Catz medical students graduate early to help treat COVID-19

Eleven of our final year medical students graduated earlier than planned this month from the University of Cambridge’s School of Clinical Medicine, enabling them to seek early registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). This allowed them to enter the NHS workforce before the usual start date in August. What’s more, two of these students achieved distinction in their final examinations.

Dr Holly Canuto, Senior Tutor of St Catharine’s, commented, “On behalf of the College, many congratulations to our medical students for their hard work over the course of their studies, without which they would not be able to graduate early. St Catharine’s is rightly proud of its long history of educating exceptional medics and helping to advance the quality of care that patients receive. Our eleven graduates are writing a new chapter in our history and we wish them the very best of luck as they join our alumni and Fellows already working on the frontline in the NHS.”

“We are so proud of the achievements of this cohort, who have been very engaged with the College throughout their medical training. They are outstanding role models for our undergraduate medical students,” added Professor Nick Morrell, Director of Studies for Clinical Medicine. “I wish them well as they embark on their careers under difficult circumstances, but I am confident they with thrive.”

The early graduation forms part of a national effort by medical schools, the GMC and the NHS following the government’s call for additional medical staff to respond to the public health emergency caused by Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

In the light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the pressure it is putting on the NHS, the School of Clinical Medicine last month took the decision, in consultation with the GMC, to cancel its final clinical examinations. The students had already completed their final written examinations and been assessed on clinical competence in previous examinations and on placements in a range of clinical environments.

Find out more about studying medicine at St Catharine's.