Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS), is committed to inspiring future healthcare professionals by raising aspirations, supporting young people’s choices and encouraging progression into medicine or health related careers. KMMS wants to encourage aspiring doctors from all backgrounds to seriously consider medicine as a career. They are committed to widening access to medical degrees and have ambitious targets to recruit students from Kent, Medway and further afield, who have the talent and desire to study medicine, and are from under-represented groups or disadvantaged backgrounds. To further enhance its Future Doctors Outreach Programme, KMMS works in collaboration with its partner institutions, Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Kent.
Here are just some of the projects and opportunities currently on offer:
Careers Information and Schools Outreach
KMMS outreach programme is designed to make young people aware of the potential careers in medicine and healthcare, and to encourage them to explore their options and make informed choices about their future.
If you are a Science or Careers Teacher, why not join KMMS *mailing list* to hear about upcoming events that may be of interest to your students. If you would like to ask a specific question, please email futuredoctors@kmms.ac.uk.
School Visits Programme (Year 7 – 13)
The KMMS Future Doctors team is routinely visiting local secondary schools to talk about careers in medicine and the application process for medical school. The hope is to inspire students to study medicine who may not have otherwise considered it as an option as well as to support them to make the right GCSE and A-level choices to allow them to pursue their ambitions.
(Please note that all visits are virtual at the moment)
In line with its widening participation mission visits are currently prioritised to Canterbury Christ Church University Partner Schools and University of Kent Partner Schools.
“Through the excellent and informative outreach work from KMMS we now have students who are very excited about medicine and understand their next steps”
Tim Fox, Senior Vice Principal & Head of Academic College, The Canterbury Academy
To find out more and/or set-up a visit to your school please email futuredoctors@kmms.ac.uk
Work Experience Advice (Year 11 – 13)
Work experience is a vital part of applying to study medicine. It allows students to gain an insight into the field and make an informed decision about whether medicine is right for them. Work experience also allows students to discover other roles within the health and social care sector which they may not have otherwise been aware of.
It is recognised that not all students will have the same access to work experience and that clinical work experience can be hard to come by. However, applicants should aim to get a variety of experiences in order to demonstrate a commitment to medicine as well as an understanding of what a career in medicine entails. Experiences should also allow students to demonstrate some of the skills and attributes required by doctors. Examples of these can be found in the Medical Schools Council statement on the core values and attributes needed to study medicine.
For more information about KMMS admissions, please visit its entry requirements page.
Useful resources for work experience (Year 11 – 13)
The Medical Schools Council provides information and guidance on work experience for students.
The British Medical Association also provides information on how to become a doctor as well as advice for students on work experience.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust publish a guide to their volunteering opportunities.
Inspiring Minds: Future Doctors (Year 9 – 13)
KMMS offers a series of bespoke programmes under its Future Doctors umbrella.
Virtual Medical Society Programme
Could you be a lifesaver? What do doctors really do?
The Future Doctors programme FREE to join. Starting October 2021.
KMMS offers Year 9 and Year 10 students the opportunity to join the Inspiring Minds: Future Doctors programme with the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS).
The online sessions* are based on the KMMS curriculum and go through topics such as Heart, Lung and Blood; Health and Disease; Neuroscience and Behaviour; Immune System; and many more.
This FREE programme aims to increase awareness of what it takes to apply to and study medicine or other healthcare subjects, through fun, inspiring and interactive sessions focused on medicine, health, and science.
Participants will have an opportunity to meet others interested in Medicine, join an online community and get feedback by real doctors!
Here’s what a former participant and her Mum had to say:
Participant (age 13):
“This is a really well organised and inspirational programme. It’s very inclusive and everyone gets a chance to contribute. And it’s encouraging because the teachers and mentors are doctors and you get to hear about their experiences – and they are really good at answering your questions! The demonstrations are excellent and you learn how they apply to real-life scenarios.”
Mother of participant:
“This is a brilliant, unique opportunity for my daughter. She was so enthused and encouraged after her first session. Her dream to be a doctor now seems like a real possibility. Thank you.”
How do I sign up?
Applications are closed for 2021 entry but get in touch to be placed on the cancellation list and to be notified about future programmes
Welcome Wednesday
The KMMS Admissions Team is live on Instagram (@kmmsmedschool) stories every Wednesday between 12:00-14:00 to answer any questions you have.
Useful Resources
- Studying Healthcare Events Page
- Medical Schools Council: Medical School Entry Requirements
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School: Virtual Work Experience
- Royal College of General Practice: Observe GP (virtual work experience)
Contact us
For school requests, please e-mail us at futuredoctors@kmms.ac.uk
If you are a Science or Careers Teacher and would like to be added to KMMS *mailing list* or to hear about upcoming events that may be of interest to students or ask a specific question email futuredoctors@kmms.ac.uk.