Dr Emma Brown (Class of 2015) overcame financial hardship as a mature medical student at the University of Aberdeen and went on to excel in her final exams which she sat while expecting her son, Oscar, now 4.
She is now an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow and Clinical Teaching Fellow in the MSc Critical Care programmes at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Before the coronavirus pandemic Emma would usually split her time 50/50 between teaching and working in critical care (to make time for being a ‘Mummy in Medicine’) but has increased her clinical commitments to help the NHS as it responds to the current health crisis.
On the 72 anniversary of the NHS, Sunday, 5 July, we had a chance to catch up with her and hear about her incredible journey from medical student to being recognised with NHS and University of Glasgow staff awards.
Emma said: “I was really ambitious at school. None of my family were academic but I very much was from a young age. I didn’t know any doctors growing up but I always knew I wanted to work in medicine - but also knew I would be likely to have an alternative route. I was delighted to get a place at the University of Glasgow to study a BSc in Neuroscience. It was a very difficult degree and I found out later I had undiagnosed dyslexia. At the time technology wasn’t what it is today so it was hard work as all the learning was from textbooks.
“From there I went to work over in California as a director at a specialist centre predominantly for adults with all manner of special needs, including autism. I learned I could apply my neuroscience in a really productive way. I worked with people from all over the world and as a result learned about cultural sensitivities. It was my job to nurture and train people to provide support to people with physical and mental health disabilities. I saw the positive impact I could have on a whole family and it really compounded for me what I already knew that I wanted a career dedicated to helping people. While I was there, I also worked for the Multiple Sclerosis Society as a masseuse and I really loved providing relief from symptoms and caring for people in a hands-on way.”
Emma began applying to study Medicine and was accepted to York University as well as Aberdeen.
She said: “I had proven myself academically and had health care experience as well but I still wasn’t really that confident with myself. Medicine is so competitive and I couldn’t believe I had been offered a place and I had options of where to study.
“I remember in the interview at Aberdeen they asked me ‘Why would you want to choose here of all the medical schools in the country?’ and I said ‘I was in the foyer earlier and it was just breathtaking, I can’t believe the facilities, it just seems such a lovely place to study medicine and I could really see myself studying here.’ I don’t know if it was the best answer but I think they appreciated my honesty.”
Emma, who is currently working towards an MSc in Health Professions Education at the University of Glasgow, begun studying medicine at the University of Aberdeen at the age of 25.
She said: “I was older than the average student and older than most postgrad students. I was a bit different, I hadn’t taken the typical route from school or straight from a previous degree. I had a lot more life experience under my belt and had a different outlook. I was so excited but I felt nervous that I would fit in socially – it turned out not to be a problem at all. There were students older than me, in their 40s even, who had worked in different jobs or had had children. Everyone was so nice and I joined as many societies as I could. I’ve always been chatty and I made friends straight away. I felt at home instantly.
“It helped that I was one of the class reps in my first year of studies so that enabled me to reach out to the student body and was a really good method of getting to know people.”
Emma was keen to get involved in research during the early stages of her career and had an article published in the British Journal of Neurosurgery in her early years of studying medicine.
Like many medical students in the later years of their degree, Emma found it increasingly difficult to juggle working, supporting herself financially as well as studying as the academic demands increased.
She said: “Over the holidays I’d be working a lot and at one stage I had three jobs. I worked as a waitress, in retail and as a student ambassador for the University.
“I felt so tired and it was so hard not getting a break at weekends and knowing I could be dedicating more time to studying because I had to work.
“At times I felt isolated. I remember crying in the libraries – I wanted this so badly. If I had realised earlier there was support and had also chatted to other students who had gotten to the other end it might have helped.
“I remember getting upset but I never thought about giving up. The staff were amazing. I was late to a tutorial once and one of the staff recognised what was going on and asked how I was and I just sobbed from exhaustion. I did get through and there was support available. I am very grateful to the University of Aberdeen Development Trust for the bursary I received and to a man who worked with the University called Jim Henderson who provided free financial advice and guidance (and pastoral support) to students.
“It meant I could experience the joy of studying again. I went on the Remote and Rural Programme for fourth and fifth year and I got to travel to places I had never been before like Inverness, Skye and Orkney. Such beauty and the facilities there are also amazing. I was the Class Rep for the Remote and Rural cohort which was a really great opportunity. I became involved in widening access to medicine and I still am. I have helped a student prepare for her interview very recently and she has just been accepted to study medicine, which was really nice to hear.”
In her final year of medicine Emma found out she was expecting her son.
She said: “At the time there was so much information to absorb, it was difficult to focus but it’s not impossible, there were actually three of us who were expecting when we sat our finals.”
After completing medicine Emma took a year of maternity leave to care for her baby.
“It was nice to learn how to be a mummy and it was good preparation for FY1 as I knew how to keep a little person who is depending on you 24/7 alive. I had learned a work ethic being a solo parent and I felt ready for work. I was in Lanarkshire for FY1 – I got really involved in a quality improvement project on reducing the number of penicillin prescription errors and I was asked to present my project at a conference. I was commended for this and it was decided that the approach should be taken hospital-wide, a real honour. I then moved to Glasgow and there are just so many opportunities. I don’t know what my vision of a pandemic was before it happened but I work with the most incredible team of people. I’ve only felt supported.”
Last year Emma was nominated by the University of Glasgow for two teaching awards – Best Teacher in MVLS and Outstanding Contribution to Teaching.
She said: “I was blown away. I got to go to the awards ceremony and it was really nice to know that my students recognised how much effort I put into our curriculum. I was able to support them in A&E, encouraging them with patients and to lecture for them. It has been an incredible experience.”
Emma added: “To anyone who has aspirations to study medicine or science or anything else you want to do – YOU CAN DO IT. If you are a mature student, a parent, a widening access student or from a background you see as unconventional, know that it starts with a dream and there are so many people out there who want to help you. In this time, it is just about adjusting – you don’t need to give up on your ideas you just need to think creatively.
“I saw the University of Aberdeen 525 Covid-19 appeal to help students who face financial hardship as a result of coronavirus and I remember exactly what it was like trying to pay rent and buy food as well as funding my studies. I had to give back. But the world won’t go on like this forever. The opportunities will come again. Don’t feel alone. Ask for help. There will always be someone who can help you.”
