When I left Hymers, I thought I had a vague idea of what the next few years would look like: lectures, placements, anatomy dissections. Four years in, I can confirm I severely under estimated how brilliant, and occasionally chaotic medical school at UCL would be. London has been fast-paced, full of opportunity, and the perfect backdrop for placements at incredible hospitals, inspiring research, and meeting some wonderful people.

Last year, I took a year out from the standard medical curriculum to intercalate in Paediatrics and Child Health. This essentially meant a year spent learning about childhood diseases, simulated emergencies, and spending time with adorable babies. A highlight was shadowing specialist teams at Great Ormond Street Hospital, whose dedication to improving the lives of children with complex conditions left a lasting impact. I was proud to graduate the year and present my dissertation (investigating HIV transmission during pregnancy) at the national CHIVA (Children’s HIV Association) Conference 2025.  Sharing my research alongside clinicians, researchers, and people living with HIV was a real privilege, and a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

Outside of the hospital, I am Co-Chair of the UCL Obs & Gynae Society. This year I worked with Chairs from other London medical schools to host our inter-university conference, “Through a Global Lens”. The day featured everything from live-streamed virtual reality C-sections and surgical skills workshops, to expert panels and networking. We even managed to raise over £700 for the Happy Baby charity.

When I’m not on placement, you’ll probably find me jogging around Hampstead Heath (I’m training for the Edinburgh Half Marathon!), fueling my caffeine addiction and buying more books in Waterstones (that will inevitably be collecting dust until summer), or lost somewhere along the Northern Line (the tube still humbles me).

Looking ahead, I’m hoping to spend part of my final year on elective in Australia, combining clinical experience with a bit of surfing and sunshine. The support and encouragement I received at Hymers laid such a strong foundation for everything that has followed, and I’m really grateful for the teachers who supported me during my time there.

Kamya Gandhi, OH 2019-21