Two budding medical students from Ron Dearing UTC have secured sought after places on Hull York Medical School’s (HYMS) summer school programme.
Ruby Rowley and Cameron Smith will experience what life is like for students studying medicine at university during the three-day summer school in July.
The experience will take the two Year 12 students to Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, to gain invaluable insight into studying and working in a real-life medical setting.
To secure a place on the coveted programme, the pair had to complete application forms sharing why they wanted to take part in the programme, as well as submit a reference from one of their teachers.
Ruby, 17, joined Ron Dearing’s Sixth Form in Year 12 and is currently studying A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths.
She said: “Both myself and Cameron already volunteer with the NHS Young Health Champions Programme, which allows us to spend time on different wards and learn about different medical specialisms, but the summer school will give us experience of what it’s like to actually study medicine.
“Having the opportunity to talk to, and shadow doctors who have years of experience and knowledge, will be invaluable. I’m also looking forward to getting an insight into what to expect at university.”
Cameron, 16, joined Ron Dearing in Year 10 and is now studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-Levels in the school’s Sixth Form.
He has aspirations of securing a place to study medicine at one of the Russell Group Universities, and says his time at Ron Dearing has equipped him with the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue his goals.
He said: “I feel very lucky to have been at Ron Dearing for both GCSE and A-Level. The staff provide so much support, from helping us research different universities to preparing us for interviews and sign-posting us to extra-opportunities such as the HYMS summer school.
“Myself and Ruby are also both completing First Aid Training during the summer, which is organised and fully paid for by the school.
“We know that getting into medical school is very competitive, so all the opportunities and experiences we’re gaining at Ron Dearing will definitely help us stand out and provide us with experiences which we can reflect on and talk about in our university interviews.”
The school provides a plethora of enrichment opportunities to support students to pursue careers across a wide range of sectors.
Students considering a career in medicine recently participated in Hull York Medical School’s Young Medic Day which provided insight into careers in healthcare, and they’ve also enjoyed a number of talks from medical professionals during the school’s popular Lunch and Learn series.
Head of Sixth Form Kathy King said: “Huge congratulations to Ruby and Cameron on securing a place to attend the HYMS summer school!
“This is an amazing opportunity for both students, offering them a taste of what it is like to attend medical school. This experience will be invaluable and expose both students to the workings of a real-life medical setting.”