Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) Student Union

Suzie Rayner,  ICSM President, 2011-12

President's Welcome

Imperial College has a great reputation of being an academic leader, especially for a course such as Medicine. The lecturers and clinicians of the Academic Health Sciences Centre are leaders in their field and having the chance to be taught by them in such renowned hospitals as St. Mary’s, Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals could not be missed. The students are extremely friendly and the College campuses are in fantastic locations of West London. The best thing about being a student in London is that you will never be bored!

Unlike other university courses, Imperial starts its clinical experience from day one. You will get to speak to patients in hospitals or GP surgeries and develop your basic history taking skills, whilst, through lectures, learning the scientific basis for the medical conditions that your patients have. For me, early clinical exposure was crucial as this provided a continual reminder of what being a doctor is really about.

I’m currently taking a sabbatical from the course after my fourth year to act as President of Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) Students’ Union. The ICSM students are supported and represented by both ICSMSU and Imperial College Union, giving students a great variety of opportunities to get involved. ICSMSU provides activities, representation and welfare support that cater specifically to students studying medical and biomedical courses, provided by students who have undertaken these courses themselves. This leads to close knit family atmosphere at ICSM which I think is invaluable.

I know that when I leave Imperial I will have the foundations for a successful career based on qualifications from a world class institution, and an experience, and friends, I will never forget.

Suzie Rayner
ICSM President 2011-12