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
Student mental health
NIMSC carried out a mental health survey in 2019 targeting all medical students currently studying at Queen's University Belfast (QUB). The survey was intended to flag-up any issues with the mental health support services provided by QUB and to seek ways in which students feel these services could be improved.
Widening participation
Following on from the success of previous widening participation events, as well as the schools’ engagement event at the 2019 ARM, NIMSC will continue its work in this area. This will include more visits to schools and looking at other ways to improve access to medicine.
Student finance
NIMSC has put together a simplified, easy to follow guide to provide students with the information needed to navigate through the world of student finance, and to point them in the direction of the help and support that is available. The committee will continue to work on this area again this session, with a focus on the hidden costs of medicine, as put forward in one of our motions at the 2019 MSC conference.
New medical school in NI
NIMSC will continue to keep members informed of progress regarding the new medical school at University of Ulster.
Medical workforce planning
Along with the other NI branches of practice, NIMSC will continue to influence the Department of Health and Social Care to produce a comprehensive and effective medical workforce plan.
Our people
The committee is made up of two representatives from each year of study. Representatives are elected via an online election. Any future opportunities to stand for election to the NIMSC will be detailed on this page, along with details of how to stand.
The committee has cross-representation with the Northern Ireland consultants, junior doctor, staff and associate specialist, general practitioner and medical academic committees. We also have cross representation with the UK medical students committee.
Chair: to be elected
Deputy chair: to be elected
The committee includes two representatives from each academic year.
First year
To be elected
Second year
Victoria Paice
Nell Haughey
Third year
Samuel Ward
Maryam Khan
Fourth year
Fergal Grannell
Emma Johnston
Fifth year
Aisling McCarthy
Ryan McConville
QUB rep
Aidan Murray
Deputy QUB rep
To be elected
Co-opted members
Anna Murray
Grace Richmond
Shane O’Hara
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.
Upcoming meetings:
- Wednesday 21 October 2020
- Wednesday 13 January 2021
- Wednesday 24 March 2021
- Wednesday 26 May 2021.
All meetings take place from 1.30pm to 5pm either virtually or at:
BMA Northern Ireland
16 Cromac Place
Cromac Wood
Belfast
BT7 2JB
For more information please email us) or call 028 9026 9666.
Elections for chair and deputy chair
Elections for the chair and deputy chair of the Northern Ireland medical students committee will open for nominations at 1pm on Thursday 10 September and will close at 1pm on Monday 21 September 2020.
Any member of the NIMSC may stand for election to these seats.
Voting will open at 1pm on Tuesday 22 September 2020 and will close at 2pm on Friday 2 October 2020.
Results will be announced soon after voting is 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, Leo Mansel, via our secretariat.