How we support medical students
What we do
A career in medicine can be challenging as well as rewarding. We're here to make sure that you have the right training, support and experience – now as a medical student and in the future as a doctor.
As part of our work to protect patient safety across the UK, we:
- set the standards for your medical school and future training providers, and regularly check these are being met
- produce guidance and tools to help you become the best doctor you can be
- make sure that when you and other doctors apply to join the medical register, you have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for safe medical practice.
Who we are
Meet some of the people behind the scenes at the GMC and find out more about how we support you.
My name is Colin Melville
As the GMC’s Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards, I take overall responsibility for our work with undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training.
Before I joined the GMC, I had leadership roles in foundation training and more recently as head of three different UK medical schools. I’m also a registered doctor and was previously a consultant in intensive care medicine.
I meet regularly with senior leaders across medical education, though I really enjoy being able to have conversations with medical students and doctors. I’m a judge on our annual student competition, which always reminds me of how innovative and creative medical students are about learning!
I can also be found on Twitter (@drcolinm), where I share and comment on aspects of medical education and medicine.
My name is Dan Wynn
I’m one of the GMC liaison advisers working across the four countries of the UK.
A core part of my job, and one of my favourite parts, is speaking with medical students about our ethical guidance and our wider role, including how we regulate medical education. I'm based in Scotland, so if you're at a Scottish medical school you'll hopefully meet me or one of my colleagues.
We really want you and all medical students to know that the GMC is an open and accessible organisation, and one that you can get involved with in all sorts of interesting ways! I look forward to seeing you soon.
My name is Rosie King
I help to develop our guidance for medical students.
As a medical student and a future doctor, you’ll need to demonstrate a high standard of behaviour at all times. Our guidance will help you do this. Achieving good medical practice shows you how the principles and values of our main guidance for doctors, Good medical practice, apply to you during your studies.
I also advise medical schools on how to manage their processes around professionalism and fitness to practise. We want you to get a great education and feel prepared for practice by the time you graduate. I enjoy being part of the team that helps to make this happen.
My name is Aby Nwaokolo
I’m part of the quality assurance team. We’re responsible for making sure that all medical education and training in the UK meets our standards. We also make sure new medical schools and programmes meet the same standards.
One of the best things about my role is talking to medical students about your education and training experiences. You might meet me, or a member of my team, on one of our regular visits to your school. We listen to your concerns and support your medical school to improve your experience of medical education.
Wherever you’re studying medicine, we want you to be confident you’ll receive a high-quality degree that prepares you for practice.
My name is Umair Badat
I'm part of the team developing the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA), which you'll take as part of your degree from 2024–25 onwards.
The MLA will provide the assurance that you have the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of new doctors. It will be an important milestone in your journey to medical practice.
Your degree course is the best preparation for the MLA - you won't need to learn anything beyond what's already covered in your medical school's curriculum.
We're working with all UK medical schools to develop the MLA. You can watch introductory videos and find out more about the MLA in our UK students guide to the MLA.
My name is Emma Reuben
I make sure that when you graduate, you're registered in time to start your first role as a doctor in the Foundation Programme.
This process starts in September of your final year when we create your GMC reference number. You'll have this number for the rest of your career! We’ll also be in touch about our registration process and your ID check. In your final year, before you graduate, you’ll have plenty of time to apply for provisional registration ahead of starting work.
My aim is to make the move from student to provisionally registered doctor as seamless as possible.
