Post by Shriya Karlapudi

This was the most uncomfortable I've ever felt. Standing at the podium, about to present my research. My audience? Surgeons who'd been performing aortic surgery for longer than I'd been alive. What I hadn't realised beforehand was that the Liverpool Aortic Symposium wasn't just another conference. It was a specialised international conference dedicated entirely to complex aortic surgery. Everyone was in suits, sharing stories from decades of experience, debating operative techniques, graft choices and long-term outcomes. And then there was me. A third-year medical student, and the only medical student in the room, presenting research on a complex aortic procedure. To the surgeons who actually perform the operation. But what surprised me was how welcoming everyone was! The surgeons asked me thoughtful questions, took the time to discuss the project and were genuinely interested in my ideas. This experience taught me something I'll carry throughout my medical career. Some of the best learning happens when you're surrounded by people who know far more than you do. If you're willing to ask questions, defend your reasoning and stay curious, those moments become opportunities rather than something to fear. The wards are unpredictable. Patients don't present in textbook order. No one tells you exactly what to do next. You learn by making decisions under uncertainty, defending your reasoning and reflecting afterwards. Because confidence isn't something you wait for. It's something you earn by repeatedly putting yourself in uncomfortable situations. King's College London King's Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Guy's and St Thomas'​ NHS Foundation Trust #medicine #medicalstudent #medstudent #research #wardmaster