Meet‑a‑Medic
We are delighted to report our excellent team of Bristol Medical Students have developed an online version of our successful Meet‑a‑Medic programme with Bristol Primary Schools. The first school to benefit was Bridge Farm Primary School in Whitchurch, Bristol, with whom we have a strong relationship and who are providing invaluable advice. In 2021 we ran a Meet‑-a‑-Medic programme for three classes in each year group from year 6 to year 3 on Tuesdays, starting 20th April.
The first online Meet-a-Medic progamme proved a great success. Teacher feedback typically highlighted particularly positive outcomes for the students as “stimulating questioning”, “providing positive role models”, “motivating learning” and “raising aspiration”. All teachers rated the afternoon as very educationally valuable. One teacher wrote:
The children thoroughly engaged with all aspects, loved the questions and the additional x-rays. They were delighted to hear their names, their ideas valued and their prospective careers suggested!
If your Bristol Primary School is interested in experiencing the online Meet‑a‑Medic, please contact us. As always, it is free of charge.
Meet‑a‑Medic is a partnership between Clifton Scientific Trust and Galenicals, the Univesity of Bristol medical students' society. The medical students engage in dialogue with students, talking about their experience of medicine. The school pupils also take part in medical themed activities. The aim of this programme is to raise aspiration, stimulate questioning, motivate learning, provide positive role models and support the curriculum in a different and exciting way for them.
Meet‑a‑Medic has operated since 2005 and we have organised sessions in many schools.
If your school is interested in Meet‑a‑Medic and would like arrange an afternoon for your primary school in the Bristol area, please contact us. For more details on the structure of events please see below.
What Happens?
Medical student volunteers spend an afternoon with primary school classes in partnership with teachers. They will
- be themselves
- stimulate dialogue and discussion
- labelead activities related to their medical work
- answer questions from the pupils
We can run multiple classes in parallel with several medical students in each.
Why medicine?
Medical students are tremendous ambassadors for science in the curriculum. We have worked with equal success from early years to year 6 because Medicine
- is science-based, interdisciplinary and cross curricular
- has everyday relevance to the lives of pupils and their families
- presents real-life science in a human context
- trains our students to be good communicators
Cost
There is no charge for Meet‑a‑Medic. The programme is organised by Clifton Scientific Trust, a registered charity, in partnership with Galenicals, the University of Bristol medical students' society. The medical students give their time free of charge.
Interested?
If you teach in a primary school and wish to know more or invite Meet‑a‑Medic to your school, please contact us. The scheme is currently limited to schools in the Bristol area.
[PDF] Meet‑a‑Medic information
Gallery
