Seven of Trintiy Hall’s final year medical students graduated earlier than planned on 13 April from the University of Cambridge’s School of Clinical Medicine. This enables them to seek early registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), thereby allowing them to enter the NHS workforce before the usual start date in August.
The early graduation forms part of a national effort by medical schools, the GMC and the NHS following the government’s call for additional medical staff to respond to the public health crisis.
Dr Clare Jackson, Senior Tutor commented:
“On behalf of the Fellows and staff at Trinity Hall, I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to the College’s final-year Medical students on their hard work and many contributions to College throughout their studies. Everyone at Trinity Hall wishes them all the very best as they embark on their professional careers under the most unprecedented and difficult of circumstances. We are sorry that current restrictions prevent us being able to offer the graduation celebrations they deserve at the moment, but their achievements – together with those of all of Trinity Hall’s students who are due to graduate this year – will be recognised as soon as practically possible.”
In March, the University’s School of Clinical Medicine, in consultation with the GMC, made the decision to cancel the final MB part III clinical examinations, because of the Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting impact on the NHS. The 265 students who have graduated early have all been assessed on clinical competence in previous examinations and on placements in a range of clinical environments, and had already completed their final written examinations.
Professor John Bradley, their Director of Studies, offered his warmest congratulations to the students who are graduating at this exceptional time: “They have all demonstrated a tremendous dedication and commitment to medicine over the last few years, and will unquestionably make a major contribution to the NHS in the challenging times that lie ahead and throughout their future careers.”
