The NIMSC represents all medical students in Northern Ireland. It considers and acts on matters affecting those studying medicine.
The committee also works closely with the NIJDC (junior doctors committee) to advise on issues of concern to medical students and to update the committee on the work of NIMSC.
Our priorities
Support for students during pandemic
A key priority for NIMSC this session has been to ensure medical students at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) across all the years groups are supported and kept informed throughout the COVID Pandemic. NIMSC reps attend meetings with the General Medical Council, Department of Health and Social Care, Trust sub-deans and QUB to raise concerns as necessary and communication updates shared on a regular basis. We will also work with Ulster University to ensure their medical students are supported in the coming months.
Racial harassment charter
NIMSC is delighted that QUB medical school has signed up to the BMA Racial Harassment Charter. The Charter focusses on four mains areas: Supporting individuals to speak out; ensuring robust processes for reporting and handling complaints; mainstreaming equality, diversity and inclusion across the learning environment, and; addressing racial harassment on work placements. The committee has also recently co-opted a representative from the QUB Afro-Caribbean Medical Association in order to further develop work in this area.
#ThinkAheadMed campaign
A guidance document and information campaign aimed at highlighting the huge number of opportunities available to students both inside and outside of medical school medical school that can help enhance their CV and reach their career potential. Everything from extra-curricular roles and responsibilities to involvement in societies, quality improvement, research, teaching and demonstrating leadership etc. The outcome will be to provide students with a broad list of opportunities which they may not be aware of and can help provide them with a head start when applying to FY1.
Contact us for your copy of the #ThinkAheadMed booklet
New medical school
Funding to open the new medical school at Ulster University was agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2020. Students have now started their studies at the graduate-entry medical school on a four-year degree programme.
Widening participation
NIMSC ran a series of very successful school visits over the past two years giving school pupils the opportunity to speak face-to-face with medical students and hear first-hand how and why they decided to study medicine and how it compared to their expectations as well as sharing top tips for getting into medical school. Unfortunately, this has not been possible this session, so the committee has been discussing alternative ways to promote the widening participation in medicine initiative using virtual platforms. Work on this is ongoing.
Medical workforce planning
Along with the other Northern Ireland branches of practice, NIMSC will continue to influence the Department of Health and Social Care to produce a comprehensive and effective medical workforce place.
Our people
Chair: Victoria Paice
Deputy chair: Anna Murray
The committee includes two representatives from each academic year representing medical schools at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Ulster University (UU).
First year
Marc Connolly - QUB
Milan Kapoor – QUB
Jennifer Durey - UU
Second year
Kushi Tuli
Kate Bennett
Third year
Victoria Paice
David Griffith
Fourth year
Anna Murray
Fearghal Hosty-Blaney
Fifth year
Fergal Grannell
Ross Moore
QUB UK rep
Grace Olivia Kettyle
Deputy QUB UK rep
TBC
UU MSC rep
To be elected
UU Deputy MSC rep
To be elected
Student representatives elected to Northern Ireland Council
Blathnaid French (5th year QUB)
Nell Haughey (3rd year QUB)
Take part in one of our free courses designed to give you the right skills to:
- break down equality and inclusion bias (CPD-accredited)
- value difference and inclusivity
- live out BMA behaviour principles.
Our meetings
We meet four times a year to discuss the latest issues affecting medical students in Northern Ireland.
Only members of the NIMSC may participate in votes; however, medical students who are BMA members are welcome to attend in a non-voting capacity as part of the BMA committee visitor scheme.
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday, 20 October 2021
- Wednesday, 12 January 2022
- Wednesday, 30 March 2022
- Wednesday, 25 May 2022.
All meetings start at 2pm and are currently being held virtually.
How to join NIMSC
There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills.
Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of NIMSC, this is:
- Seats/term - every year, medical schools in Northern Ireland elect two* representatives from each year of study for a one-session term.
- Timeline - elections usually take place in July.
- Eligibility - all student BMA members in Northern Ireland are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
*A new medical school at Ulster University will open in August 2021. The numbers of seats per year group will be confirmed in due course.
The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.
Elections
Elections to the NIMSC are now closed.
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the NIMSC, email us or call 028 9026 9666.
The NIMSC is always keen to hear the views of medical students on the work that the committee is doing and what its priorities should be. You can email the chair via our secretariat.