Post-primary school children from Kilkeel High School got the chance to quiz doctors and medical students about a career in medicine this week as part of the UK’s largest annual gathering of doctors.
The joined over 80 budding medics of the future at British Medical Association’s (BMA) ‘Supporting future generations’ event in Belfast’s ICC on day one of its week-long Annual Representative Meeting – the yearly UK-wide gathering of BMA members.
The event forms part of BMA’s work on widening participation1 into medicine, which aims to ensure that medicine is a career for anyone who wishes to become a doctor, regardless of their social or economic background.
The students attending had the chance to experience each step of a doctor’s career pathway – from being a medical student right through to working as a GP, consultant or medical academic – and talk directly to doctors. Pupils were also able to try their hand at practical medical demonstrations such as measuring blood pressure, suturing (surgical stitches), ‘swab and send’ activities and taking part in medical-themed simulations, games and quizzes.
Dr Molly Kerr, who graduated from medical school last year and is now a foundation year 1 doctor, spoke to the pupils about her journey to becoming a doctor.
“It was great to talk about my own experiences of the process of becoming a doctor and the medical career itself to these pupils today, who showed a genuine interest in learning more about a career in medicine,” said Dr Kerr.
Chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland Council, Dr Tom Black, said it was important to encourage young people of all socio-economic backgrounds to think about a career in medicine.
“The BMA is fully committed to making medicine a career open to everyone, regardless of how much money your family has. If you have the skills and the drive to become a doctor, we want to help you achieve that dream.”
