Meet the committee
Meet The Current Committee
Aim: Promote awareness of the Disability Network and how we help students amongst the medical School.
Make it easier for students to reach out and access the range of support offered by the network.
To gather and collate disability and neurodiversity concerns from students and relay them to staff members.
To organise and facilitate staff training on important concerns regarding reasonable adjustments for students at the medical school campus and in trusts.
Facilitate committee members in their respective projects
Siddhaant Chopra
Phase 3 Final Year
Co-Chair
Bsc Biochemistry (Hons)
Cheng Cheng Lai
Phase 3 Year 3
Vice-chair
BSc Medical Sciences
Aim: Assist in the promotion of Awareness of the disability network and how to help students across all phases of medical school
Increase engagement of the disability network with students and staff across campus.
To facilitate projects centred around student support by staff and peers for how disabilities affect students on placement and on campus.
Alvina Tom
Phase 2
Physical Health Lead
Aim:
To facilitate the integration of students with physical disabilities on the MbCHB course into clinical and non-clinical activities and support them to minimise the impact of their condition whilst studying and on placement.
To raise awareness amongst trust and campus staff on how to support our students with physical disabilities and how to accommodate reasonable adjustments in class and on placement to deliver a high quality of education to all of our students.
To co-ordinate and lead all physical health-related projects for the disability network in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Aim: Promote understanding of how students with neurodiversity, learning differences and mental health conditions can be incorporated into both pre-clinical and clinical activities:
Advise and support students on any mental health and neurodiversity-related concerns regarding reasonable adjustments, mitigating circumstances, disability referrals, assessment and financial support.
Please reach out to Tom for any mental health or neurodiversity related queries or concerns
Thomas Lacy Kerr
Phase 2
Mental Health Lead
BSc Medical Sciences
Beth Payne
Phase 2:
Physical Health Team
Aim:
To assist in the development of guidance resources for students experiencing physical health disabilities through their experience on the course (on campus and on placement).
Please reach out to Beth for any advice on how to seek advice and support for Disability Allowance, reasonable adjustments or if you have any physical health concerns
Meet the Previous Committee and Founders
Charlotte Pemberton
Secretary
BSc Nursing (Mental Health)
Aim: promote students' self-awareness of their needs to access earlier support, make information transparent and accessible for all students, increase educational and progression opportunities, and educate others (including staff) on best, accessible practice,
When not studying I'm usually on another project, but also travel whenever possible, hike with my dog, or binge any Netflix show.
Aim: support students with accessibility and inclusion projects, work with WMS to expand my Disability Awareness and Sighted Guiding training (now in our curriculum!), and campaign for Sensory Awareness Training within all Healthcare Environments.
Outside of WMS, I'm a Scout Section Leader with my local group and enjoy spending time with my family.
Tom Paddock
Project Coordinator
BA, Masters, and PGDip in Architecture
Helen Bates
Phys. Health & Carers Chair
BSc Health and Medical Sciences
Aim: ensuring inclusion and equity for all students, utilising lived experiences of common barriers to inform positive change for others, and facilitating communication between students and staff for an improved WMS.
When not studying, I'm spending time with my partner and child, and taking a break from the course!
Aim: to open discussions on accessibility, eliminate ‘problematising’ culture, create a more equitable study environment for disabled students, and initiate policies that benefit all medical students.
Outside of med school (although now I'm graduating), you'll find me at the pub quiz with friends, walking my GIANT dog, reading / watching fantasy stuff, or teaching science to ND school students.
Kirsten Revell
Consultant Chair
CertHE Mental Health Nursing, BSc Psychology, MSc Clinical Neuropsychiatry
Julia Alsop
Student Advocate
BA Music
Aim: provide pastoral support with navigating WMS and university procedures, and push for greater education on disabled identity, accessibility, and inclusion in medical education.
Outside of studying I like listening to classical music and cooking!
Phase Reps
...are a more immediate point of contact; they can signpost you to appropriate support, advise you on University processes, or be an advocate and ally. They can initiate or contribute to Network projects, share cohort-feedback, and provide new perspectives.
There's no concrete requirements - no one needs to identify as disabled to join us! - but you must be intending to support your peers in some way. If you're interested, email usLink opens in a new window anytime!
Undergrad & Postgrad:
Open
Phase I:
Emily Jeffreys
Manuel Giardino
Emily Wright
Grace Fisher
Andrei Balan
Phase II:
Jenna Le Brun Powell
Open
Phase III:
Lauren Turner
Open