Student Spotlight: Rowan Davies

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Student Spotlights pass the mic to our student doctors, to hear their take on their School experience and shine the light on a particular role, team or pathway through the School of Medicine.

Year Five Student Rowan Davies is celebrating the recent publication of his study with the University’s Infectious Disease Unit, which is being called ‘a small building block for potential future GI surveillance’.

“I’m from Bridgend in South Wales and attended a Welsh-speaking school in the South Wales Valleys. I studied Physiology and Biomedical Sciences at Cardiff University before coming to Liverpool. I was attracted to Liverpool because I wanted to live in a vibrant city, and it has definitely lived up to this!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the course and met some inspirational clinicians across my various placements.

I think one of the best features of our course is probably the variety of different sub-specialties we get exposed to.

For me, the time I spent at the Walton Centre sparked an interest in Neurology, and I’m fortunate to be back there currently on my SAMP.

I’ve also become interested public health and research more broadly whilst at Liverpool as well. I’ve recently published a pilot study which may be a step towards future surveillance for gastrointestinal infectious diseases.

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I got to work with researchers from Liverpool’s Institute of infection and global health and was able to present my work at NIHR GI’s Annual Scientific Meeting.

This invaluable experience was also instrumental in my applications for AFP. I’m excited to be starting mine at Salford Royal, Manchester (in a few weeks!).

I’ll miss the rugby club, with whom I’ve been fortunate to enjoy many successes, and the LMSS events, both of which I’d recommend for anyone starting out at Liverpool. I’ll also miss the Liverpudlians, who remind me of home with their strong sense of identity and kind nature.

My advice to anybody starting in September is to get stuck into everything and find what suits you - there’s plenty on offer!”

Rowan presented his work at the Annual Health Protection Research Unit GI Scientific Meeting, and it is now published in BMC Public Health (link).

Get in touch with mednews@liverpool.ac.uk if you are interested in stepping into the Student Spotlight or would like to nominate a student or group to do so.