M E N T O R

you don’t get the reference, we can’t be friends). This virtual on-call programme allows students to
develop their confidence in dealing with common calls they are likely to receive, and helps them to
recognise when and how to escalate to their seniors
When I was at school I remember being torn between wanting to study clinical psychology and medicine.
I am not going to lie and say that getting into medical school was an easy ride. I came from a
school where not all of my teachers believed I would get into medical school, let alone graduate. My
performance in the interview meant that the University were willing to overlook me
slightly missing out on my grades, which I am really grateful for. So, I would say getting experience
in and out of medicine is key in helping me develop as a person. To me, medicine is more about
being a well-rounded, caring individual, and less about being a book worm.
The 2017 scholars
James Everson - Leadership Scholar
University College London - sixth year
I’m hoping to start my career in August 2017 with the Academic Foundation Programme in clinical
leadership, moving on to train in emergency medicine and, later, to sub-specialise in the rapidly
developing field of pre-hospital emergency medicine. I love teaching too, so I am very keen to keep
this up throughout my career! I have taught other medical students in various capacities at UCL, and
through my experience with the Army Reserve I have spent a lot of time mentoring juniors, which I
find really rewarding and is a fantastic way to help people develop. I have also been a presenter with
Medic Mentor for the past year, which necessarily entails a great deal of teaching.
Only since joining Medic Mentor have I realised how lucky I was with my journey to medical school.
I applied straight from school, and after interviews at St Andrews and UCL, I got an offer from UCL.
It turns out that you only need one opportunity to make it in! Looking back, I think taking a gap
year would have been a fantastic idea, and I really encourage everyone to consider it.
In the coming year I would like to try and focus some attention on our medical students and start looking
at getting formal mentoring and teaching for the vast number of medical students in our ranks.
George Huntington - Publishing Scholar
University of Sheffield - fifth year
I had to work hard to get into medical school. I’m not the most studious student. Unsuccessful on my
first application, I was told that it wasn’t worth applying a second time. After getting my A levels I
concentrated extensively on getting medical experience to line my application. A friend of the couple
who I used to babysit for introduced me to an ICU consultant at a barbeque. I ended up spending
a month shadowing him. After that I worked as a healthcare assistant on a trauma and orthopaedic
ward. In this time, I resubmitted for medicine. When it didn’t seem as though I was going to
be successful, the ward began training me as a nurse via the diploma that was available at
that time. Out of the blue, I received a Sheffield interview and here I am.
In medicine I would like to work towards the marriage of the two specialities which interest me most:
mental health and acute medicine. Ideally, working as a mental health specialist. My wider ideal career
would also involve teaching and academic medicine. Outside of healthcare, I write short fiction
to relax. It has always been a dream of mine to see this published as a collection.
I have written for this magazine since its inception. I like the accessibility of the articles and also
the writing process itself; I have seen essays written by physiologists, interviews with medical course
directors interspersed with articles by contemporaneous medical students and future applicants to
the course. What a wide perspective on things! The previous editorial team have worked so hard to
produce the Medic Mentor magazine. The very least that I could do in my role would be to carry
the fire and continue to put out such a quality publication.
Oluwafunto Ogunleye - Work Experience Scholar
University of Sheffield - second year
When I was about 17, I really was not sure what I wanted to do as a career but I loved my biology
practicals at school. I was passionate about anatomy so I went to Bristol and studied anatomical
science. During my final year I was able to carry out an independent research project in the field of
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