Jack Whiting, intercalating Medical Education student at BSMS, has won the Student of the Year Award at the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) awards for his outstanding commitment to widening access to medicine this academic year.
The fifth annual NEON Awards were hosted by MP Gordon Marsden, Shadow Minister for Higher Education, FE and Skills at the Palace of Westminster on 17 May 2018. The Awards aim to provide a platform to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of staff and students for widening access to higher education and enabling social mobility.
Jack has mentored on the nationally recognised BrightMed programme at BSMS since his first term, taking the lead on delivering existing full day teaching interventions as well as designing and delivering his own sessions. Through his intercalated MSc in Medical Education, Jack is supporting new medical student teaching mentors in their own design and delivery of widening participation interventions, offering advice, constructive feedback and encouragement. Jack’s MSc research project will help inform future selection and training of widening participation teaching mentors for BrightMed and other programmes.
Commenting on the award, Jack said: "I was very proud and humbled to win the NEON Student of the Year award. Widening participation is something I'm very passionate about, and have put a lot of hard work into throughout my time at BSMS, so it’s nice for it to be recognised. I’d like to thank Sam Wickham and Darren Beaney in the Admissions Team for nominating me, but also for creating the platform for myself and many others like me to become engaged and impassioned about widening participation".
Darren Beaney, Head of Admissions at BSMS, was also commended for his Contribution to Widening Access at the NEON Awards. Over the past 12 years, Darren has been at the forefront of the national drive to widen access to medicine and is committed to ensuring that the UK’s medical workforce reflects the population that it serves.
Darren said: “Receiving the commendation is another example of the great work that BSMS does to widen participation into medicine. Jack’s award vindicates our use of BSMS students as teaching mentors and researchers, illustrating the value of their contribution and the strength of the work that BSMS does.”
Peter Pimblett-Dennis, Medical School Secretary, added: “I am delighted that Jack and Darren have been rewarded and recognised for their contribution to widening participation at BSMS. We are proud of our extensive work in supporting under-represented groups to access the medical profession, and it is great to see Darren and Jack get the recognition they deserve in this year’s awards.”