Co-curricular activities welcome likeminded students and staff to nurture passions and indulge interests, forging friendships which span across classes and year groups. Our current provision is extensive, numbering at over one hundred and fifty options, with more growing each year. Each week, we seek to celebrate one of the many clubs and societies that form part of the rich fabric of Merchant Taylors’.
This week we look at Medicine & Dentistry Society a space for inspiration and learning new skills.
Writes Yuvraj B.
At the start of this academic year, Arin L. and I (L6) set out with a big goal — to create a society that would inspire and unite students in the Lower and Middle School who are interested in healthcare careers. Whether it’s Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, or any other healthcare profession, we wanted to build a community where students could explore these fields, develop new skills, and learn from professionals in the industry. After a lot of planning and effort, we are proud to say that the Medicine and Dentistry Society is officially up and running!
So far, we have had two exciting and interactive sessions. Our very first session was all about the amazing human body. We explored how incredible our natural reflexes are, and to make it even more fun, we finished with a competition to test everyone’s reflexes! Alongside this, we experimented with grip strength tests and had a great time using stethoscopes and blood oxygen meters — giving everyone a real feel for some of the tools healthcare professionals use every day.
Our most recent session, which took place on Monday, focused on manual dexterity — a crucial skill in almost all healthcare careers. We challenged ourselves with a variety of activities that tested patience, precision, and control, including threading a needle, sewing, and the highlight of the day: peeling grapes with tweezers! Our competition for that session was to see who could peel the best grape, and it turned out to be both tricky and hilarious.
Looking ahead, we are incredibly excited for our next session, which will feature an exclusive talk from Dr. Jeyalingam. She is a highly experienced GP who specialises in medical education and coaching. She also sits on the interview panel for medical admissions at Imperial College, and is the Academic Lead in the Department of General Practice at the University of Melbourne, as well as Clinical GP lead for tri-borough care home education. Her talk will be an amazing opportunity for all of us to learn more about the realities of medicine and gain valuable advice on pursuing healthcare careers.
We’re really proud of how far the society has come in such a short time and can’t wait to continue growing. If you’re in Lower or Middle school and are even slightly curious about healthcare careers, come along to our next session — we promise it will be fun, hands-on, and inspiring!
