Case Study

From a young age I was interested in the sciences and excelled in them. I also was passionate about helping others. These combined sparked my interest in medicine. The idea of a profession so challenging yet rewarding was really enticing and after work experience, I knew medicine was the pathway for me. I studied biology, chemistry and economics in sixth from at Emmanuel College in Gateshead before I went into medicine at Sunderland.

I chose to study the MBChB Medicine course at the University of Sunderland for a number of reasons. Firstly, being from Gateshead and choosing Sunderland meant I could be close to home and remain in the North East. This was really important for me because in the future I wish to stay in the area and support my community as a doctor. Secondly, the smaller cohort appealed to me as I know it would be a better learning environment with more support from the staff.

Early clinical placements are a great part of the course. Being able to delve into GP practices within our first year allows us to practice communication skills with patients early on. Definitely one of the best aspects of the course is the staff. Any time I have needed help with lectures, staff were more than willing to sit down and help me. We are a small cohort and this has definitely created a supportive environment in which every student can thrive.

In terms of my future career aims, within medicine there are so many career options and specialities I could pursue. I am interested in surgery but no speciality is off the table at the moment. I want to take my time to decide and explore every option.

I would definitely recommend the University of Sunderland to other students. And if I had to give one piece of advice, it would be to enjoy every moment!”

Published 29 May 2020