Page 32 - Future Leaders Magazine

PROFILES

NICOLE GENTLES, 23

School King’s College London
Course Extended Medical Degree
Programme, (MBBS)
Year Third (of five)
Grade average 2:1 (Equivalent)

As an ambassador for the university’s flagship
Outreach to Medicine programme, Nicole
travels to schools or holds events on campus
to promote the KCL programme. She speaks
SPENCER to students who may not feel they would THOMAS
be able to apply for medicine due to their
DUVWIAMA, 21 socioeconomic background or their school’s KINGSLEY, 21
position on the league tables. She gives them
School King’s College London advice on applications as well as teaching School University of Birmingham
Subject Biomedical Science (BSc) them clinical skills. “As someone who has Course Biomedical Materials Science (BSc)
Year Third benefited from the programme myself I feel Year Graduated
Grade average 2:1 it is my duty to make more students aware of Grade 2:1
the opportunities open to them,” she says.
After learning about the attainment gap Nicole has always had a passion for During his second year of university, Thomas
between BME students and their white healthcare and was the Health and Welfare worked for Enactus, a university-based
counterparts at university level, Spencer saw Officer during her first year at college. She non-governmental organisation which works
an opportunity to make a difference. worked with students and staff to organise alongside vulnerable groups in the community
He was appointed Diversity and Inclusion events for college to promote health and and uses entrepreneurship skills to launch
student ambassador in 2016 and was tasked wellbeing on campus, tackling issues such as sustainable projects. He led a project that
with promoting and delivering initiatives to diet, the use of recreational drugs and sexual involved partnering with a local charity to
bridge this gap and also collaborate with health. “The objective of these events was to provide accommodation to homeless young
student societies to run inclusive events at increase students’ awareness of factors that people, including some with mental health
the university. could affect their well-being. I really felt like problems. The primary aim of this project
In this role, he also promoted the Open this was important work,” she says. was to provide these young people with the
Doors Mentoring Scheme, which gives BME tools, skillset and know-how to launch their
students the opportunity to be mentored by Where do you see yourself in 10 years? own small businesses. “I think it’s imperative
an academic in their department, also from a Becoming a consultant in my chosen field, and that a good leader leads by example and from
BME background. Additionally, he aided the ‘It volunteering in areas of crisis. the front so throughout the planning stage,
Stops Here’ campaign, which saw him deliver I ensured I was early to all meetings, played
workshops throughout the academic year to an active role in sourcing sponsors and used
classes of over 20 students on the stigma my team effectively.” Thomas’s team won the
surrounding sexual consent. Enactus Rookie Team of the Year award.
Spencer is also the Vice-President of He also worked as a judge for Debate
Welfare for the King’s College Bioscience Mate, an organisation which hires university
Students’ Association where he is also the students to teach debating at underprivileged
Lead Co-ordinator of its Peer Support team. primary and secondary schools.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Working in an innovative role. I would like to As a qualified medical doctor on the way to
be at the forefront of research. becoming an orthopaedic surgeon.

Mental health is something Antoinette charities and service providers/users and
Lansana has been interested in for as long as recruitment.
she can remember. “Mindline offers professional mental health
After finding that those from advice and counselling that is accessible and
BME backgrounds and low-income culturally sensitive,” she explains.
communities were “subject to the Antoinette, who has since applied for an
highest representation amongst mental internship with the International Rescue
health facility usage, but often receive the Committee (IRC) in Sierra Leone, a global
lowest quality of care”, she decided that she humanitarian aid, relief, and development
ANTOINETTE wanted to be involved in a movement that nongovernmental organisation, is also the
LANSANA, 20 could shift that. social secretary for her university’s pole
Antoinette joined the panel for start-up
fitness society where she is able to educate
School King’s College London Mindline, a mental health charity for young people on the importance of health.
Subject Global Health and Social adults, specifically from black communities,
Medicine (BSc) offering a safe haven for those seeking Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Year Second professional advice. As an NGO co-ordinator for my own mental
Grade average 2:1 Her role includes researching issues health or sexual gender-based violence
affecting young people, networking with fellow organisation.

30 FUTURE LEADERS | 2017-18