Student Spotlights pass the mic to our student doctors, to hear their take on their School experience and shine a light on a particular role, team or pathway through the School of Medicine.
Year 5 Student Doctor Minnah Deef has been a keen contributor to the School community throughout her time here. In fact, last year she received a Spirit of Liverpool Prize nomination and commendation for her contributions via the PAL-Med teaching scheme, INSPIRE research committee and Liverpool Research Society.
Here she shares the personal motivations behind these activities and what they have meant to her during her time on the MBChB programme.
What inspired you to pursue a career in Medicine?
Although I was born and raised in the Netherlands, my background is quite mixed, and I moved around different cities and countries growing up.
I come from a family where lots of my first-generation relatives, including my father, have regular hospital visits due to multiple chronic conditions and have seen the medical inequalities faced abroad.
I wanted to pursue a career where I could dedicate the knowledge and skills I have learnt to help people (and their families) who are going through difficult moments throughout their lives.
I wanted to do this in a community where I am able to help treat patients of any background, regardless of their differences to me in terms of identity or wealth, which made it a no-brainer to study at a UK University.
What was it that brought you to Liverpool?
I was drawn to Liverpool's tertiary services such as Alder Hey Children's Hospital for Paediatrics, Liverpool Women's Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Walton Centre for Neurology and Liverpool Heart and Chest for Cardiology.
I felt like there was a good mixture between primary, secondary and tertiary placement experiences that is difficult to find in one place.
I also found Liverpool to be a vibrant city and felt that the city could potentially be a second home away from home.
What have been your biggest highlights on the programme so far?
I remember being shy and timid starting medical school. I had finished my A-levels, and I recognised that this was an area for me I aimed to improve on before starting my clinical years.
I thought that doing some teaching would help me build some confidence and improve my presentation skills, so I took part in the LACES (Liverpool Acute, Critical and Emergency Society) teaching scheme in second year to teach first years and taught larger groups as part of ISOC (Islamic Society) on Zoom.
My confidence slowly grew and the largest group I taught consisted of over 150 students!
I am now part of the PAL-Med Committee, where I help with the administrative and organisational aspects of the teaching scheme.
What are you most proud of achieving?
Some of my biggest achievements were under the supervision of Professor Enitan Carrol, from the University of Liverpool, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecology and Paediatric Infectious Diseases department at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Professor Carrol supervised me during my research and scholarship project in Year 3 and later on became my supervisor when I intercalated (Clinical Sciences MRes). I was able to present a poster and an oral presentation during the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health annual conference and was the only medical student presenting in the Paediatric Critical Care workshop.
I've also been awarded a distinction and a faculty prize for my achievements throughout the year, which was a wonderful surprise!
Minnah presenting at the RCPCH annual conference
What advice would you give to other students with similar interests/objectives?
Don't be afraid to apply for opportunities, whether that be for a committee or for a research project! The only thing I regret was thinking I wasn't good enough to apply for roles when the majority of my applications for opportunities got accepted when I did apply.
One of the biggest values that I hold since the beginning is that being able to study medicine is a privilege within itself, and being able to give back to my peers the same way my seniors in the years above did to me and my friends is something that fills me with gratitude.
I have been lucky enough to teach and mentor as early as Year 2 in my studies and the feeling that I get after each teaching session or meeting is just as delightful as the very first time I did it!
What are you most looking forward to this academic year and in the future?
Like every fifth year, I hope to pass my exams and qualify! I'm also hoping to pursue a career where I am able to combine my clinical skills with research of medical education to push myself as a future doctor, that can be as a specialised foundation doctor or as part of an academic clinical fellowship.
Discover more
- The PAL-Med teaching scheme offers students the chance to enhance their learning through small group teaching sessions delivered by trained senior medical students. If you’d like to get involved as either a tutor or student, get in touch via the appropriate link on the PAL-Med Linktree (link).
- INSPIRE support students in a variety of academic endeavours including research, intercalation and application to the Specialised Foundation Programme through funding, training and career-building opportunities. See INSPIRE (link) for more details on the opportunities available.
- Interested in intercalating like Minnah? Browse through the wide range of options on offer right here in Liverpool on the Intercalation web area (link).
- 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.