18th December 2024
Medics Updates
It has been a busy first term for medics. We processed 77 applications for medicine, dentistry and veterinary to meet the early application deadline in September. Interviews are now beginning. We already have 120 interviews and as more medical schools release them through December and January, we expect even more to come in. Thank you to Jimmy, Tom, and their colleagues from the Royal Sussex County Hospital who visited BHASVIC to run a mock mini MMI with the second years. All students received individual feedback from the doctors which will be invaluable as they head off into interviews.
We are always grateful for the support we receive from BSMS. They visited BHASVIC three times to run workshops on interview preparation, medical ethics and how to get into medicine. All sessions have been invaluable for students. BSMS always brings medical students, and these sessions are an excellent opportunity for BHASVIC students to ask questions.
We’ve welcomed lots of speakers this term to BHASVIC. These events are open to all first and second years. Professor Martin Elliott, former medical director and Paediatric Cardiothoracic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Provost at Gresham College visited BHASVIC to give an inspiring talk about 'Life in the Fast Lane - how a healthcare qualification can be a golden ticket'. Students were fascinated by his stories of performing heart surgery in babies and the links with Formula 1.
We run weekly Medsoc sessions. Our second-year students have been helping the first years with advice on work experience, wider reading, widening participation opportunities and what they need to do to make a successful application.
Bradley Martin KC visited BHASVIC to give a talk about medical negligence. Bradley is a specialist clinical negligence barrister in particular brain damage, spinal injury, multiple amputation and other high value claims. This was a fascinating talk and Bradley had some great advice for students.
Dr Bob Levin, a GP, visited BHASVIC to talk about his experiences of working for MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) in Sri Lanka, Sudan and Uganda. He spoke passionately about the work of medical teams in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics.
We are so lucky to have an active and passionate Alumni at BHASVIC. After helping with UCAT in the summer, this term they have been helping the second years with personal statements and interview preparation. There are too many to mention but Alumni from Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Kings, Sheffield, Exeter, Birmingham, Newcastle and Nottingham have recently offered invaluable advice. The vets have been helped by Alumni at RVC, Nottingham, Surrey and Liverpool and the dentists from Alumni at Kings and QMUL.
Emma Taylor-Gallardo, Alumni, came back to BHASVIC to talk to students about life as a medical student at BSMS, and now a doctor. Ella O’Flaherty and Enya Costin, both Alumni, came back to BHASVIC to talk about medical ethics. Enya is at BSMS and Ella is a doctor with an interest in health inequalities.