A Letter to My Younger Self

By Jade Scott Blagrove, Founder WPMN

We are pleased to announce that WPMN has achieved a major milestone. We are now a registered charity. This is an acknowledgement of the hard work put in by each of our team members and volunteers in advocating for widening participation in medicine. Our founder Jade has penned a letter to celebrate this momentous occasion and a personal milestone of nearing the completion of her Interventional Radiology training. We hope this inspires you to keep dreaming and persevering for what matters most to you!

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"Dear Jade,

You did it! Against the odds, you got into medical school and passed all your exams while juggling multiple jobs. You did it! You lived in London for a couple of years, survived eight months in A&E as an SHO during a pandemic and made it through the toughest of shifts. You did it! You were successful in applying to radiology and became an interventional radiology trainee in Cambridge of all places!

There have been hard times...really hard times. Blood, sweat, and tears have been shed but you always found a way through. That stubbornness that everyone told you came from your nan turned out to be one of your greatest assets. Combined with the work ethic of your grandad, these qualities helped get you to where you are today.

You'll learn that there are people who will support and advocate for you even when you're not in the room; keep them close. You'll also learn that there are people who want you to fail. Most of all, you'll realise that you are capable of far more than you ever imagined.

Your passion for widening participation and advocating for underrepresented groups in medicine will take you to places you never dreamed of. You will create an organisation with over 1,400 members, visit the House of Lords, deliver the Royal College of Radiologists New Fellows talk in Central Hall Westminster and win multiple awards. Your voice will make a difference and your efforts will inspire others to believe in themselves and their potential.

But Jade, I ask you to be confident, be bold, and don’t be afraid to be yourself because you do you best.

With love,

Your Future Self."

To those reading this: if you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong in medicine, know that you do.