More than 200 Year 2 undergraduate medical students have completed the first Module 201/210 Immersion Week of the 2026/27 academic year, gaining hands-on experience across general practice, community healthcare and psychiatry settings.
Now in its seventh year, the programme continues to provide students with opportunities to apply classroom learning in real-world healthcare environments. This year's delivery featured three themed pathways: General Practice and Psychiatry Teaching, Community Placements with Interprofessional Working, and General Practice Placements combined with Case-Based Discussions (CBDs).
Delivering the week was a significant collaborative effort. The Watson School Office team coordinated more than 340 individual teaching and placement activities across five days, working closely with Dr Lauren Hardie-Bick, Deputy Module 201 Lead, and Dr Penny Geer, Senior GP Clinical Teaching Fellow. Across the region, 66 placement venues, including GP practices and community healthcare settings, welcomed students, supported by the efforts of the GP Placements Team and colleagues from Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
Student feedback highlighted the positive impact of the placements. Many valued the opportunity to work alongside multidisciplinary teams, observe patient care in practice and gain a deeper understanding of healthcare delivery in community settings. One student described feeling "part of the team" during a placement, while another praised the welcoming atmosphere and learning opportunities provided by staff across the healthcare system.
Alongside placements, students took part in more than 70 on-campus teaching sessions covering clinical knowledge, teamwork and professional development. They also engaged with live and simulated patient consultations through the Virtual Clinical Experience platform, helping to build communication skills, consultation confidence and clinical reasoning.
Dunx Shrewsbury, Professor of Medical Education and Primary Care at BSMS
Reflecting on the week, Dunx Shrewsbury, Professor of Medical Education and Primary Care, highlighted the value of seeing students engage with patient stories and the complexities of everyday healthcare. "It has been very rewarding as Faculty to see students tuned into patient stories and relish the complexities of their lives in the same way that we do as practising GPs", they said.
Dr Max Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Primary Care and Public Health, added: "These new CBDs are an excellent example of students learning from patients by integrating history, examination findings and investigations into a clinical management plan. Alongside this, the sessions promote students’ skills in case presentation, clinical decision-making and sharing practical knowledge with peers."
The success of the first Immersion Week reflects the dedication of academic, professional services and NHS colleagues across BSMS and its partner organisations. Their combined efforts continue to provide a rich, engaging and practice-focused learning experience that prepares students for the next stages of their medical education.
Immersion Weeks 2 and 3 will take place during the weeks commencing 1 February 2027 and 26 April 2027. Our on-campus programme is supported by module clinical facilitators, Faculty colleagues and NHS partners, and we are always keen to welcome additional Faculty facilitators.
If you would like to find out more, please contact the Watson School Office team who will put you in touch with the relevant theme leads.