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The Peer Mentor Network plays a vital role in welcoming new student doctors into the School of Medicine community, offering academic guidance, support and encouragement, and a friendly face from day one. Each year, students are invited to nominate their mentors for recognition - and this year’s nominations were full of heartfelt praise.
The 2024/25 Network saw a significant rise in engagement, with applications to be a peer mentor increasing by 80% in just one year. This surge in interest led to a 40% increase in active peer mentors compared to the previous academic year. This allowed the Network to reduce group sizes and provide more tailored, consistent support for incoming Year 1 students. It also gave mentors more confidence in their role, with clearer opportunities to support their mentees both academically and personally.
For the first time, dedicated Graduate Entry mentors were also introduced, offering tailored support from students on the same pathway. All mentors benefited from enhanced training opportunities, including in-person mental health sessions and six new online modules covering coaching, communication, and inclusion.
This year, nominations for the Peer Mentor Recognition Prize rose dramatically – 14 times more than last year – prompting the award to be split into two categories: Outstanding Academic Support and Outstanding Wellbeing Support.
Now, as the academic year draws to a close, we’re celebrating the winners of this year’s Peer Mentor Recognition Prize – student doctors who went above and beyond for their Year 1 mentees.
Outstanding Academic Support: Carmen Bourne & Chloe Grimes
Carmen and Chloe were recognised for their outstanding academic support, consistently offering their time and knowledge to help their mentees thrive. From revision sessions to informal catch-ups, they made themselves available and approachable throughout the year – even during busy periods in their own studies. Carmen shared what stood out most from her mentoring experience:
My highlight was helping my mentees academically and getting to know them on a personal level. I really wanted them to feel supported – just as I did in my first year.
Both Carmen and Chloe were inspired by the mentors they had in first year and felt strongly about paying that experience forward. They found mentoring to be a rewarding opportunity to build their confidence, reinforce their knowledge, and connect meaningfully with other students.
Their mentees described them as reliable, kind, and generous - supporting students not just with study advice but also with encouragement and reassurance during times of doubt.
“Whenever we were worried or had a question, they would happily answer and help us as best they could.” – Katy Rushforth, Year 1.
“They provided plenty of materials and dedicated a lot of their own time to ensure we had study sessions for our exams. They also were a great support in helping us adjust to life at university as a medical student – offering reassurance and helpful advice tailored by their own experiences. They went above and beyond!” – Mark Sestan, Year 1.
Reflecting on the impact they had, Chloe added:
Mentoring gave me the chance to go over Year 1 content again and understand it on a deeper level. It really boosted my own confidence and helped me grow too. Being able to support our mentees and share what I’ve learned meant a lot to me. I’m proud to have helped them feel more confident going into exams.
Outstanding Wellbeing Support: Ghislaine Mbolo
Just last summer, Ghislaine reflected on her own first-year experience in a personal article, My First Year at Medical School, where she shared honest insights, practical advice, and the importance of looking after yourself while adjusting to medical school life.
One year on, she is being recognised for her exceptional commitment to supporting the wellbeing of her mentees. As a mature student with a background outside of medicine, Ghislaine brought empathy, warmth, and consistency to the role – creating a space where students felt genuinely supported.
For Ghislaine, mentoring was as much about connection as it was about guidance. She said the experience helped her grow in confidence, sharpen her leadership skills, and feel even more embedded in the School community.
I wanted to be that friendly face on campus for students navigating university life for the first time.
She regularly checked in with her mentees, whether in person or via WhatsApp, always making time for a quick chat or a word of encouragement. Her thoughtful, steady presence helped students feel seen and included during what can be a daunting first year.
“Just knowing that the help is always one message away made such a difference. Ghislaine’s consistency and kindness meant I never felt alone in first year.” – Jordan Williams, Year 1.
“I nominated Ghislaine for this prize as she has been an unwavering source of support for me during my first year. Ghislaine was always very reassuring and encouraging – she made a huge effort to always be there for me to talk to.” – Megan Rushton, Year 1.
Recognising all nominated Peer Mentors
In addition to our prize winners, we’d also like to recognise the following peer mentors who were nominated by their mentees this year for the incredible support they offered:
Anna Kamaly-Asl, Eraj Shahbaz, Finlay Barker & Wai Lam Ruby Ip, Megan Lawrence, Princess Bello & Nora Hatem, Sila Khalil, and Zoha Imtiaz.
We received fantastic feedback about these mentors, with nominations highlighting their approachability, commitment, and the positive impact they made on the Year 1 experience.
Looking ahead
Dr James Young, MBChB Clinical Teacher and Peer Mentor Lead, and Hannah Thomas, Peer Mentor Administration Lead, were delighted to present all three winners with a School of Medicine certificate and vouchers in recognition of their contribution.
A big thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s Peer Mentor Network. Your involvement helped create a welcoming and supportive environment for our newest student doctors, and we truly appreciate the time and effort you dedicated throughout the year.
Looking ahead to the next academic year, the Peer Mentor Network will expand once again, with a further 10% increase in mentors supporting incoming Year 1 students. We look forward to running the 2025/26 Peer Mentor Network and continuing to build on the success of this year’s programme.