November 22, 2024, by aezdb

Empowered to Make a Difference: My Experience as a Witty Scholar

Dr Monisha Gupta, University of Nottingham Medicine 2024 Graduate and former Witty Scholar

The Witty Entrepreneurial Scholarship was a transformative part of my journey at the University of Nottingham. As a medical student, it not only provided me with financial support but also gave me opportunities to grow and make an impact in ways I never imagined.

One of the highlights of my time as a Witty Scholar was leading a successful campaign to support lower-income medical students. I realised that in the final few years of medical school, financial support significantly declined, which created a lot of pressure on students like me. Despite being in a full-time medical degree, I was working considerable hours in a shop just to make ends meet. The situation was even more challenging for students like me who had already done a foundation year, as we lost the core bursary in the both the penultimate and final year.

I knew something had to change. So, I took my concerns to the University, gaining support from influential figures including Professor Jonathan Van-Tam. Together, we worked to implement policy changes to provide funding for medical students in their final years. This wasn’t just a win for students at Nottingham; it started conversations with other universities and medical bodies across the UK. I presented my work at the Medical Schools Council and this change is now BMA policy. I have since worked with numerous other medical schools to support them making similar changes.

For this work, I was honored to receive the University of Nottingham Vice-Chancellor’s Medal, which Janet Wallace (Witty Scholarships Manager) kindly nominated me for. I’ll never forget how she came to the ceremony to support me—it was such a proud and special moment for both of us.

The scholarship also allowed me to gain international experience during my medical elective in Vietnam. With partial funding from the Witty Scholarship, I spent time at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, where I explored and observed traditional medicine techniques like acupuncture and suction cupping, alongside Western Medicine which  is what we practice in the UK. These methods are an integral part of healthcare in Asia, and my experience there gave me invaluable insights into global healthcare practices that I wouldn’t have gained otherwise.

Beyond financial support, the Witty Scholarship gave me a network of like-minded peers and mentors who encouraged me every step of the way. Reflecting on the experience, I often think about how it enriched my time at university. I probably could have completed medical school without it, but the scholarship opened doors to opportunities and experiences that I would never have had otherwise.

For anyone considering the Witty Scholarship, I’d say don’t let the “entrepreneurial” label put you off, even if you don’t think of yourself as a businessperson. I didn’t! But I saw it as an exciting opportunity, and it really was. I met incredible people, tried new things, and learned how business and marketing skills can apply to almost any career or industry.

The Witty Scholarship is so much more than financial support—it’s a platform to unlock your potential, drive meaningful change, and build connections that will last a lifetime. For students from low-income backgrounds who have a spark for innovation, I hope my story shows what’s possible.

Read more about the Witty Scholarship and how we support students at our website.

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