Opening up healthcare careers
School children from across east London were invited to learn about a career in healthcare at our recent conference.
The event, held at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in November, included talks from a wide range of NHS professionals as well as a tour of our wards, scanners and operating rooms.
Dr James Wilson, a clinical research fellow and former chief registrar at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, who helped to organise the conference alongside our current chief registrars Jermaine Wright and Sarah Duncan, said: "We had so many questions from students throughout the afternoon and evening about different careers and pathways into healthcare."
East London is home to some of the most diverse communities in the United Kingdom.
Over 50% of our local population identify as Black and Minority Ethnic (BME). 
More than 60 languages are spoken across our local boroughs.
The aim of the conference was to encourage people from all backgrounds to explore a career in the healthcare sector.
Feedback so far from students and teachers has been incredibly positive.
Hospital medical director Dr Andrew Wragg said: "It was great to see them talking about the many career options in the NHS, beyond becoming doctors and nurses."
Last year over 100 A-level students from across England attended our first Health Careers Conference, a two day event organised by the Hospital and the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.
The year 12 students – who had each expressed an interest in a healthcare career – were treated to a number of workshops led by NHS professionals including intensive care consultant Segun Olusanya who gave a talk on medical ethics.
Barts Health is on the road to becoming an anchor institution for east London. This means making sure that our employment opportunities are available to all, taking a proactive approach to social mobility issues, and increasing awareness of NHS career paths within our local communities.
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