We are thrilled to be able to invite a number of practitioners, universities and past students in to speak to our current MedSoc cohort. These sessions have proved very informative.

If you would like to come to speak to our MedSoc or Science students about your field or advice on applications please contact: staff@ashmoleacademy.org FAO Mrs D Shah, MedSoc Coordinator.

Guest Speakers:

Medsoc hosted Drs Antony and Harry Zacharias, who came in to run a personal statement workshop for our Medsoc students. They taught us a framework which we will now implement in our drafts, and it was so helpful to our students to know how to reflect on their experiences. We even received some invaluable tips on interview preparation as Harry and Antony conducted some of the Medicine interviews at UCL this year! We are so grateful to both brothers for their ongoing support of our Medsoc students.  Mrs D Shah, 2024

We have been fortunate to receive a visit by Dr Devesh Shah, a Consultant Physician in Geriatric and General (Internal) Medicine from Barnet Hospital. Over 25 students attended the talk, as Dr Shah spoke to us about being a doctor in the NHS. He provided us with real insight into his training to become a doctor, what a career in the NHS is like, a typical patient journey, as well as some invaluable advice for our Y12 students at this stage in their academic careers. Mrs D Shah, 2024

Medsoc hosted Dr Susan Gelding, a consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes, who visited us and gave us invaluable insight into working in healthcare. She discussed her journey into Medicine, and all of the options available to our aspiring Medsoc pupils. Our students asked questions about working within the Barts Health NHS Trust, and picked her brain as she was the associate dean for undergraduate studies at the hospital. We are so grateful to Dr Gelding for coming to Ashmole to give this talk.  Mrs D Shah, 2024

Medsoc had the pleasure of welcoming Ms Alison Bowman, Therapeutic Radiographer and Project Manager for the East of England Radiotherapy Network. Alison talked us through the incredible work she has done over the last 25 years in treating different types of cancers. She talked the Medsoc cohort through the procedure for delivering radiotherapy, using props which she kindly brought in! We were also fortunate to be shown scans of tumours that required radiotherapy. The students were enthralled and asked some really insightful questions. As a result, we currently have a number of students in Year 12 now considering this rewarding Allied Healthcare Profession. We are very grateful to Ms Bowman for taking the time to visit our Medsoc. Mrs D Shah, 2024

Before half term, we were fortunate to host Dr Millie Light, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Barts Health NHS Trust. She gave an insightful talk into her journey into studying Medicine, as well as some great advice into next steps for our current Y12 cohort. She also showed us some very cool scans of tumours that she deals with regularly, describing their treatments with both chemo- and radiotherapy. As you can see, the room was packed to the brim! We are very grateful to have had her visit, and have planned more visiting speakers this half term too. Mrs D Shah, 2023

Guest speakers have come to speak to MedSoc from multiple stages and areas of medicine and dentistry. An Ashmole Alumnus introduced us to the different styles of teaching at university and generally talked to us about what life at university can be like. Another alumnus invited in was a student of dentistry, gave an insightful talk into her degree. Two other Ashmole alumni developed our understanding of interview styles and alternate paths into medicine. Both also sparked a discussion of medical ethics. We were also lucky enough to have doctors come in to discuss their career journeys and their training. They revealed both the rough and rewarding aspects of medicine, from 80-hour weeks and the pressures of responsibility, to the rewarding nature of saving of a life. All our speakers have helped us to better understand the career we have taken an interest in and how to act now as we embark on this journey.