Two ambitious and compassionate students have set their sights on careers in the bustling healthcare sector having achieved exceptional results and secured places at some of the UK’s leading medical schools.
These talented pair are ready to use the skills they’ve honed during their studies, as well as the knowledge they’ve gained through the Medical and Dental Society (Med Soc) at Burnley College, to make a real difference to their local communities.
Naimah Miah, 18, from Burnley, has progressed to the University of Manchester to read Medicine after achieving amazing results A Level Biology, Chemistry and Psychology and receiving offers from all four medical schools she applied to – an incredibly rare feat.
Naimah was also one of two Stocks Massey Bequest Fund recipients at this year’s Awards for Excellence ceremony. The scholarship is designed to support students from Burnley who have demonstrated commendable levels of academic merit and secured a place at university.
She shared that her journey into medicine has been unconventional:
“I attended regular GP appointments when I was younger with a skin condition that was proving difficult to diagnose, until I was referred to a dermatologist who demonstrated all the key attributes that I think make an excellent doctor.
“They were empathetic, compassionate and offered a patient-centred approach to communication – meeting them felt like the first time during my treatment that I was given a leading role in planning my own care.
“I was hugely inspired by this experience to pursue a career in medicine, so I undertook multiple work experience placements in various clinical settings across the NHS – all of which confirmed for me that this was the path I wanted to go down.
“I hope to bring the same sensitivity that I was shown by my dermatologist to my rapport-building and relationships with patients in the future.”
Emily Brunt, 18, also from Burnley, is similarly thrilled to have progressed to Keele University to read Medicine after achieving excellent grades in A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physical Education.
It was the facilities and tailored support from her tutors that made Emily’s time at Burnley College so special:
“When I looked around the college at an open evening, I was really drawn to how modern it felt. The laboratories up in the Science Hub were particularly impressive – they made me feel like a professional scientist right away!
“The support I received from my tutors was truly a game changer. The additional work they put in to creating resources, like revision booklets, to make sure you understand the subject content is fantastic.”
Naimah and Emily both thrived during Med Soc sessions, an enrichment programme run by A Level Biology tutor Dr. Tytus Murphy that is specially designed to provide students with the key insights, skills and confidence they need to make a successful application to highly competitive medicine and dentistry courses.
This enrichment gives students access to workshops on medical ethics, taster sessions with scientific experts at institutions such as Lancaster University and the University of Leeds. It also allows them the opportunity to grill guest speakers from the NHS about their time in the profession.
Tytus and his team also run a University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) bootcamp for Med Soc students, designed to support them with navigating the admissions test all medical and dental applicants must sit.
This three-day intensive series of workshops and seminars offers targeted guidance on writing a successful personal statement, engaging with meaningful wider reading and understanding how the UCAT works.
Students in this year’s application cycle have soared with this dedicated support, scoring in the top 30% of applicants nationally.
Naimah reflected on how she benefited from mentoring alongside her studies:
“I was paired with a second-year medical student at the University of St Andrews, who did weekly support calls with me while I was working on my application.
“Without this support, I don’t think my application would’ve been as strong as it was. I can confidently say that Med Soc played a significant role in supporting my ambitions and my journey to medical school.”
Emily also praised Med-Soc and said that it was as a vital support system for her:
“From regular one-to-one meetings to running a series of mock multiple mini-interviews, the support that Tytus and Med Soc provided was so impactful.
“I don’t think I would’ve received such focused support anywhere else; ultimately Med Soc was pivotal in supporting me as I made my ambitions a reality.”
Dr. Tytus Murphy, A Level Biology and Medical and Dental Society Tutor, said of both learners:
“It has been inspiring to see our students gain the confidence and skills needed to become the next generation of doctors.
“Along the way, they have demonstrated resilience, reflective practice and academic excellence.
“We wish them all the success in their future careers as healthcare professionals.”
Follow in Naimah and Emily’s footsteps by joining the Health Professionals taster programme to get a flavour of the unrivalled teaching and exceptional facilities at Burnley College, and kickstart your journey towards a successful career in Medicine, Dentistry and more.
Learn more: https://www.burnley.ac.uk/sixth-form-home/programmes/
