Undergraduate medics and dentists champion the next generation

25 Jul 2013

Undergraduates from Medicine and Dentistry gave school students a real insight into studying for a career in health when they organised a medical simulation day that even included suturing – or stitching – oranges!

Fifty youngsters from schools around the city took part in the day, organised for the Manchester Access Programme (MAP), which targets and supports talented students who are from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in higher education (HE).

Omer Ali, Hira Nazir and their team of fellow undergraduates – many of whom completed MAP themselves – organised a day of learning that many young people around the country pay hundreds of pounds for, and which will be of huge benefit to the sixth formers’ university applications by improving their subject-specific skills and knowledge.

The wealth of activities and fascinating talks included:

• Practical workshops which involved students suturing (stitching) oranges
• Learning how to intubate with Manchester Children’s Hospital anaesthetist Dr Rebecca Sutton, by putting tubes down dummies’ throats
• Learning about infection control with the Infection Control Team from North Manchester Hospital by using a machine which shows how dirty your hands are with UV lighting and going through the process of a hygienic injection.
• A speech by Dr Enam Haque, a GP at Levenshulme Medical Practice and Widening Participation Lead in the Manchester Medical School, on being a GP and the recent changes to the NHS.
• Dr Simon Mardel OBE, Consultant in Accident and Emergency and Senior Lecturer in Global Health, talked about current issues in global health.
• Dr Robina Shah MBE, Psychologist and ‘NHS Hero’, spoke about her work as Chair of NHS North West Care and Compassion Forum and the renewed focus in the NHS on this issue.
• There were also talks about the UCAS application process and experiences of being a Medical student from the current Medical undergraduates and a Communication Skills session with Dr Sarah Collins and Byron McGuinness, who both work for the Medical School in the Consultation Skills Lab.
• Prospective dental students also enjoyed specific dental sessions with Dentistry undergraduates, in alginate and casting impressions and oral examination using equipment paid for by the Dental School.

The Year 12 delegates were impressed, as one put it: “I am extremely grateful that all the workshops were ran, as I feel as though I gained some knowledge from every task. It was also very enjoyable to do some hands on activities!”