Medicine Students “break a leg”

Med Revue is a student-run production combining filmed footage and live performances rich with banter, satire and med-related humour that highlights the life of JCU med students. After a one year hiatus, Med Revue was revived this year by medical students Sam Smith and Sarangan Ketheesan.

“I think it’s timed at a very good time of the year. It provides good comic relief at a time when people are about to start the exam grind,” said Sarangan.

This year the show took the format of a narrative entitled “Game of Crohn’s” – playing tribute to the hit HBO television series “Game of Thrones”. The story followed the journey of Jon Snow, a student from an RA 5 town trying to navigate his way through med school. The show also featured cameo appearances from the cohort’s medical lecturers Professor Tarun Sen Gupta and Associate Professor Shashidhar.

“In retrospect, I don’t know how we were able to convince them but we managed to.”

Apart from being a fantastic show, Med Revue is also JCUMSA’s premier charity event.

“Med Revue gives students the opportunity to donate to charity and do so on a large scale. We were able to donate in excess of $7,000 to two charities.”

The convenors Sarangan and Sam are both passionate about mental health and rural medicine, and like many students, were inspired by the teachings of the late Maggie Grant.

Subsequently, the proceeds were split between SANE Australia (a national mental health charity) and the Maggie Grant Memorial Fund – a fund in honour of Maggie Grant's life and work to provide students further opportunities to undertake rural placements. A further $400 was donated to the Maggie Grant Memorial Fund on behalf of JCU staff members.

As a solely student run production the show provided opportunities for over 40 students to be involved.

“Everyone was from different year levels and social groups but the way people came together, to not only put on a show but write a show, was a great reflection of the cohesion between the team.”

Med Revue seeks to encourage students to maintain interests outside of medicine whether it be writing, costume design, performing or filming.

“I think one thing that sort of goes overlooked is that there is so much talent within the med student community.  I think when people get into med school the avenues to explore and express that talent kind of diminish. So hopefully in some capacity, Med Revue also acts to channel the talent that sometimes goes unnoticed in the med student body.”

Med Revue is scheduled to return next year with high hopes of being the best show yet.