A free event where school students meet and interact with primary healthcare professionals online. The project is open to all state-maintained secondary schools and colleges in the UK, with priority places for schools in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.

Your students challenge healthcare professionals over fast-paced online text-based live CHATs. They ASK anything they want, and VOTE for their favourite to win a prize of £500 to spend on further public engagement.

Students see healthcare professionals as people like them, and begin to identify with careers in Primary Healthcare.

When are the events

The next event will take place 5th–16th March 2018. Apply before 29th January.

See the latest event information and updates here.

Who’s it for?

The I’m a Medic project is open to all secondary schools and colleges in the UK.

The project is being run in partnership with the University of Nottingham and the University of Leicester, and funded by Health Education East Midlands, priority places are being given to schools and colleges in the East Midlands, in particular Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.

So much of the activity is pupil-led (the students ask the questions they want to) so different age groups, ability levels, and backgrounds all get something out of it. Healthcare professionals taking part will include GPs, trainee GPs, practise nurses, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, and other surgery and primary healthcare staff.

• Year 9 to Year 12
• Secondary schools, academies, sixth form colleges

What happens?

The main event takes place over a 2 week period, though students can log in from 2 weeks before to begin reading the participants’ profile pages, and do any background work.

During the 2 weeks of the main event, students can log in at any time:

Students ASK about anything they like. Questions are sent to the healthcare professionals and can be about their interests and hobbies, their work or what they should study in school.

You book a 30 minute live text-based CHAT. Chats can be booked between 9am and 5pm, at a time to suit your lesson. Your students interact directly with the healthcare professionals, ask questions, and let them know their opinions.

Students VOTE for who they think should win. The winner gets £500 to spend on further engagement to encourage more young people into medicine.

How much time will it take?

We provide all the resources and materials needed, whether you’re running I’m a Medic with just one class or a whole year group; including suggested lesson plans and modifications to suit different students’ abilities.

We recommend spending at least 2 hours on the event. This will usually be 1 introductory lesson, 1 homework of reading more about the healthcare professionals and submitting questions and 1 lesson of live chat.

Why take part?

• Whole class activity — Engage with all young people regardless of their academic ability and attainment; students will have the opportunity to interact with a diversity of primary healthcare staff from receptionists, pharmacists, nurses, and doctors.
• Improve students attitudes towards medicine in general and gain a more positive and realistic view of medicine and general practice.
• Young people see that healthcare careers are a realistic possibility for them.
• Young people have raised aspirations in general towards STEM.
• Young people are more enthused to study; especially those who “could try harder”.
• Teachers have a more positive attitude toward applying to medical schools, and toward medical associated careers.
• Being online gives all students a voice: “The set up allows everyone to have their chance to ask questions, whether they are the loudest person in the class, or the quiet curious student.”
• The students guide the event – they ask the questions and vote for the winning healthcare professional.
• Creates a ‘buzz’ in the classroom.

How much does it cost?

The activity is completely free for state-maintained, UK schools. Our funding covers all the costs for the schools.

Do I need any special software or equipment?

All you need are computers with internet access for your students. The live chats are text-based (no video or audio needed) and run through this site.

How secure is it?

No personal details are shared on the site, and we moderate all content. The only students who can log in are those who’ve been given access by their teacher.

How do I apply?

Fill in the form on the right hand side of this page (scroll up) and we’ll email you before each event asking if you want to take part with your students.