The WMSC covers all matters of importance to medical students in Wales and acts on their behalf. We do this by informing, liaising and, where appropriate, collaborating with the Welsh Government, Cardiff and Swansea medical schools, local health boards and Health Education and Improvement Wales.
The committee also works closely with the BMA Welsh council and the UK MSC.
Our priorities
Mental health
Raise awareness of student mental health issues and assess the scope of the support offered by medical schools in Wales.
In 2020, we conducted a mental health survey of medical students in Wales to learn about mental health at university.
Widening participation
Promote access to medicine regardless of background and monitor differential attainment.
Accommodation standards
We lobbied for improvements in the standard of accommodation for students on placements and continue to monitor these standards.
Grassroots engagement
Improve communication with students in order to increase awareness of the BMA and encourage engagement with WMSC.
Assessments
Monitor the implementation of the MLA (Medical Licensing Assessment) and medical schools’ own assessment procedures.
Our people
Chair: Ellen Davies
Deputy chair: Virginia Dale
Cardiff first year reps
Isabel Marin Gamero
Sripradha Srinivasan
Cardiff second year reps
Amanda Godoi
Bethan Self
Cardiff third year reps
Erin Flaherty
Marcus Powis
Cardiff fourth year reps
Amelia Guy
Christine Muhota
Cardiff fifth year reps
Sashiananthan Ganesananthan
Vacant
Swansea first year reps
Tanvi Thomas
Constantinos Demetriou
Swansea second year reps
Ross Davey
Craig Heath
Swansea third year reps
Alice Maria Arvidsson
Naomi Nandra
Swansea fourth year reps
Megan Gurney
Kimaya Pandit
Intercalating rep
Vacant
Observers
Omolara Akinnawonu (Cardiff rep on UK Medical Students Committee)
Ranmini Philomin (Swansea rep on UK medical Students Committee)
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 Wales. These meetings are open to WMSC members only.
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday 13 October 2021
- Wednesday 15 December 2021
- Wednesday 16 February 2022
- Wednesday 11 May 2022.
All meetings take place from 6.30pm to 9pm either virtually or at:
BMA Cymru Wales
5th Floor
2 Caspian Point
Caspian Way
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF10 4DQ
How to join WMSC
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 WMSC, these are:
- Seats/term - every year, both medical schools in Wales elect a representative to UKMSC for a one-session term. These representatives have non-voting seats on the WMSC.
- Timeline - elections usually take place in March or April.
- Eligibility - all student BMA members are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
- Seats/term - every year, both medical schools in Wales elect two representatives, and an intercalating representative, from each year for a one-session term.
- Timeline - elections usually take place in May or June.
- Eligibility - all student BMA members in Wales are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
There is also a co-opted representative position for the Cardiff Medical school C21 course run at Bangor University.
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
Direct elections 2021 to 2022
The WMSC is holding elections for the following seats:
- one representative each for 2nd, 3rd, 4th years from Swansea medical school
- one representative for 5th year from Cardiff medical school
- one intercalating representative from Cardiff medical school.
Elections for 1st year representatives will be held in September/October.
Eligibility
To stand or vote in this election, you must:
- be a BMA full-time student member in Wales
- have a BMA online account.
Nominations and casting your vote
- Nominations - from 9am on Tuesday 6 July 2021 to 5pm on Tuesday 20 July 2021.
- Ballot - from 9am on Friday 23 July 2021 to 12pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021.
Read our guide on how to use our online system for elections.
Results
Results will be announced from Thursday 5 August 2021 on the election portal.
If you have any questions about these elections, please email us.
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the WMSC, please contact us or call 029 2047 4696.