obviously because girls are just so
much smarter than our male counter parts but hey it’s not in our nature to brag about
trivial affairs like this!!!
Z
is for ZZZZZzzzzzzz!!! Sleep! If you can catch some well and good it comes in very
handy and is required for processing information into your memory blah blah blah. In
other words bin the all-nighters and keep on top of your work, come to ALL of the
incredible medsoc parties and balance this with keeping up your pastimes and your early
years of medical school will be as pleasant and memorable as ours.
Have a super year everyone and feel free to talk to any of us on MedSoc about anything at any
time!
Yours in Entertainment,
Christina Fleming
Entertainment Rep. xxx
And now we’ll join our sports correspondent live from the battleground
(MedCup (ladies) final), it’s Darragh Herlihy!
First years! Welcome to UCC and medicine. To begin with congratulations are
in order; you are now an official member of Med Soc so you had better take
part in all our glorious events! Those of you who were lucky enough to be
leaving cert students, don’t worry, the hours of hard study aren’t over! But it’s
not all bad. Make sure you join as many clubs and societies as you can, UCC
caters for most interests be it medieval jousting or plain old football. Plus it’s
a great way to make friends.
Sporting activities are always a part of the medical year so don’t be afraid to
take part and any ideas for new (and preferably exciting) activities will always
be welcome. There are a number of events which are a fixture in our sporting
year. Take part, you’ll get to know your classmates and students in the other
years.
The Med Cup is an annual soccer tournament which takes place during the
first term. There is both a girls and guys tournament.
Guys the previous two competitions which I have taken part in have been
quite competitive but were always played in good spirit. Just a quick word of
warning, the 3rd years (i.e. my class) have been beaten (controversially I might
add) in the previous two finals so we’re not letting it slip this year.
For the girls the competition is a straight knockout and hopefully each year
will produce a team.
The guy’s tournament is a league format where the top two teams face each
other in a final showdown! This is normally followed by a post match party for
both teams and any supporters.
One of the most important events of the year is the Med versus Dent rugby
game. An annual game with a long tradition and history, we basically can’t
allow the fang doctors to get one over on us especially as we are the
defending champions. All are welcome to play no matter how much or how
little rugby experience you have. Even if you have no interest in playing come
along to support.
Last years sports rep initiated the idea of an introductory day to Gaelic games
for the international students so hopefully we can organise that for a
convenient time. One condition, although you’re studying in Cork you are
obliged to support Kerry(just to keep the sports rep happy).
This year the Medical Society is hoping to organise a tag rugby series, an
opportunity to mix with both you’re class and the higher years. Both sexes can
attend and the purpose of the series is to try something new, relax and have
some fun. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress.
On a serious note 1st year can be stressful so try and stay on top of study. If
you ever need any advice don’t be afraid to approach your lecturers or med
soc. Make sure to maintain a balance and have some fun. Five years may
seem long but it passes by pretty fast so do your best to get to know your
classmates, make lots of friends and most importantly enjoy it!
Any suggestions or queries feel free to mail med soc at
medical@uccsocieties.ie
You’re Sports Rep,
Darragh Herlihy
And now the Medsoc calls Dr. Doran to take the stand!
The School of Medicine Mentoring and Welfare Programme
Introduction
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to the School of Medicine
UCC. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to pursue an exciting career in
Medicine, and I would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate you in
securing a place in the School of Medicine.
My name is Dr Kieran Doran and I am Head of Student Mentoring and Welfare in
the School of Medicine. I have been asked by the Medical Society Committee to
outline to you the nature of the Student Mentoring Programme, and how it is
there to help you with any problem that you may experience during the course of
your studies here in UCC.
What is the School of Medicine Student Mentoring and Welfare Programme?
The initial role of the Programme is to help you in to the Undergraduate Medical
Degree Course here in UCC. Each year the new intake of Medical Students into
First Year Medicine are assigned a Mentor who is normally a member of Staff.
The Mentor arranges for a Meeting with the group of Students assigned to them
to have an initial Meeting to introduce themselves and the Mentoring
Programme.
The role of the Mentor is to advise as well as assist you settle into their new life
here in the School of Medicine UCC. In addition, the Mentor is there for you for
the duration of their stay in the School of Medicine UCC to give advice on subject
choice as well as career options.
If you have pressing problem related to your own personal welfare then the
Mentor will refer you onto me, in my role as Head of Student Mentoring and
Welfare to give you all the help and support necessary, as well as refer you to
any relevant Support Service.
In the course your Student Life you may well encounter various problems ranging
from difficulties in adapting to College Life after being at School, homesickness,
health and/or personal problems, as well as financial worries. So please avail of
the Programme if you find yourself facing these problems or any other issue.
Please note that nothing is ever done without your consent, and everything that
is done with your welfare as the sole priority at all times.
Who should you contact?
If you are having any problems whatsoever in the course of your studies here in
the School of Medicine UCC or in regard to Student life in general, then please
contact me immediately. Here are my contact details:
Dr Kieran Doran, Solicitor
Senior Healthcare Ethics Lecturer
School of Medicine
University College Cork
Room 2.48
Brookfield Health Sciences Complex
College Road
Cork City
Tel:
+ 353214901513
Fax:
+ 353214901594
E-mail: k.doran@ucc.ie
I have an open door policy, but in the event that I am not there please contact Ms
Sandra Barry at (021) 4901595 to make an appointment to see me.
Either way, please avail of this service if you encounter any problems, no matter
how trivial they may seem. Hopefully you will have no problems as you progress
through the Undergraduate Degree Course in the School of Medicine, but if they
do arise please ensure that they are tackled early on in order to avoid making a
potentially bad situation even worse!
Welcome to UCC medicine. As an international student at UCC you are
definitely not alone, and this holds especially true for medical students. Each
medical class is composed of students from countries stretching far and wide
across the globe, from North America, Asia and Africa and of course from Ireland
and other EU states. The international student body is a large one at UCC and is
well taken care of by the international student office on campus. The staff here
are responsible for organizing a number of day and weekend excursions as well
as evenings out during the year which provides a unique opportunity to meet
other students like you who are taking advantage of a wonderful experience
learning and living abroad in Ireland. The best way to immerse yourself into a
new life is to get out there and make one for yourself and this involves getting
involved. If international student events aren’t for you then sign up for one or
two or more of the clubs or societies at UCC and make some friends outside the
circle medical school friends which you will inevitably make in class and during
class events.
You’ll make fast friends with other med students in class or tutorial but
you will get your biggest socializing opportunities through MedSoc events.
MedSoc puts on a few pub nights as well as 2 mystery tours each year in addition
to each class throwing a number of party nights. This is a great time to get to
know medical students in other years and of course from your own class. Because
the medical class is made up of such a diverse array of people from different age
groups and cultures this is the time to really put those differences aside and get
to know as many people as possible. There is a great tendency for like to stick
with like and for cliques to form based on country or county of origin, as well as
on age so make sure to avoid this as much as possible by keeping an open mind.
As medical students we all have a common ambition and as individuals have a
lot to offer in terms of experiences, hopes, fears and and interests, which, when
shared will enrich the lives of everyone.
Of course medical school in Ireland isn’t all about making social
connections. The course load in first year is quite intense whether you have a
bachelor degree or even a masters degree, although these achievements will
stand you in good stead. A high standard is set by the medical school that
demands academic prowess of all of its students. The key to a successful year is
to stay on top of your studies (this not only includes reviewing your course notes
but also text book reading) and to attend all lectures and tutorials. An
important difference exists between the scoring systems of Ireland and North
American schools. In UCC med, honors disctinction is attained by acheiving a
grade over 60% and a 1st class honors by a grade over 70%. A first class grade
then, is the highest level of acheivement here. It may be that the highest grade
given is 74% which doesn’t seem so good when you’re used to North American
grading systems, however at UCC this is considered top notch. UCC medicine has
some very good lecturers who welcome questions from students and enjoy
conducting an interactive lecture where time permits. In most cases lecturers and
tutorial leaders are very accomodating to questions both in class time and
outside of it. All of the medical school staff are quite easy to understand if
understanding accents isn’t your finest skill. Rest assured that the quality of
education here is of the highest quality and will no doubt serve you well in your
post-graduate training wherever that might take place.
Those of you from North America will find that things are not done in the
same fashion here as at home. Specifically you’ll experience what appears to be
a high degree of disorganization, lack of information, and difficulty finding the
right person to direct your inquiries. This applies not only to the medical school
but also to utilities companies, banks and other services. Do not fret. The key is
to just relax and rest assured that something sometime will get done by someone.
Be sure to elect a class rep who will not be easily deterred and who will ensure
that issues are dealt with by medical staff, both academic and clerical in a timely
fashion.
Living in Cork is easy if you don’t count not having a big chain store like a
Walmart or a Superstore at your doorstep, but this helps to keep Cork quaint,
and picturesque, albeit slightly inconvenient when it comes to buying certain
items for cheap. It is a small town as many of you have already no doubt
discovered, but Cork is studded with numerous pubs, bars and clubs not to
mention a great selection of restaurants, eateries and coffee shops. Compared to
many of the other smaller cities in Ireland Cork certainly does excel in this
department. Cork is a town and not a city by most accounts, which means that
it is easy to get from one place to another by foot or bicycle in no time at all.
This helps to make Cork a great place to live in terms of not relying heavily on
public transportation which to say the least is at best unreliable. The downside
to walking or cycling everywhere is that you are bound to face some unruly
weather which can occur at any time during the year. To stay dry you’ll need to
invest in some waterproof shoes, pants and jacket and take an umbrella with
you on even the sunniest of days as the weather changes quickly and without
much warning. The last thing anyone wants is to sit through a day of lectures
and tutorials sopping wet and miserable, so do leave your home prepared.
On that note, you’re lucky to be studying medicine at a great university
in a beautiful town in a gorgeous country. Take full advantage of your time
here because it will go quickly and hopefully with much success and a future full
of opportunity.
Brandon Stott,Med 3
The U.C.C. Surgeon Noonan Society, registered charity CHY 10103, was founded in 1977 to
commemorate the late Mr. Tim Noonan, a U.C.C. graduate who worked for many years in
Nigerian hospitals in the 1950s. When he returned to Ireland to practice as County Surgeon
at Cashel County Hospital, Mr. Noonan continued to provide medical assistance to hospitals
in Africa. This proud tradition is now carried on entirely voluntarily by 4th year medical
students at UCC. Fundraising takes place throughout the academic year and all money
raised is brought directly to African Missionary Hospitals by the students in June. In 2009,
a group of students will travel to hospitals in Ghana, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Zambia
and Zimbabwe (Em…maybe not this year!!) bringing with us much needed medical
supplies and financial aid.
Each year Surgeon Noonan holds numerous events, many of them aimed at students. From
shag-tag (sex guaranteed*) to race nights; and our table quiz to Flag Days held around the
towns of Munster every weekend we will be providing much entertainment for your first
year in med. The events are fun and cheap and come as much needed (and deserved) break
from the books, as well as helping a very worthwhile cause!
Flag Days allow us to bestow onto you all information good and medical and equally
provide an opportunity for you to get involved in a society which you may wells someday be
actively involved in.
Our Ball (the most renowned in UCC) is a huge source of income for the society, attended
by consultants, junior doctors and medical students. Doctors and students alike break it
down and strut their moves on the dance floor of Rochestown Park Hotel and because we
target consultants and doctors for the big bucks, opening your heart to Surgeon Noonan
does not mean opening your wallet :-).
So what do we ask of you?...... Student life is not all about study, it is important to get a
balance. And so all I say is to join with us, embrace us as we have you and remember the
words of Mr Tim Noonan “Chill out , dance hard and dig deep."*
Thank you,
Warren Connolly
Surgeon Noonan Committee 08/09
*this may not happen\have happened
UCC Friends of MSF Society.
Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international humanitarian aid
organisation. MSF provides free emergency medical aid and assistance in over 80
countries to victims of war, natural disasters and epidemics irrespective of race,
religion or political affiliation.
UCC Friends of MSF (FofMSF) was founded in February 2007 to raise awareness
about MSF’s work and the issues surrounding it. The society promotes the value of
humanitarian aid work amongst the student population, particularly those with
skills to offer in settings specific to MSF’s and like-minded NGOs projects. The
society also aims to raise funds for MSF.
The society was established at an optimum time. MSF had just opened a head office
in Dublin while a UK and Ireland FofMSF executive was formed to encourage
collaboration between similar societies at universities in the UK and Ireland. To
launch the society, we invited an MSF volunteer to come and share their experiences
with a student and staff audience which was also an opportunity for us to raise our
first donation for MSF. We hope to have many more successful events in the future.
We are a new and enthusiastic society and we hope that UCC FofMSF will become
well established amongst the student population. We look forward to continued
growth by welcoming new members from your year.
Further information about MSF can be found on their Irish and international
websites, www.MSF.ie or www.MSF.org and you can email us at
friendsofMSF@societies.ucc.ie .
We will have a stall at societies day so please stop by to meet some of our members
and learn more about the group.
Good luck for the coming year,
Best wishes
The committee of UCC FofMSF.
A big welcome to all the new first-years from UCC Surgical Society! We’re a fairly
young society, founded by fellow med students several years ago, and our major aim is to
promote surgical education here in Cork. Our motto is “Qui Docent Disit”; in other
words, “He who teaches, learns”, for all those who aren’t Latin aficionados (including
me!)! In this way, we find that the best method of actively applying surgical knowledge
and skills is teach each other; hence, senior members of the society run suturing seminars,
give case presentations and organise talks on interesting exam- and career-based topics in
surgery. These have included radiology workshops, informal sessions from female
surgeons about the ups-and-downs of life in their specialty, and special luncheons
presided over by Professor H.P Redmond, the official head of the society, with
internationally renowned key-note speakers, e.g. Professor Alfred Cushieri, “the Father of
Laparoscopic Surgery”. We are also very enthusiastic about fun events(!) and think that
they should be encouraged. So far, these have included exclusive screenings of “House
M.D” (we are perpetually a season behind here in Ireland!) in Brookfield, and a slightly
crazy games night, with a bitterly-fought “Operation” tournament that truly demonstrated
the steadiest hands! Though initially envisaged as a society primarily geared towards 3rd,
4th and Final Year med students, there has been a growing influx of pre-clinical students
into our ranks of late – as our events are practical and stimulating, and hopefully awaken
the imagination to embrace the possibilities which lie in this broad and ever-changing
field. It’s also a good way to revise your Anatomy, and to learn principles which will
become very important to your training within a few years… So, if you’re intrigued,
please come along to our AGM, which will be held towards the end of September
(announcements will be made to the classes at that time). You can run for office as a PreClinical Rep, or simply hear more about what we do and how we do it, as well as what
our plans will be for the coming year. We look forward to having you there. Please feel
free to also visit our website at www.surgsoc@ucc.ie. Best of luck with your first year in
Medicine!
Yvelynne Kelly
Current Auditor
UCC Surgical Society
And finally a big thank you to all who contributed to the guide including.
 All the Medsoc committee
 Dr. Kieran Doran
 Brandon Stott
 Surgsoc
 Surgeon Noonan
 Friends of MSF
And not forgetting last years society for all their hard work and
advice!