Medical School's Pathways to Medicine Programme welcomes largest ever cohort of Year 12 students

Hull York Medical School will welcome its largest ever cohort of Year 12 students this week as over 50 students commence its flagship Pathways to Medicine programme. 

The Pathways to Medicine programme was launched in 2015 and is now in its 6th year. Delivered in partnership with the Sutton Trust, the programme is a widening participation initiative which supports sixth form students in the local area who are aspiring to study medicine at university; providing them with insight into the medical profession and supporting them through the application process. 

Dr Paul Whybrow, Academic Lead for Widening Participation says: ‘Students taking part in the Pathways to Medicine programme come from backgrounds that are typically underrepresented in higher education and indeed the medical profession.  Our aim is to help those students make an informed decision about their future, and to support their progression into medicine and other related degree programmes.’ 

Students attending the Pathways to Medicine programme will experience a range of online activities including: 

• A launch event 

• Mentoring from an NHS doctor 

• A work experience conference 

• Summer School  

• Workshops covering topics from UCAT and personal statements, to wellbeing and reflection.  

• Mentoring from a current undergraduate medicine student 

This year the School is delighted to be working with local clinicians who are offering their time to mentor students - supporting them in gaining a valuable insight into working within the NHS at a time when normal work experience placements within GP Practices and hospitals is very limited. Students will be able to chat to their mentors online as well as meeting with them once a month via video call.  

Another new element for this year is a virtual work experience conference, being delivered in collaboration with the medical schools of Newcastle, Imperial and Nottingham which will see all students taking part in Pathways to Medicine programmes across the country come to come together virtually a patient journey from hospital admission to discharge and aftercare.  

Since the programme launched it has supported over 260 students interested in a career in medicine. Daisy Metcalfe, a previous participant in the School’s Pathways to Medicine Programme and who is now studying at Hull York Medical School says: ‘I took part in Pathways to medicine because I knew I wanted to study medicine at university, however I soon released I was clueless about the whole process of applying to medicine. However, this programme gives a significant amount of help with applying to medicine, from UKCAT workshops to guidance through the UCAS process.  

The programme helped me gain so much confidence and an insight into medicine, I am so grateful for the experience and would recommend it to everyone wanting to study medicine at university.’ 

Professor Una Macleod, Dean of Hull York Medical School says: ‘We are committed to raising aspirations and supporting and encouraging people who wish to pursue a career in medicine and other medical careers. Through the Pathways to Medicine Programme, and other initiatives such as our annual Summer School, and recently launched Medicafe, we hope to encourage local students to consider medicine and inspire them to study and train in this area so that they might make a difference to patients locally.’  

Hull York Medical School is the joint medical school of the universities of Hull and York. It works in partnership with regional NHS Trusts and community healthcare providers to ensure it responds to local workforce needs and provides its students with the knowledge and skills to deliver exceptional care to patients. Since it was established in 2003, it has trained over 1600 doctors who are now working within the region and beyond - as GPs, Psychiatrists and Consultants. The Pathways to Medicine Programme and Year 12 Summer School are two of a number of opportunities the School offers to young people to support them on their journey to becoming doctors.  

Further information about the Pathways to Medicine programme including how express interest for next year’s programme be found at www.hyms.ac.uk/pathways