At a recent Outreach Day hosted by the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (PCSM) and HelloFutures, Clinical Teaching Fellow Dr Mohammed Sabbir Islam helped local students explore life as a medic—from diagnosing real NHS cases to learning from none other than Lord Robert Winston. In this blog, Dr Islam reflects on a day of sparking ambition, breaking down barriers, and planting seeds for future careers in healthcare.
The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (PCSM) recently had the privilege of welcoming local year eight students for a unique outreach day at the University of Cumbria Fusehill Street campus, linked with HelloFutures.
I am someone who has directly benefited from outreach projects during my journey into medicine and it was a real pleasure to speak, as a young doctor, to kids with whom I identified.
The event featured a campus tour alongside talks from myself and renowned scientist, doctor and Lord Professor Robert Winston, Emeritius Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London. The day was designed to expand horizons and encourage aspirations among young people who might not otherwise consider a future in medicine. Lord Winston shared his deep understanding and spoke passionately about the wonders of science and the impact of medicine on human lives. The students also received a glimpse, first–hand, of frontline NHS care as they navigated their way through medical cases and x-rays. All the students now know what a FOOSH injury is—a ‘fall on an outstretch hand’ injury—one of the most common hand and wrist fractures.
It was an honour to learn from and share the stage with Lord Winston—together we were able to create a powerful narrative in combining scientific discoveries that shape medicine with real-world examples seen every day in hospitals in the language of a 13-year-old. The session emphasised teamwork, sparked curiosity and opened conversation, especially during the quiz!
It is my lived experience that events like this are vital in addressing inequality, fostering ambition and improving accessibility. By seeing the PCSM facilities and engaging in real-world science – students were left with excitement and motivation heading into the future.
The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is a collaboration between Imperial College London and University of Cumbria designed to meet the region’s needs.
This medical school collaboration combines the University of Cumbria’s longstanding reputation in training healthcare professionals with Imperial College London’s world-class expertise in medical education.