MB ChB student profile: Caitie

What work experience had you gained before starting the MB ChB programme?

I worked as a physiotherapist for six years before starting the MB ChB, so I completed all my work experience through work. I worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, acute and community hospitals, and in various specialties, eventually focusing on care of the elderly.

 

Why did you choose Warwick?

I researched different types of medicine degree and knew early on that I wanted to do a graduate-entry course.I particularly liked that WMS only offer a graduate-entry course and has the largest intake in the UK.

When I spoke to my work colleagues about going back to university, they all had positive things to say about Warwick, as well as doing medicine as a second degree. Also, some of them knew of WMS graduates working in the local deanery and had high praise for them.

At the offer holder day I felt that WMS had a very inclusive and supportive community. I sensed that all the staff and current students were very welcoming and helpful. This has created a nurturing learning environment. I was also impressed by the strong history, and continued practice, of peer-teaching. (It helped that there were alpacas at the offer holder day too!)

There’s a lot of green space and trees around campus with various nature walks - great for a wander around between lectures and seminars.

 

How have you found the MB ChB so far?

Brilliant and so interesting! I’m thoroughly enjoying furthering my learning and being able to practically apply my new knowledge. I’ve made some great friends here and met and learned from some inspirational people. I feel that WMS has a very inclusive environment, and so there is always someone you can speak to. However, if you do struggle then the staff at WMS are always on hand to support. The student support team on main campus are incredibly helpful too.

There are a huge number of opportunities, both medicine-related/academic and otherwise, that the university either offer or make you aware of – many of which I’ve taken up and enjoyed.

The journey back to university has been humbling from a financial perspective though. Going from earning a full-time salary to living on student finance has caused worry at times. However, it’s still very possible to do, and if you are passionate about doing the degree, then you’ll make it happen. I found work as bank staff within a role I was doing prior to starting university. I have also worked as a student ambassador for WMS through Unitemps.

 

What has been your favourite part of the course?

I’ve enjoyed lots of elements of the course. I love learning and furthering my knowledge generally, so just being back at university is great. In first year, I was most taken by the anatomy labs and the plastinates. I was not sure how well I would cope with the plastinates initially, but once I got to the lab I found I had no issues and ended up deciding (very early on) that I want to become a surgeon!

In second year, I have really enjoyed placement and being able to practically apply my new knowledge. I have scrubbed into various operations and observed many more.

 

Has anything surprised you during your time here?

For a long time, including while applying to this degree, I was not sure how practical it would be to do the degree without any savings and/or a full-time salary. However, as I’ve said, it is possible to do if you really want to. When people ask how I am finding being back at university my answer is always the same: this is definitely what I should be doing right now!

 

Have you been involved in any societies or extracurricular activities?

I have attended various events and taken up opportunities run by multiple MedSoc sub-societies, all of which have been very useful for my learning and/or portfolio. I joined the committees of the Wilderness Medicine and Genetics societies in 2023/24.

WMS often e-mail information about opportunities they are made aware of; some are on main campus and some from other medical schools and/or medical associations – I’ve taken up some of these too.

During term 2 of first year through to the start of second year, I completed a funded research project through the Social Mobility Student Research Hub on main campus. The report from this research is on the university website and I’ll be presenting it at another conference soon.

In second year, I have been involved in teaching a seminar, competed in a medical student surgical skills competition run by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and been involved in staff-student consultations and away days which have concentrated on improving different aspects of the MB ChB.

 

Do you have any ideas at this stage about what you’d like to specialise in?

Trauma and orthopaedics (T&O), sub-specialising in paediatrics. I am very interested in biomechanics and the musculoskeletal system. In high school my best subjects were biology and physics and during my first degree I liked the anatomy and human movement modules, so T&O makes sense. I also have a lot of experience helping patients to rehabilitate after T&O surgery.

 

Do you have any advice for people applying for this course?

Work experience with a practical, care-giving element will be more helpful than just shadowing a doctor alone. While it’s useful to see what the profession do from their perspective, one of the most difficult tasks in healthcare generally, is being able to work with different people with different needs, communicative abilities, characteristics, levels of understanding, thought processes, emotional liability, etc.

Providing practical elements of care is also a task that can take people time to get used to, so getting ahead of the game with this will be useful for learning clinical skills and examinations in med school. It will also help you to make sure that healthcare is for you.

I’d also recommend asking questions - WMS staff and students are all very helpful and keen to help. There are contact details for the WMS admission team and course team on the WMS website, but also Warwick WHAM, a group aiming to widen participation in medicine who run events and help with applying to med school.

 

Finally, what three words would you use to describe your experience of studying at WMS?

Exciting, fun, busy!