Thu, 9 Feb 2012
Sixth-formers from across the region will get to experience life as a medical student this half term, as they take part in a residential programme at the University of East Anglia.
‘Medical Aspirations’ is organised by the Gifted and Talented team at the university, alongside Norwich Medical School. Now in its third year, it offers students from backgrounds traditionally under-represented on medicine degrees the chance to see what studying to be a doctor is really like.
The three-day course runs from February 14-16 and will see 30 aspiring medics taking part in a variety of interactive sessions - covering everything from medical ethics to restarting a heart.
They will also gain an insight into pathology with a visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, receive advice on applying to university, and get the chance to grill current medical students on their experiences.
Dr Laura Bowater, a senior lecturer from the university’s Norwich Medical School, said: “We are incredibly proud of Medical Aspirations and the opportunity it offers to sixth formers and college students to come and experience life as a medical student. The programme is the culmination of a huge amount of work and support from many different individuals within the university and across Norwich Research Park.
“People have willingly given up their time because they want to encourage students who might not have considered going into medicine, the chance to find out if this career is for them. Medical Aspirations is just one of the programmes that Norwich Medical School uses to successfully support students from non-traditional backgrounds applying to medicine.”
The event has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from UEA alumnus David Tibble, who studied at the university in the early 1970s. The donation will also fund bursaries to cover 50 - 100 per cent of the tuition fees for the highest achieving Medical Aspirations attendees who go on to gain a place on the medicine degree at the university.
Jay Aldous, a student at King Edward VI upper school in Bury St Edmunds, will be attending the event. He said: “Schemes like Medical Aspirations gives those from less advantaged backgrounds an amazing opportunity to gain motivation and learn what a life with a health care related career - like medicine - is really like. It will also be a brilliant chance to meet new people and have fun while living like an independent university student.”
Medical Aspirations will run again in 2013 with applications opening in September this year. Potential applicants or schools can register their interest by emailing giftedandtalented@uea.ac.uk.
The three-day course runs from February 14-16 and will see 30 aspiring medics taking part in a variety of interactive sessions - covering everything from medical ethics to restarting a heart.
They will also gain an insight into pathology with a visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, receive advice on applying to university, and get the chance to grill current medical students on their experiences.
Dr Laura Bowater, a senior lecturer from the university’s Norwich Medical School, said: “We are incredibly proud of Medical Aspirations and the opportunity it offers to sixth formers and college students to come and experience life as a medical student. The programme is the culmination of a huge amount of work and support from many different individuals within the university and across Norwich Research Park.
“People have willingly given up their time because they want to encourage students who might not have considered going into medicine, the chance to find out if this career is for them. Medical Aspirations is just one of the programmes that Norwich Medical School uses to successfully support students from non-traditional backgrounds applying to medicine.”
The event has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from UEA alumnus David Tibble, who studied at the university in the early 1970s. The donation will also fund bursaries to cover 50 - 100 per cent of the tuition fees for the highest achieving Medical Aspirations attendees who go on to gain a place on the medicine degree at the university.
Jay Aldous, a student at King Edward VI upper school in Bury St Edmunds, will be attending the event. He said: “Schemes like Medical Aspirations gives those from less advantaged backgrounds an amazing opportunity to gain motivation and learn what a life with a health care related career - like medicine - is really like. It will also be a brilliant chance to meet new people and have fun while living like an independent university student.”
Medical Aspirations will run again in 2013 with applications opening in September this year. Potential applicants or schools can register their interest by emailing giftedandtalented@uea.ac.uk.
