Student Spotlights pass the mic to our student doctors, to hear their take on their School experience and shine the light on a particular role, team or pathway through the School of Medicine.
In Part II of this series, we catch up with our Year Five student doctors as they prepare for graduation and the start of clinical practice this summer. Check out Part I (link) for more special memories and highlights from their time at the School.
Charlie Hextall
Charlie Hextall is an aspiring surgeon who has made the most of the broad range of clinical placements at Liverpool to prepare himself for his foundation years beginning this August.
“Following my Intercalated Master of Research in Translational Medicine here at Liverpool, it has been great to get back into clinical placements in the new Year 5 curriculum. I was lucky to be at Aintree Hospital, which is a major trauma centre, and it was a really unique experience to be involved in the management of trauma from both the AED and Surgical perspectives.
I’m hoping to pursue a career in Surgery, and the experiences that this course has given me will be great foundation blocks for my future career.
This year has really made me feel prepared to start as an F1 in August and will hopefully make the transition from medical student to doctor a little less scary. I will be staying local, so if you come through Southport Hospital during your placements, please do say hello!”
(L-R) Charlie Hextall and Jeremy Easow, Class of 2022
Jeremey Easow
International student Jeremy Easow says Liverpool is a fantastic city to study in, full of friendly and supportive people.
“The early clinical exposure we get in a wide array of healthcare settings whilst engaging with the numerous academic and sporting societies the University has to offer are just a few of the many good things about studying here.
The experience we get during the six-week pre-foundation block under close supervision has been my favourite placement, as this is what will be expected from us as junior doctors in a few months’ time and has helped me feel prepared heading into FY1.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be guided by incredible mentors who have left a lasting positive impact on me and the patient interactions that I have had as a student doctor have been extremely rewarding.
If there is one thing I would tell my first-year self it would be to enjoy the journey and cherish each moment - the opportunities will come.”
Janie Bamforth
Student Doctor Janie Bamforth is passionate about child health, community care, dance and fundraising – all of which she has been able to nurture and develop through the MBChB programme.
I worked with Professor Semple at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital on a study into flexible bronchoscopies, which I then presented on at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health conference.
It has been great to be able to select an area of interest for my Year 5 SAMP placement.
I am currently doing Community Child Health on the Wirral and am loving the opportunity to interact with children and families and learn more about neurodevelopmental disorders.
Alongside my studies, I have participated in Artefacts, dancing in variety shows, Chicago and The Addams Family, all of which are real stand-out memories from my time in Liverpool. I have really appreciated the clinical experience the course has given me, but also the encouragement to pursue outside interests. I will really miss it!”
(L-R) Janie Bamforth and George Richardson, Class of 2022
George Richardson
George Richardson was able to dive deeper into his interest in neuroscience through an intercalated MRes at the University of Liverpool.
“I jumped at the chance to intercalate at Liverpool. Following a placement at the Walton Centre, I found myself interested in neuroscience and my MRes gave me the chance to develop useful new skills in an area that I liked. Intercalating also offered me the opportunity to join a research lab (that I am continuing to work with), gain publications, win awards, and deliver national and international presentations.
I have loved returning to in-person placements this year, The FY1 ward shadow placement has really helped me get to grips with what will be expected of us when we start work in August, and the acute blocks have been an excellent opportunity to develop my clinical practical skills.
Finding myself in Liverpool turned out to be the best thing that has ever happened to me!
It’s a fantastic city, full of brilliant people. I’m looking forward to staying in Liverpool for my job as a Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) doctor in August, although I am going to be very sad to no longer be a student here!”
Get in touch with mednews@liverpool.ac.uk if you are interested in stepping into the Student Spotlight or would like to nominate a student or group to do so.
Discover more
- Follow our #Classof2022 series on Liverpool School of Medicine’s official Instagram channel (link) for more stories from our graduating cohort.
- If you are in Year Five and would like to share your story as part of the series, let us know at mednews@liverpool.ac.uk.