Very Junior Doctors

In this episode, VJD host Naabil is joined by Mr Vikas Acharya, Exeter Alumni and consultant rhinologist, facial plastic and ENT Surgeon working here at The Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals within UCLH. We delve into Mr Acharya's career into ENT, his passion for medical education and his role as a content creator for fellow healthcare workers and patients. Tips, tricks and honest ad...

In this episode, Naabil sits down with Farah Virani, an inspirational and versatile healthcare professional whose work spans clinical practice, digital transformation, and data-driven innovation. Together, they explore what mentorship truly means in today’s healthcare landscape, moving beyond theory into real-world application. Farah shares insights into different models of management, the importa...

In our next episode of Very Junior Doctors, Chloe is joined by Dr Molly Parkinson, a GP Trainee ST3, talking all about her pathway to becoming a GP and what it's actually like to be a GP Trainee. Are you considering becoming a GP? Why not find out more about this speciality from someone who's currently experiencing the training pathway?

This week on The Very Junior Doctors Podcast, Naabil is joined by the incredible Aynsley Szczesniak; premed, STEMinist, entrepreneur, changemaker, feminist, and fierce advocate for women in STEM. Aynsley is a junior at the University of North Carolina, studying biology, chemistry, and entrepreneurship. Her passion for medicine, women’s health, and empowering young women in STEM led her to create S...

Join us in our next episode of VJD where Chloe chats with Dr Tash Binnie about her experience of Foundation Year 1 and 2, alternative routes post completion of the Foundation Programme, and mental health advocacy within medicine as a medical student and a doctor. Dr Tash's Instagram page (@drtashbinnie) further explores these topics and other topics related to medicine and life as a doctor. Th...

Are you someone who is eager to find out more about the Foundation Programme or would like to start preparing ahead of applications next year? In this next episode, Dr Leah chats to Chloe about what the Foundation Programme is, what the application entails, her own personal experience of applying, and life as a Foundation Year 1 Doctor. Dr Leah is also on Instagram - drleahlinda, where she shares...

In this episode, Naabil talks to the incredible Harry Dunn, a medical student who has dedicated his journey to healthcare management and policy at a national level. From being an NIHR, Government and THIS Institute researcher to an NHS Confederation intern and advocate for Health Policy and Tech, Harry’s work showcases the power of leadership and policy in shaping the future of medicine. Together,...

In this episode of Very Junior Doctors , Naabil sits down with Hamaad, an inspiring graduate medical student, advocate, and trailblazer in medical education and health justice. From his pivotal experiences in social prescribing to leading campaigns like Medicine Unheard, Hamaad shares his journey of redefining medicine, championing patient advocacy, and resisting the narrative of doom and despair...

In this next episode of Very Junior Doctors, Chloe talks about her experience of volunteering in medical school with a charity. She talks about what her experience has taught her and how she can transfer what she has learnt so far to her medical degree.

In this episode, Naabil takes you behind the scenes of her TEDxNHS journey—unpacking the highs, the challenges, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. She shares how working with her incredible coach, Farah Virani, transformed her approach to storytelling and public speaking. If you're dreaming of stepping onto a TEDx stage in 2025, this episode is packed with insights on the applicatio...

In this episode of Very Junior Doctors , Naabil opens up about her personal journey to conquer the fear of public speaking. From trembling at the thought of presenting to large audiences to finding her confidence on stage, Naabil shares the challenges she faced and the strategies that helped her overcome them. Whether you're an aspiring public speaker or simply looking to express yourself more con...

In this episode of Very Junior Doctors, Naabil dives into the world of medical conferences and shares essential tips on how to make the most out of them. Split into 10 parts, this episode offers practical advice on everything from dressing to impress to making introductions and leveraging LinkedIn. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a seasoned participant, this episode is your go-to guide...

Making a change in Medical School is no easy journey, organisation, collaboration and immersion are key. In one of our first episodes of Season 3 of VJD, our co-host Naabil tackles the challenges of being a changemaker, why it is so important and how you can prepare to make a difference within your own space.

In our last episode of Season 2, we will be wrapping up our Second year of medicine. Chloe and I discuss the highs and lows of Second year, what we have learnt and what we want to bring into Third year!

After a short hiatus from VJD, Chloe kicks off our summer speciality series by talking to Dr Callum Waldie; Locum doctor and Clinical Tutor. From clinical work to education to medical staging, to an overall honest review of working in the NHS- this episode has it all so sit back and enjoy a new episode of Very Junior Doctors.

This week, we are continuing from the first episode with Dr Black to talk about his book, Belly Woman, working with MSF and Dr Black's top tips on applying for and preparing to work with MSF. This is part 2 of 2 with Dr Black, in part 1 we discuss his journey into medicine, why he chose Obs and Gynae, as well as the importance of using different skills to deal with the job.

Join us for our newest episode where we chat to the GMC about its role within the medical community, addressing some stereotypical myths about the organisation and much more! Thank you to the GMC for recording this episode with us.

This week, we have been honoured to interview Author, Obs and gynaecologist, MSF volunteer, and specialist advisor, Dr Benjamin Black. Dr Black joined us to talk about his journey into medicine, why he chose Obs and Gynae and the importance of using different skills to deal with the job. This is part 1 of 2 with Dr Black, in part 2 we discuss his journey into MSF and his recent book, Belly Woman....

This is part one of our newest series on different specialities where we interview leading clinicians and figures in their respective fields. This week Chloe interviewed the brilliant Mr David Whinny, an ENT consultant and teacher at Exeter Medical School on his education, career, journey into the ENT speciality and what is involved in that role.

This week, Naabil and Raymond talk about the BMA, and the role of camaraderie and Ray gives advice on how to get involved in the BMA as an aspiring/current member. This jam-packed episode is one of our first Unfiltered sessions where we have a casual, non-edited conversation with out guests to create a more natural vibe on the podcast. Follow Ray on Instagram! @wayoftheraymed

In this episode, our co-host Chloe joins the inspiring Fiona in a deep dive into gap years before medical school. Fiona and Chloe also discuss mental health during gap years, how to plan a productive gap year and the pros and cons of taking a year out. 

In this episode, we are joined by Sam Jones, an enthusiastic undergraduate radiographer studying at the University of Exeter. Naabil and Sam discuss the life of a radiography student, the difference between a radiographer and a radiologist, as well as career prospects for aspiring radiographers.  Please check the brilliant Sam out on Instagram @sam2000121

In this episode, we are joined by the brilliant, Ravanth from the award-winning medical education organisation- OSCEasy about accessibility in medical education. This includes tips on how to start your own resource sites and discussions about the impact of free medical resources.  Please check out OSCEasy on:  Insta: @osceazyofficial Twitter: @osceazyofficial Facebook: @osceazy LinkedIn:...

Welcome back to Season 2 of Very Junior Doctors. We are starting this season off with a discussion about transitioning from years 2 to 3 in medical school accompanied by Zain Mehmood (aka. Medheads 2020). Zain leads our conversation with anecdotes from his experience from pre-clinical to clinical settings, providing advice, resources and guidance on how to deal with this transition. So join us aga...

Join us for our very last episode of Very Junior Doctors Season 1! Chloe will be taking the reigns as she discusses her experience with widening participation, how it's impacted her opportunities in applying to medical school, and why she advocates for widening participation now. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey and please stay posted for Season 2 of Very Junior Doctors!