National platform for ARU’s medical recruitment vision
New role sees ARU expert aim to reduce barriers to studying medicine across the UK
Dr Simon Cork, the lead for admissions and widening participation at ARU’s School of Medicine
Anglia Ruskin University’s drive to widen access to study Medicine has been recognised by the appointment of Dr Simon Cork to a national role influencing medical school recruitment across the country.
Dr Cork has been appointed as Co-Chair of the Medical Schools Council Selection Alliance, the body responsible for overseeing medical school admissions in the UK.
Dr Cork is the lead for admissions and widening participation at ARU’s School of Medicine, looking at ways to ensure its courses are free of barriers to people of all backgrounds.
Just under 40% of ARU Medicine students meet widening participation criteria, which takes into account several factors including growing up in a deprived area, growing up in care, having access to free school meals, and being a registered carer.
Dr Cork’s new role aims to utilise his success at ARU to help address a long-standing imbalance in access to UK medicine courses. Medicine remains one of the least socioeconomically diverse professions in the UK, with 80% of medical students coming from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, and four fifths of students coming from just 20% of schools.
“Medical school places should be available to the best students, no matter their background or socioeconomic status. Equity of opportunity is not about box ticking. It is about making sure we have the very best candidates, from all walks of life, to compete for admission. This in turn will increase the quality of the doctors we produce, creating tangible benefits for patients.
“It is an honour that our work at ARU has been recognised and that I now have the opportunity to apply our experience to a national issue.
“For too many people, the barriers to studying medicine are often insurmountable. It is right that we as a sector work to address this for the betterment of the healthcare system.”
Dr Simon CorkThe Medical Schools Council represents all undergraduate medical schools, and one postgraduate medical school, across the UK. By 2032, medical schools are aiming for 33% of students to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is equivalent to nearly 6,000 students each year.