Do you remember your first stethoscope – and everything that it symbolised? For so many medics, your first stethoscope is so much more than a mandatory piece of course equipment. It represents the hard work you’ve put into getting into Bristol, as well as the rewarding career ahead of you.
But today’s students face challenges that many of us could never have predicted. This includes a looming worry of debt and an increased cost of living. Bristol Medical School students are among those most impacted by the increased costs of higher education. You’ll know from your own experience that it’s a rigorous degree with little time for part-time work and requires your own equipment.
After many years of successful access and outreach work, an increasing number of our medical students come from low-income backgrounds. This, coupled with the increased costs of living, is causing financial strain for some of our students. We aim to support them throughout their entire Bristol journey, setting them up for a successful career.
Your generosity today will provide essential equipment for Bristol medical students facing financial worries. You’ll help provide a personalised engraved stethoscope to a first-year medical student in need of additional financial assistance. These first-year students are often very anxious about the additional costs to set them up at Bristol, especially if they come from low-income backgrounds. You’ll also help provide Bristol Medical students with additional scrubs in their first three years. By ensuring they have a spare set, you help them balance domestic life with studying and learning.
Purchase of essential equipment is just one way Bristol and alumni generosity helps students from low-income backgrounds. Support is also available in the form of grants, bursaries and scholarships to help students struggling to balance studying with finances. More information about these initiatives can be found on our website.
We’ve previously been able to offer stethoscopes to students from low-income backgrounds thanks to legacy supporter John Dunscombe (MBChB 1946), who left a gift in his Will. John himself was a recipient of financial assistance during his own medical student days, and never forgot that generosity. You could be part of continuing this tradition, with your support today, to offer this milestone piece of equipment to future students.
£80 provides an engraved stethoscope
£20 provides an additional set of scrubs
Your generosity can help advance medical expertise, whether through supporting students or through supporting research. If you are interested in learning more about giving and the impact you can have, whether today or for future generations of medics through a gift in your Will, please visit our website or contact nicola.giblin@bristol.ac.uk.
