{"id":81,"date":"2022-02-17T12:15:10","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T12:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/public-engagement-case-studies\/?p=81"},"modified":"2022-03-09T11:00:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T11:00:08","slug":"outreach-targets-future-healthcare-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/public-engagement-case-studies\/2022\/02\/17\/outreach-targets-future-healthcare-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"Outreach targets future healthcare professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS), is committed to inspiring future healthcare professionals by raising aspirations, supporting young people\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Here are just some of the projects and opportunities currently on offer:<\/b><\/p>\n

Careers Information and Schools Outreach<\/b><\/p>\n

KMMS\u00a0outreach programme is designed to make young people aware of the potential careers in medicine and healthcare, and\u00a0to encourage\u00a0them to explore their options and make informed choices about their future.<\/p>\n

If you are a Science or Careers Teacher,\u00a0why not join\u00a0KMMS\u202f*mailing list*\u202fto hear about upcoming events that may be of interest to your students. If you would like to ask a specific question, please email\u202ffuturedoctors@kmms.ac.uk.<\/a><\/p>\n

School Visits Programme (Year 7 \u2013 13)<\/b><\/p>\n

The\u00a0KMMS\u00a0Future Doctors team\u00a0is routinely visiting\u00a0local secondary schools to talk about careers in medicine and the application process for medical school.\u00a0The hope is\u00a0to 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.
\n(Please note that all visits are virtual at the moment)<\/i><\/p>\n

In line with\u00a0its\u00a0widening participation mission\u00a0visits are currently\u00a0prioritised\u00a0\u00a0to\u202fCanterbury Christ Church University Partner Schools<\/a>\u202fand\u202fUniversity of Kent Partner Schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the excellent and informative outreach work from\u00a0KMMS\u00a0we now have students who are very excited about medicine and understand their next steps\u201d
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Tim Fox, Senior Vice\u00a0Principal &\u00a0Head of Academic College, The Canterbury Academy<\/b><\/p>\n

To find out more\u00a0and\/or set-up a visit\u00a0to your school please email\u202ffuturedoctors@kmms.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Work Experience Advice (Year 11 \u2013 13)<\/b><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u202fstatement on the core values and attributes<\/a>\u202fneeded to study medicine.<\/p>\n

For more information about\u00a0KMMS\u00a0admissions, please visit its\u202fentry requirements page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Useful resources for work experience (Year 11 \u2013 13)<\/b><\/p>\n

The Medical Schools Council provides information and\u202fguidance on work experience<\/a>\u202ffor students.<\/p>\n

The British Medical Association also provides information on\u202fhow to become a doctor<\/a>\u202fas well as\u202fadvice for students on work experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust publish a\u202fguide to their volunteering opportunities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Inspiring Minds: Future Doctors (Year 9 \u2013 13)<\/b><\/p>\n

KMMS\u00a0offers\u00a0a series of bespoke programmes under\u00a0its\u00a0Future Doctors umbrella.<\/p>\n

Virtual Medical Society Programme<\/b><\/p>\n

Could you be a lifesaver? What do doctors really do?<\/b>
\nThe Future Doctors programme FREE to join. Starting October 2021.<\/b><\/p>\n

KMMS\u00a0offers\u00a0\u202fYear\u00a09\u202f<\/b>and\u202fYear 10\u202f<\/b>students the opportunity to join the Inspiring Minds: Future Doctors programme with the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS).<\/p>\n

The online sessions*\u00a0are\u202fbased on the\u00a0KMMS\u00a0curriculum<\/b>\u202fand go through topics such as Heart, Lung and Blood; Health and Disease; Neuroscience and Behaviour; Immune System; and many more.<\/p>\n

This FREE programme aims to\u202fincrease awareness of what it takes to apply to and study medicine or other healthcare subjects<\/b>, through fun, inspiring and interactive sessions focused on medicine, health, and science.<\/p>\n

Participants\u00a0will have an opportunity to meet others interested in Medicine, join\u00a0an\u00a0online community and get feedback by real doctors!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what\u00a0a\u00a0former\u00a0participant and her Mum\u00a0had to say:<\/p>\n

Participant (age 13):<\/b><\/p>\n

“This is a really well organised and inspirational programme. It\u2019s very inclusive and everyone gets a chance to contribute. And it\u2019s encouraging because the teachers and mentors are doctors and you get to hear about their experiences \u2013 and they are really good at answering your questions! The demonstrations are excellent and you learn how they apply to real-life scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mother of participant<\/b>:<\/p>\n

“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.\u201d<\/p>\n

How do I sign up?<\/b><\/p>\n

Applications are closed for 2021 entry\u00a0but get in touch to be placed on the cancellation list and to be notified about future programmes<\/b><\/p>\n

Welcome Wednesday<\/b><\/p>\n

The\u00a0KMMS\u00a0Admissions Team is live on Instagram (@kmmsmedschool) stories every Wednesday between 12:00-14:00 to answer any questions you have.<\/p>\n

Useful Resources<\/b><\/p>\n