Our days as medical students are incredibly stimulating, emotionally challenging at times, and filled with moments of profound satisfaction - where even the briefest of interactions can brighten a patient's day.

Yet much of medical school can seem riddled with rote memorisation for exams and mired by a box-ticking culture to build portfolios.

With all of this, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture - the joys of clinical work, the hobbies we once cherished before medical school, and the opportunities to address shortcomings in a healthcare system we have the power to improve.

Finding your voice

Writing is often overlooked in medical curricula, and you may even miss the process and satisfaction of writing.

Have you ever felt the urge to document a particularly moving day as a medical student, for example? Writing offers us the opportunity to think critically and creatively. It gives us a powerful outlet to express opinions, reflect meaningfully on patient interactions, and engage with the forces shaping our clinical practice.

Recent industrial action by resident doctors has highlighted the influence we have, even at the earliest stages of our medical careers, to drive change.

So, grab that pen and pad of paper (or Apple Pencil and iPad!) and start writing - get your ideas out into the world!

Why should I write for my medical school journal?

Writing for your medical school journal offers a unique opportunity to find your voice and contribute to evolving debates. It allows you to create dialogue on issues that shape the experiences of patients and practitioners, share and analyse ground-breaking medical research, and interview changemakers in the healthcare field.

Importantly, a medical school journal goes beyond the realm of day-to-day medical practice. Writers can explore medical anthropology, the history and philosophy of medicine, politics and sociology - sparking interest and debate around aspects of medical practice from new and important perspectives.

One of the most exciting parts of the writing process is the research phase, where ideas are stretched and workshopped. Falling down a rabbit hole - where one reading leads to another, and then another - can be both overwhelming and exhilarating.

As you sift through journals, articles and papers, you'll uncover fascinating insights and unexpected angles before you hit that longed-for lightbulb moment!

Connecting with researchers and academics, both at your institution and beyond, not only informs and enriches your writing, but can expand its impact and reach.

We all start somewhere

Doctors Oliver Sacks, Paul Kalanithi, Atul Gawande, Henry Marsh, Siddhartha Mukherjee and many others have proven the importance of the doctor-writer.

Many students' first exposure to medicine was through the writings of such doctors. Their reflections on the doctor's role, analyses of the patient experience, and emphasis on narrative medicine highlight the vital role in improving medical practice and inspiring the next generation of doctors.

Your medical school journal could be a springboard for your own journey in medical writing. Nurturing your voice and style through a creative outlet can be an excellent way of contributing to conversations that are important to you.

If your university doesn't already have a medical journal (make sure to check with your student union as well) then here are a few tips for setting one up. It might be that your university has one already, and it simply needs revival and fresh student interest!

Starter kit for setting up your journal

Create a network and committee

Find like-minded students interested in setting up a journal. Appoint a leadership team with editors and deputies to help delegate the work, then decide on the direction of your publication.

Do you want something research focussed, something that showcases student journalism and design, or a more creative/arts publication?

Publicise

Spread the word on group chats and social media to get as many students involved. You might want to invite any university student passionate about writing and healthcare to contribute.

Start writing!

Consider setting a theme for your journal to help guide writers on their ideas. Arrange regular meetings between writers, designers and editors to curate a coherent and varied selection of articles for your issue.

Use the power of your institution emails and contacts to get in touch with researchers and academics. Reach out to faculty staff and alumni and create a network.

Edit and refine

Check grammar, flow and readability of all articles. Workshop them with your writers to review and refine drafts through multiple rounds of feedback to improve them further.

Design

Bring your pieces together with artwork, illustrations and thoughtful design. If you're publishing online, consider using platforms like Canva to easily create your online edition - and social media assets to publicise.

When preparing for print, you can 'bleed' lines - extending images or design elements beyond the edges of the page - to ensure a seamless finish after trimming.

Publish and print

Find an online platform to host your e-journal on - there's plenty of options out there! Consider setting up a dedicated website to host all your editions so they're easily accessible and searchable, as well as additional content like podcasts, more articles and creative works.

You might also want to publish your journal to print as well, distributing physical copies around campus and at your medical school's hospital sites to reach a wider audience.

Now it's time to get started!

--

MDU advice

The General Medical Council (GMC) provides guidance on using social media as a medical professional and this gives some useful reminders for those putting together a medical school journal. It expects the same standards applied in social media across other forms of communication.

Anyone who writes hopes their words will have impact. Once an article is published, keep in mind that your words might reach a wide range of people, including those outside your medical school, influencing behaviours and attitudes towards doctors or healthcare as a result.

Doctors must identify themselves when publicly commenting on health-related matters, clearly state their expertise and ensure their content is accurate and ethical.

Remember to:

declare any conflict of interest
avoid exploiting any vulnerabilities
adhere to legal obligations, such as respecting copyright and defamation laws
respect patient confidentiality. Simply anonymising a patient's name may not be enough, especially in rare cases where details could inadvertently reveal their identity to others, including friends or family who might read your article.

Write for us

Want to write for the MDU's student hub? Get in touch to pitch your ideas to our editors and build your writing portfolio.

How to start your own medical school journal

Related articles

Membership in your pocket