This November, hundreds of student doctors descended on Cedar House to meet with clinicians practising in 52 medical specialties – 36 of which were areas students hadn’t considered before the enormously successful careers event.
Running at the slightly later start time of 6pm, the fair had queues around the block with students from all year groups keen to connect with a whole host of experts in the field.
74 medical professionals came out to represent their area of interest, including the School’s Specialty Leads as well as resident doctors and consultants from Trusts across the North West, with a few familiar faces in their midst as School alumni.
235 students passed through the doors and learnt the ins and outs of different specialties and roles available, working patterns, work-life balance and what to bear in mind as they look ahead to their medical career.
In the event feedback, one commented,
The consultant specialising in older adult psychiatry said that he never thought he’d have specialised in his field, so this taught me to keep an open mind as I move through my studies.
Another noted, “The experiences I can get to boost my CV are quite similar between all of the specialties.” A useful insight when looking into extra-curricular activities and building transferable skills.
The fair delivered on its promise to allow students to speak with clinicians in an informal setting with 97% of attendees saying they felt comfortable asking their questions on the night.
Some were surprised to hear about the variety of roles within a specialty, such as “the opportunity to explore research and other specialties as a GP.” Others were curious to learn about the amount of patient contact in radiology, how diverse the role of an ENT specialist is and the real- life current uses of robotics in surgery.
Following the fair, students are now determined to look into conferences and research opportunities to build their portfolios and dig deeper into the specialties of interest through Elective or SAMP placements.
And how was it for those on the other side of the stalls? Participating clinicians loved the enthusiasm from students and the fact it was held in Cedar House helping bring everyone together.
One shared, “There was a real buzz and energy to the event, I really enjoyed it, and I think the students did too.”
Another commented,
What an amazing evening. Brilliantly organised, perfectly executed and a real pleasure to be part of.
Huge thanks from Careers Adviser Jennifer Connell to all who attended and congratulations on a job well done!
Keen to get a leg up on the career ladder? The Careers Support section of the student intranet (link) is packed with handy hints and information.
Check out Careers Resources (link) for a guide to help you in choosing between the specialties and videos on what it is really like to practice in these areas. The Specialty Leads page (link) has plenty of useful contacts if you have outstanding questions for our Specialty Leads who are always happy to hear from you.