This summer, an opportunity arose from my medicine course to work on a Summer Studentship. A Summer Studentship is a paid role within the medical school which allows students to work with an academic on a project over the summer break. Any medical student can apply and it’s a great way to build your CV whilst also earning some money.

^{Summer studentships are a collaborative process between students, academics and medical professionals}

What is the project?

For my project, I will be developing an e-learning course for GPs on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). The aim is to develop an interactive online course that GPs complete to make them aware of issues such as homophobia, racism, misogyny and discrimination. This is to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion and make people aware of biases which may well be unconscious in many instances.

I think it’s great that Queen’s can be an ambassador for improvement in the healthcare service. This will benefit staff, students and patients and I am delighted to be involved in the project for that reason. It reflects the medical school’s ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

^{My project aims to promote equality, diversity and inclusion within GP training}

In the project I will be working with academics, medical doctors and external bodies and groups to ensure the course is well-rounded and meets our objectives, as well as the objectives of groups who will be impacted by how the training is delivered. It’s great to be able to network with a broad range of colleagues. As a student it might seem daunting to work with more senior colleagues, although I feel completely involved in the project and my contributions are as valued as anyone else’s.

What does a typical day look like?

For me, a day involves researching topics to include, having meetings about the project and brainstorming ideas. I’m definitely kept busy. I was also pleasantly surprised at how creative the project is. We are working on videos with actors, representing scenarios where equality and diversity can be improved in medical practice. The aim of this is to prompt discussion and reflection in the medical profession on how we can do better and be more inclusive. We hope that videos and case studies will be more engaging for those completing the course.

^{Student contribution is respected and valued}

If you are a medical student or applying to do medicine, you should definitely consider applying for a Summer Studentship. So far, I am loving this project, and it’s a privilege to have been selected for it. I hope to have the course developed over the summer – watch this space!

Find out more

Medicine at Queen's

Summer opportunities for Undergraduate students

Future-Ready Award at Queen's

Patrick Doherty (He/Him) 4th Year Undergraduate Medical Student | NI I'm a 21 year old currently in my second year of studying Medicine here at Queen's University Belfast. I was a school-leaver when I came to university, having went to school in Ballymena beforehand. I'm not sure what I'd like to do when I graduate although the idea of writing or medical education appeals to me.