Liverpool School of Medicine has been all a buzz the last couple of weeks with welcome activities including a wellbeing wonderland, mentor-led walking tour and societies fair to help our newest student doctors feel at home.
Students kicked things off with a Wellbeing Wonderland event offering plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle with their year group. There were giant board games, arts and crafts, drinks and snacks and (naturally!) our very own ice cream van.
Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of sessions to get them acquainted with the School, as well as taking on task master team building challenges in small groups. This year, thanks to student feedback, the Year 1 Team also ran tailored events for international students and mature and commuter students, partnering with the brand-new Mature Medics Society (link).
Year 1 Director Dr Anna Stickland agrees, “Welcome Week flew by so quickly! The Wellbeing Wonderland was a wonderful start to the week and a nice, relaxed chance to chat with everyone. We really enjoyed getting to meet our new Year 1 students and are looking forward to a great year ahead with them.”
Professor Patricia Murray, Deputy Year 1 Director says, "Welcome Week was a lovely opportunity to meet our new student doctors. It was great to see how well they all worked together in their teams during the taskmaster group session.'
Halfway through the week students got a chance to meet with their peer mentors – student doctors from upper years who will be a source of support and guidance as they settle into things for the year. The mentors led their groups of mentees on a walking tour on and around campus.
Mia Sudbury, Student Doctor and Peer Mentor says, "It's been great to see how busy everywhere has been - medics and non medics - but particularly within Cedar House. The atmosphere has been great. Having started a few weeks earlier than first years, it's really brought a new lease of life to the medical school again and I do love that time every September when everyone comes back".
Student Experience Administrator for Year 1 Louise Nodwell says, “It was a real pleasure to meet the new Year 1 students during Welcome Week and I’m looking forward to seeing them all get stuck into the programme. The new cohort brought a really nice energy and buzz to the School that had been missed over a quiet summer holidays.”
Sue Appleton, also Student Experience Administrator for the year group says, “What a fantastic week! It was amazing to get to meet all the students and great to get to talk to everyone and join in sessions across the week, which I really did enjoy!”
The School’s Wellbeing Team were delighted with the engagement from students, “It was great to see so many students socialising and sharing phone numbers. Our team is all about promoting these connections as valuable support throughout the MBChB programme.
Students can access advice and support whenever they need it through the Wellbeing area (link) on the student intranet, where they can also book an appointment with one of our advisors, or contact us by email at wellbeing.mbchb@liverpool.ac.uk.
Hania Haq, LMSS Welfare and Diversity Rep, has been sharing the society’s new Little Blue Booklet, which contains details of Liverpool-based counselling, emergency helplines, online and in-person support groups and more.
Hania says, “We hope as many students as possible can benefit from the Booklet, so they're dotted around placement hospitals and Cedar House, and have been given to all Year One students who attended the LMSS Welcome Lecture. You can contact welfare@lmss.co.uk with any concerns or queries. We wish you a healthy and happy year!
The LMSS (Liverpool Medical Students Society) were just one of the many student groups who took part in the medical societies fair to round off welcome activities. The fair showcased the huge variety of societies run by student doctors, including a couple brand new for this year such as LivMedTech (link), Muslim Medics (link) and Pain Management and Addiction Medicine (link).
Hannah Fowler, Societies & Volunteering Manager at Liverpool Guild of Students says, “The fair had a fantastic turnout with over 700 student doctors attending and 30 societies promoting all of the exciting things they have in store for this year. Societies are a brilliant way to connect with others and develop new skills and I encourage all new students to get involved in these and other opportunities available through the Guild.”
Professor Hazel Scott, Dean of the School of Medicine, was thrilled to take part in a number of the welcome activities and shared a message with students as they began their learning in Introduction Week.
“I hope that you have settled in and are beginning to find your feet around campus, as well as making the most of the Welcome Week activities arranged by the Year 1 team and Peer Mentors. Our team have really enjoyed getting to meet so many of you as you start your journey with us, and I hope the sessions have made you feel connected to the School community.”
The warmest of welcomes to you all! You’ll find plenty of support along the way via the School of Medicine Student Intranet (link), your Year 1 Team (link) and Liverpool Guild of Students (link).