News

Residential Summer School for tomorrow’s doctors

(29 July 2003)

Hundreds of teenagers from across the north-east are experiencing what it is like to be a student at the University of Durham this summer. The activities are all part of the University’s proactive campaign to encourage bright students from all backgrounds to realise their full potential.

From 28-30 July, 36 pupils aged from 16-17 years from 25 schools and colleges across the region are finding out what it’s like to be a medical student at the University’s Queen’s Campus in Stockton.

The initiative, which has been sponsored by the four local Primary Care Trusts, is geared towards raising aspirations among local students who are interested in studying medicine and becoming doctors and to encourage them to train locally.

Dr Jackie Spence, the Medicine Programme’s Widening Participation Officer said: “There is a national shortage of doctors and this region is no exception. We hope that students who are from the local area will be familiar with its particular health and social problems and will consequently make better doctors if they stay in the region to practice”.

Throughout the three days, students will have an opportunity to be involved in “hands on” practical sessions as well as lectures and seminars. Staying in the University’s Halls of Residence and socialising with academic staff and current medical students also provides a first hand insight into university life. The event concludes with a guest lecture on what life is like as a doctor and a reception for students and their parents.

Students from all ages and backgrounds are currently studying Medicine at the University of Durham with more than half from the north-east. Among them is Michael Griksaitis from Stockton who has just completed his second year with distinction.

He commented: “I applied to Durham as I wanted to be based locally and I also liked the idea of being the first student on a brand new course. My experience of being a student at Durham has offered me a real opportunity to contribute to the development of this week’s programme to ensure students get the most out of it”.

AS level students, Toby Wind, from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington and Sarah Bishop from Prior Pursglove Sixth Form in Guisborough are among those experiencing what the medicine programme has to offer.

If Toby achieves a university place in the future he will be the first generation of his family to enter university. He said:”I have always hoped that a career in medicine would be my future. As neither of my parents went to university, being chosen to attend this summer school is invaluable to me and will hopefully boost future applications”.

Sarah said:” As a local student, I am particularly interested in seeing what my region has to offer me. Attending this course will enable me to make a more informed choice about which University I will attend”.

Professor Peter Kelly, Director of Health Improvement and Public Health for Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust hopes the event attracts local young people who would not normally consider medicine as a career.

He said, “This is a great opportunity for people from all areas to gain first hand experience of what it's like to be a Doctor. This summer school will provide students with an appreciation of the excellent facilities for studying medicine, available right here on our doorstep”.

This work contributes to the government’s plans to bring more people into higher education. While Durham continues to recruit from the best available people both nationally and internationally, over the past few years it has stepped up efforts to attract more talented people from the region. The aim is to generate more applications – which in turn lead to a higher proportion of admissions. An increasing proportion of Durham’s intake is from the north-east with one undergraduate in five now coming from the region.

Media Opportunity – Tuesday 29 July, Holliday Building, University of Durham, Queen’s Campus, Stockton.

There will be an opportunity to meet staff and students taking part in a range of hands-on clinical activities in the medicine laboratories on Tuesday 29 July between 2 and 4 p.m. Dr Spence and Michael Griksaitis will also be available for interview.

For more information contact
Jan Cawood, Public Relations Office 0191 334 0018 or Helen Swain, 0191-334-0017

Notes to Editors

1. The five year MBBS degree is a new joint venture with the University of Newcastle with students spending the initial two years based at the University of Durham, Queen’s Campus, Stockton before moving on to the University of Newcastle to complete their final three years of clinical training in a wide range of NHS hospital and community settings across the region.

2. A total of 340 medical students begin their training at the two universities each year. 95 undergraduates per year are admitted to the Phase One Medicine programme at the Queen’s Campus.

3. The reason for this renaissance lies in the fact that the UK’s need for doctors has outstripped the capacity of the present medical schools to provide them. Many doctors are approaching retirement and many are in the under-provided areas.

4. Focusing on practical experience, Phase One Medicine students have a close relationship with the local community as part of their studies. In the first year each student is allocated to a pregnant woman and her family for in-depth research - looking at how pregnancy and the birth of a child affects the whole family. During the second year students are attached to someone with a long-term illness or disability which forms the basis of a special research project.

5. As well as these individual projects, the Medicine in the Community strand provides an opportunity for students to spend time every week during their first and second years, with hands-on community work. Placements are at sites as varied as Teesside Hospice, Diabetes UK, Cleveland Arts, Mental Health Day Services and Stockton Autistic Society.