I love science and I love communicating with people. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

It all started with a first aid course

Alicia didn’t grow up in a medical family. In fact, she’s the first person in her family to study for a medical degree. Her interest in medicine started when she was in Year 7, after taking a first aid course. She soon had the chance to put what she’d learned into practice when a woman fell over at a railway station and Alicia was the only person there who could help.

That experience sparked something. She realised how much she enjoyed helping people and began looking into different careers.

“I love science and I love communicating with people. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

From then on, Alicia looked for opportunities to explore healthcare. She worked as a lifeguard, cared for one of her grandparents and took part in volunteering and outreach opportunities throughout school.

Her route into medicine wasn’t completely straightforward

Like many aspiring medical students, Alicia’s journey wasn’t without setbacks. She didn’t get the exam grades she needed the first time around, so she took a gap year and reapplied.

Rather than seeing this as the end of her plans, she saw it as an opportunity to gain further experience to get where she wanted to be. And Sheffield stood out.

One of the things that attracted Alicia to Sheffield was our Patients As Educators  programme. She met a volunteer patient at an open day and was impressed by the support and preparation the programme offered.

For someone applying to medicine, having a supportive environment and people willing to help made a real difference.

Her biggest lesson? Your first attempt doesn’t have to be your last: “Not getting in the first time is not the end of the world.”

Now she’s helping future medical students

Alicia has since become a Patients as Educator volunteer herself,  giving other students the kind of support that helped her.

Her interest grew after hearing about a Community Attachment Scheme (CAS) project where students had the opportunity to meet a patient, learn about their medical history and understand them as a person, including their family background.

She loved the experience and wanted to get involved.

Alicia completed her Patients as Educator induction in her second year and has also taken part in student interviews as a patient. She enjoys being part of the process of helping assess future medical students, particularly their ability to communicate and connect with people.

“For me, it’s great to be part of that process and to help future students.”

Her own experience has shaped the doctor she wants to become

Alicia has been living with Long Covid since 2022. Her symptoms have included breathing difficulties, brain fog, memory loss and chronic fatigue. 

Her condition has had a major impact on her life, including periods when she became housebound. She has also spent years on waiting lists and experienced both positive and negative interactions with healthcare professionals.

Those experiences have given her a different perspective on what it means to be a patient.

She knows what it’s like to be in a hospital bed, not feel well and wait for answers.

And that has strengthened her determination to become a doctor who listens.

“I have a good sense of empathy for patients because I know what it’s like to be in a hospital bed and not feel great.”

University is about more than just lectures

For Alicia, studying medicine has been about much more than lectures and exams.

She has also made the most of opportunities outside her course. Last year, she was president of the Swing Dance Society and has enjoyed getting involved in university life alongside her medical studies.

She is also involved with the Fair Health Society, which focuses on health inequalities, health equity and public health. The society brings in key speakers and helps students explore some of the wider issues affecting people’s health.

From the classroom to the wards

Now in third year, Alicia is beginning to put her learning into practice on the wards.

Her 10-week placement is split between two wards, with five weeks in each. She spends   two or three days a week on placement and is currently working in general surgery.

While clinical placements can be daunting, Alicia says the people around her have made a huge difference.

“Everyone has been really lovely,  I think it’s a Northern thing, everyone wants to help.”

Alicia’s advice for future medical students

So, what does she want students considering medicine to know?

Persevere.

Getting into medicine can be difficult, and your route might not look exactly how you imagined it would. Alicia knows this first hand, having applied twice before starting medical school.

She also recommends getting experience that helps you understand what it’s really like to work with and communicate with people.

And once you start meeting patients, listen.

“Try to be as open and as empathetic as possible, and really listen to patients when you interact with them.”

Thinking about medicine?

Alicia’s story is a reminder that there’s no single route into medicine. Your journey might involve setbacks, a gap year or experiences you never expected,  but those experiences can become part of what makes you the doctor you want to be.