News from Imperial: The Imperial Immersion Week returns with success, reflection and connection

By Roxy Hughes, Collaborative Partnerships Officer, Imperial College London

For the first time in two and a half years, everyone at Imperial School of Medicine (ICSM) was excited to be hosting students from LKCMedicine in March. The Imperial Immersion Week offers an opportunity for LKCMedicine students to connect with Imperial College London whilst developing and nurturing cross-institution student partnerships.

From 7 to 11 March, a group of M2 LKCMedicine students participated in a variety of activities across ICSM organised by the Collaborative Partnerships Office. This year, 22 students were selected to travel to London.  

On Monday morning, the students were collected from the hotel and led on a tour of the South Kensington and the Imperial campus. Whilst acclimatising to the cold weather on the walk to campus, the students were even treated to a police escorted procession, which was likely transporting members of the Royal Family or Government. 

Outside the Royal Albert Hall on the South Kensington tour

Starting on the first morning and continuing throughout the week, the students were welcomed into teaching sessions with the Imperial students. Students had the opportunity to experience ICSM’s anatomy teaching at Charing Cross Hospital. There were also practical sessions that took place in the laboratories, as well as the necessary guided online learning that is required to take part in face-to-face teaching. 

Dr James Moss teaching extreme first aid

Dr James Moss (Principal Teaching Fellow, National Heart and Lung Institute) organised specific sessions to introduce the students to new concepts and skills, including an introduction to the National Health Service (NHS), autoethnography, extreme first aid, a physiology escape room and designing education spaces. 

MERU Spring Conference 2022

The students also attended the Medical Education Research Unit (MERU) Spring Conference that took place on a Wednesday afternoon. This year’s theme focused on student-led education research. The guest speaker, Dr Eliot Rees from University College London, gave a talk on developing medical students as educators. Posters and short communications were presented by students, including a joint LKCMedicine-Imperial student presentation by Lim Rong (LKCMedicine) and Callum Cuthbert (Imperial), which was funded by the Professor Jenny Higham Collaboration Grant. We look forward to seeing more student presentations from both schools at the upcoming Transform MedEd 2022 Conference, jointly hosted by Imperial and LKCMedicine. The conference will be held on 11 and 12 November in London. 

Sharing reflections with Dr Sam Gallivan

Throughout the week, students were encouraged to develop their reflective practice. Dr Sam Gallivan (Deputy Academic Lead, Collaborative Partnerships) led students around the Medicine Gallery that was opened in 2019 at the Science Museum next door to Imperial’s main campus. This enlightening session focused on two pieces of specially commissioned artworks: 'Self-Conscious Gene' by Marc Quinn and the 'Santa Medicina' sculpture by Eleanor Crook. At the end of the week, the group shared their experiences and reflections from the Science Museum and their broader reflections from the week on Padlet. Feedback was provided by the students as they reflected on the week; the highlights included the Medicine Gallery visit, the Dissection room, the NHS talk and extreme first aid.   

An important element of the week was also the social opportunities for students to meet and interact with Imperial students. This included meeting with Year 2 Imperial students, who will be visiting LKCMedicine in May to complete their Clinical Research and Innovation Projects. Students were welcomed on the first evening to Imperial at a reception attended by Mr Leon Lau from the Singapore High Commission in London. The Imperial College School of Medicine Students’ Union (ICSMSU) President, Sam Hammond, invited the students to socials throughout the week, including the ICSMSU Fashion Show, walking tour of central London and mini golf.

Reception with the Singapore High Commission and Imperial staff and students

It has been a great pleasure to host this engaged and enthusiastic group of LKCMedicine students for this positive and busy week!