I started looking into participation trends in different sports, and how those sports may affect the heart differently; came across marathons and ultramarathons. - Sophie

The STEM placement students are sending us weekly blogs all about their experience in the world of work! 

Work experience is great and it provides students with many benefits whilst gaining skills and helping choose the right future career path for pupils. Having work experience on a Curriculum Vitae will make a person stand out to employers as they will notice they have motivation and a real passion for work. It will also help to boost a students confidence in themselves!

See how Sophie is getting on at St George's University! 

Week one - 

In my first week, here is what I achieved: 

-Research into heart muscle conditions; physiological adaptations vs. pathology, specifically cadiomyopathies, hypertrophy and athlete's heart. 

-Read article 'Exercise and heart disease: from athletes and arrhythmias to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cogenital heart disease' (Abbas Zaidi, Sanjay Sharma).

-Read 'The U-shaped relationship between exercise and cardiac morbidity' (Ahmed Merghani, Aneil Malhotra, Sanjay Sharma).

-Read 'Sudden Cardiac death in young athletes' (N. Chandra, R. Bastiaenen, M. Papadakis, S. Sharma).

-Decided project would be the effect of too much/long term excessive exercise on the heart.

Week two - 

In my second week I ...

-Started looking into participation trends in different sports, and how those sports may affect the heart differently; came across marathons and ultramarathons.

-Changed project plan to causes of death at the London marathon, Prof Sanjay Sharma is medical director at the marathon and had access to the data I would need.

-Wrote the introduction and background of my report, then wrote the pre-2007 section of the results.

Week three - 

In my third week I ...

-Started planning the 2008-2016 section, put together tables of causes of death and incidence of medical conditions in this period.

-Wrote up the section, then wrote up the conclusion; what was the most common cause of sudden death during the marathon.

-Completed my report with references and filled out checklist.

Week four - 

In my final week I...

-Worked on databasing screening results for Manchester City FC and Fulham under-18s players; involved looking at questionnaires, ECGs and echocardiogram results and writing up the data into one computerised record (37 individual's results inputted during this time).

-Looked through report with Aneil Malhotra and made final changes and adjustments.

                                                                                                                - Sophie