As a medical student in the Medicine, Health, and Life Sciences (MHLS) division, I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to student leadership, academic excellence, and community engagement, which makes me an ideal candidate for the role of MHLS Representative. Throughout my time as President of the QUB Medical Ethics Society, Belfast Marrow, Vice President of QUB Mind Matters and Regional Head for In2MedSchool Northern Ireland, I have consistently advocated for student interests and facilitated communication between students, faculty, and external organizations. These roles have equipped me with the skills necessary to represent medical students while also bridging the gap between the diverse disciplines within MHLS. Here are a list of action points i hope to work towards:
- I will work to advocate for better mental health support, particularly for medical and healthcare students who often face additional pressures from an increasing academic workload and clinical rotations. This includes pushing for more mental health resources, peer support networks, and tailored counseling services.
- Expanding research opportunities for MHLS students is another key priority. I will advocate for more partnerships with researchers based at Queen’s, enabling students to participate in projects across fields such as genomics, immunotherapy, and neurobiology. Additionally, I aim to create more pathways for students to engage in interdisciplinary research projects, allowing those from different fields within MHLS to collaborate and innovate together.
- Inclusivity and accessibility also form core principles of the student experience, and I will work to ensure that students from diverse socio-economic, ethnic, and neurodiverse backgrounds are represented. This includes advocating for inclusive events, supportive learning environments, and policies that address the varied needs of all students.
- Finally, improving communication between students and faculty is crucial. I will create regular feedback mechanisms, such as open forums and surveys, to give students from every discipline in MHLS the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas directly to the council.