In his Widening Participation ambassador role with the BMA, Roheel Ahmar is taking real strides this year in implementing national changes that will provide WP student doctors with more and equal access to support addressing challenges they may face while studying Medicine.
Hi! I’m Roheel Ahmar, a Year 3 medical student, and this year I’m the Deputy Co-Chair for Widening Participation on the British Medical Association (BMA) Medical Students Executive Committee.
I’m from Stoke-on-Trent, and from an environment where not many people go on to university and even fewer study Medicine. I went to a state school with very little guidance for getting into medical school, which made navigating the admissions process challenging, but it also motivated me to pursue Medicine and inspired my passion for widening participation.
This is a big part of why I got involved with the BMA and Widening Participation. I’ve always wanted to get involved in opportunities that give students a voice and help make things fairer on a wider scale.
Roheel representing Liverpool at a BMA national conference
I first got involved with the BMA in Year 1, when I submitted a motion to attend the annual BMA Medical Students Conference in London and represent Liverpool medical students. After that, I became Deputy Representative for Liverpool in Year 2.
Following a year in that role, I ran for Deputy Co-Chair for Widening Participation on the BMA Medical Students Executive Committee and was elected, working alongside Ohemaa Asare from King’s College London.
In my role, I represent students from Widening Participation backgrounds who are already at medical school. Even though medical schools do amazing work to improve access, students from WP backgrounds can face extra challenges once they start, from financial pressures to experiencing imposter syndrome and social isolation.
My job is to advocate for better support and work towards changes that make the journey a bit easier.
So far in my role, I’ve been working on increasing financial support for WP students, creating a national standard for WP criteria, and putting together a guide to showcase the support available at different medical schools, helping students make informed choices about where to apply. I’ve also been campaigning for better welfare and financial support for students with parental and caring responsibilities. Alongside this, I’m fortunate to work with organisations like The Medical Schools Council, who are equally committed to improving widening participation.
I’ve always been passionate about helping students who face disadvantages through no fault of their own.
Medicine should be a career that anyone can access, no matter their background, and doctors should reflect the communities they serve – widening participation is key to making that happen.
My biggest goal in this role is to raise awareness of what it’s like to be a medical student from a WP background. Many students don’t even realise they’re considered WP, and just knowing this can make a huge difference in feeling like you truly belong in Medicine. I’m excited to work with several organisations to help build a workforce that truly reflects the wider community.
Year 3 Student Doctor and Widening Participation Advocate Roheel Ahmar
It’s so important to get involved in WP initiatives because these students deserve the same support as everyone else. Reach out to your old schools to see if they need help with Medicine applications, help with the incredible work Liverpool School of Medicine are already doing, and get involved with the BMA. And of course, feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas or just want to chat about WP! Widening participation only works when we all play a part. Whether that’s mentoring, outreach, or simply sharing your own journey, small actions can make a big difference for future applicants.
Discover more
- If you share Roheel’s passion for Widening Participation, there are plenty of opportunities available to you within the School and wider University. Go to University of Liverpool Widening Participation and Outreach to learn more.
- The School’s Student-Staff EDI Network may also be of interest to you. Since 2021, this forum has spearheaded real, meaningful changes to the curriculum, created new training and increased faith and wellbeing spaces across campus. Complete the EDI Network Form to join and be a positive change maker yourself!
- Reach out to Roheel if you are keen to contribute to his work with the BMA and head to BMA – Student for information on the resources and support available to you as a medical student.