Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm Venue: Central London, exact location TBC
London is known for its cultural diversity and the enriched learning experience that diversity can provide. This is expressed in the characteristics of medical and dental schools in the city, particularly Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry (BLSMD at Queen Mary University of London), which is characterised by diversity, both among its students and the local populations.
Yet whilst diversity is widely celebrated, the experience of becoming a doctor/dentist for those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds can sometimes be challenging. It is a well-documented national finding that BAME medical and dental students underperform in examinations compared to their White counterparts.
This case study showcases research developed at Queen Mary that aims to understand and address these challenges. It describes the emergence of a collaborative interdisciplinary working group with faculties from the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Engagement, Retention and Success and Educational Development. A key component of the research is also working collaboratively with students to develop findings and instigate change. Students participating in this research will be co-presenting this case study.
Discussion in the presentation will reveal some of the opportunities as well as challenges that BAME undergraduate medical and dental students can experience. These will focus upon issues such as defining the BAME category from the perspective of undergraduate students themselves and highlighting some of the experiences that students feel are associated with variations in academic outcomes. Concluding, discussions will focus upon exploring ways that these challenges and variations in student outcomes can be addressed by working with undergraduate students.
Riya George, Mangala Patel, Aylin Baysan, Daniel Hartley, Diego Bunge, Daniel Uribe, Emma Kennedy, Claire Loffman and Harris Nageswaran.