Hello,

My name is George and I left Brentwood in 2013 after seven splendid years at the school. Whilst there as an academic scholar, I benefited directly from exceptional teachers and support staff who nurtured my ambition and encouraged me to strive to be the first person in my family to follow a career in medicine

Now in the final year of my medical studies at Keele University, School of Medicine subsequent to winning the medicine prize six years ago, I have the opportunity to complete an eight-week medical elective anywhere in the world. This allows medical students to gain a greater insight into their preferred career specialty and is often the first opportunity for students to work outside of their own teaching hospitals.

I am aiming to pursue a career in surgery and it is my dream to go to the Teaching Hospital Karapitiya in Sri Lanka, affiliated with the University of Ruhuna, whereupon I may encounter invaluable exposure to both surgery as a specialty and a cornucopia of different pathologies not commonly seen in England. The Teaching Hospital Karapitiya is the largest tertiary care centre in the Southern Province and consists of 1560 beds across 54 wards. Despite this, space there remains limited. Whilst there I will be able to learn from participating in clinics and ward rounds, obtaining hands on medical experience by helping patients and families. This will prove invaluable when I return to commence work as a junior doctor in August 2019.

Although comprising the last step in my training before being able to work as a doctor, the medical elective has to be funded by the student. Hence, despite holding down numerous jobs over the years alongside my studies, including working as bar staff, a nursing assistant, a medical assistant in a busy A&E department and most recently a Deliveroo rider, six years of training have left me with very little money. I have applied to various elective funds for financial support in addition to saving Birthday and Christmas monies etc. I am now reaching out to Brentwood School and the Old Brentwood’s Network for an elective grant/sponsorship.

Your donations will be directly contributing towards helping me cover the cost of the trip with respect to flights, accommodation and immunisations, without which it will not be possible. Any money raised extra to my target shall be donated to local charities in the south of Sri Lanka.

All contributions, irrespective of amount, are greatly appreciated and I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to become a better doctor, follow my aspirations for a career in surgery and ultimately realise my dreams.

Thank you,

George