Member Article

StartMedUK To Help North East’s Teenagers Medical Future

An organisation is investing in the future of the UK’s ongoing health by launching its services to schools in the North East, in a bid to help budding doctors and medics for the region get a great start to their career.

StartMedUK is the brain child of Dr Michael Shenouda and Dr Ryan Dias, who studied his medical degree at Newcastle University.

Last year The Guardian reported that there were six time more medical students from London as from the North East. In fact only 245 students from the North East started medical and dentistry degrees last year compared to 1585 from London.

Dr Dias, who is also responsible for a number of leadership programs delivered in the NHS following an illustrious medical career, said:

“StartMedUK chose to target the North East because of these low numbers accessing the opportunity to enter a medical career from the region. We know that there is talent, ability and also great medical schools right here in the North East. StartMedUK aims to break down the barriers and increase those stats in its very first year of delivery in the region.”

The company works with schools and students to enable teenagers in how to find out how to be a doctor and what that entails, supporting applications, planning for interviews at medical schools and understanding processes.

The students are supported by a team of clinicians, recent graduates, current students and education experts increasing the chance of securing a much fought after place in the medical school of choice.

The pair set up the company following their own experiences, both in trying to start their career, and then in what they understood as their careers progressed. Dr Ryan continued:

“The StartMedUK courses are designed for individuals to enter or for schools to offer to their students. The courses are designed to help the doctors of tomorrow in the North East start their successful career path as early as possible. Our specialised and enthusiastic team give the best preparation possible so offers are secured from top choice medical schools.

“Many parents have started to access our service for their children direct, and schools in particular are keen to be part of the process now, as it gives the students extra motivation to work hard to get better grades, all of which impact positively on both the student’s future and on a school’s reputation or Ofsted reports.”

The company offer four learning options which can be undertaken separately or as a combined course. A recent success story is a sixth form student who attended her school seminar day and took up the StartMedUK personal statement review to perfect her application.

She received interviews for every application, so followed the StartMedUK interview course prior to her interviews, receiving four offers to study medicine. She is now studying at Nottingham University and said:

“I am grateful for all the help the StartMedUK team gave me in my applications to medicine school. They gave me confidence and support through a process that otherwise would have been exhausting and difficult.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Toms .