"I took up the Access to Medicine course, as my future aspirations was to work in the RAF as an intensivist, this is a board-certified physician who provides special care for critically ill patients.

I decided to study this course at CWA as it was recognised as the best of its kinds in England and was recommended by a tutor at Cambridge University Medical School.

The course was very science heavy, giving excellent grounding in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and human biology, this all proved to be very useful when at medical school. I still regularly use core principles learned at College of West Anglia in my everyday practice and teaching.

I found the course very enjoyable, especially when sharing the experience with a wide variety of people attending. We all had different backgrounds and brought different things to do on the table. The overall experience of studying Access to Medicine was positive and I have taken knowledge from the course that I use on a day to day basis.

Attending CWA was my first step towards becoming a doctor. It gave me the confidence I needed to apply for medical school, and the scientific backing that helped me succeed both throughout and beyond it.

I'm currently working for the NHS in a locum Acute Common Care Stem (ACCS) role. This includes emergency medicine, anaesthetics and acute medicine. For the last several months this has meant working in covid-19 assessment and treatment units, liaising with helicopter retrieval services and managing patients in high dependency environments. At the start of the year I was on board Doctor and rescue swimmer for a transatlantic sailing voyage aboard the Challenger 2 yacht.

Unfortunately, my application to the RAF this year has been waylaid because of Covid-19, but it is my full intention to reapply after core ACCS registrar training. I still intend to be an RAF intensivist!

If anyone is thinking of studying an access course, then do it. It is worth the time and energy the course requires, to allow you to focus on your ambition and develop your understanding. It is a valuable course with a wealth of experience, and plenty of support with medical school applications.

Just remember, not everyone has a clear path to what they want. Some of us face real adversity and challenges, and it can sometimes seem like overwhelming odds. It’s not easy – but it is attainable. You just need to focus, work hard, and take small steps. For someone reading this, this course is often the first."