JADE SCOTT-BLAGROVE
Founder of Widening Participation Medics Network
OUR STORY
To offer patients the best care, doctors need to reflect the population that we treat. Being a doctor should not just be for the elite or privileged in society, it should be an option for anyone with the ability and desire. Unfortunately, society has put barriers in place for certain groups of people who would otherwise make fantastic doctors. These barriers are present when applying to medical school, during medical school and when practising as a doctor.
WPMN was founded in May 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. At this time, further disparities in healthcare was brought to the surface and additional barriers arose for current medical students and doctors from certain widening participation backgrounds. WPMN started in a time of chaos but was created with a clear mission and vision.
OUR MISSION
Providing a supportive community to underrepresented groups that breaks down barriers at all stages of the medical journey by sharing resources, experiences and opportunities.
OUR CORE VALUES
Equity
Inclusivity
Creating Opportunities
Community
Collaboration
Advocacy
OUR VISION
To make the medical workforce representative of the community it serves by eliminating barriers and inspiring future leaders.
WHAT IS A WIDENING PARTICIPATION BACKGROUND?
Although definition can vary between organisations or settings, it is generally agreed that students/doctors from widening participation backgrounds include those who:
Attend/ed a school with low progression into higher education
Are/were the first generation of their family to consider higher education
Are from an underrepresented ethnic group
Are from a low socio-economic group
Have a disability
Are a care leaver
Are a carer​
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
5x winner of MedAll Educator Awards
Supported by HLA Ideas
1000+ Online Members
Collaborated with RCR, RCOA, MPS & MDU
Wasim
"I found that there were certain specialties that I was really interested in experiencing but never had the opportunity to see during medical school. Because of this, I approached WPMN with the idea to set up a lecture series to amend this. With the incredible help of Vikesh and Maria from the events team, we managed to set up a specialty spotlight series together called WPMN Presents."
