Studying medicine at Bristol? Connect with others by joining one of our sub-societies.
We know that there is more to medicine than anatomy and physiology, but it doesn’t always feel that way. We know that medics are multifaceted people by necessity. (We wrote personal statements too). We also know that many medics – in pursuing a scientific career – have unfortunately felt the need to leave the arts behind. At Bristol University Arts in Medicine Society, we seek to cater to the polymath by cultivating the artist, historian, and philosopher in you. We organise talks about a variety of topics, trips to places of interest, and an annual exhibition in a local gallery where we showcase the work of our members and other students. If you have a love for art, literature, history, philosophy, music, film, or any other creative pursuit, we would love to meet you! Send us an email or come and visit us at Medics’ Freshers to get involved.
We are BME Medics – a group all about building a network among medical students of diverse ethnic backgrounds! We host a wide range of events throughout the year for all stundents to engage with; from chilled-out socials, to informative panel events about issues effecting minority ethnic communities, as well as everything in-between! Not only are we passionate about building community, we are very keen on educating people about BME healthcare matters which do not get covered on our curriculum, as well as reaching out into our local community and encouraging BAME students to consider medicine as a careerpath for them, whilst engaging in fun activities! To find out more about BME Medics and to get involved, log on to our website (bmemedics.co.uk), follow our Facebook/Twitter/Instagram (@BMEMedics) or send us an email (bmemedicsbris@gmail.com). We look forward to meeting you!
The Bristol Dermatology Society is back and better than ever! We are a group of medics who are passionate about the skin – your body’s largest and fastest-growing organ. We want everyone to get involved in our events that will be held throughout the year. Join us if you want to learn more about common conditions, sun safety, and the life of a dermatologist… Keep an eye out for our stand at Medics Fresh, and our Facebook group.
Bristol Friends of MSF is part of the official student organisation for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an independent international humanitarian aid charity which provides medical aid where it is most needed. Bristol FoMSF is committed to raising awareness of MSF’s work and to fundraising for ongoing and future MSF projects. From talks by those who have returned from MSF missions, to debates, film screenings and various fundraising events, all of our work revolves around the theme of humanitarian aid. Here at Bristol Friends of MSF, we want YOU to join us in supporting MSF’s cause. Global healthcare cannot be realised without global input. Come along and join us!
Join GPSoc to learn about all the opportunities a career in General Practice offers! We are a Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)-affiliated society which run events to inspire students and facilitate opportunities to network with GPs. We provide chances to practice and develop your clinical skills at our workshops. So, even if you’re unsure, just curious or set on a career in general practice, join our society and take advantage of all the opportunities we have to offer.
At BMRES our aim is to help students learn more about academic medicine and improve access and transparency to opportunities. We run events such as journal clubs, workshops and presentations on academic writing, reviewing research papers and how to pursue a career in academia as well as more casual events such as coffee with a scientist or academic doctor.
We are proud to be working in collaboration with INSPIRE and the National Student Association of Academic Medicine (NSAMR), which will give students involved with the society the chance to present their own research and gain networking opportunities, and MedProjectHub an online resource listing research and audit projects, funding opportunities and conferences to make academic opportunities more accessible.
UoB Medics Dance Society is a brand new society this year and we cannot wait for you to join us and see what’s in store. The society was created to give everyone a space to simply try something new, or to continue their love and passion for dance! Especially for those in the clinical years, we understand it is not always possible to juggle out-placement and classes on weekdays. Therefore our wonderful choreographers will be offering weekly classes on the weekends to make sure as many of you can make it. We want to create an environment that welcomes dancers of all abilities and styles! Whether you want to keep fit, learn a new form of dance, or get involved with performance opportunities, we would love for you to come and join us! In addition, we are really excited to plan multiple charity events throughout the year as a society, so please keep an eye out for these opportunities. For information about our upcoming events, class timetables, and regular updates please check out our Facebook page and follow our Instagram page at Bristol_medics_dance. We can’t wait to meet you all!
Welcome to Medics Netball! We are a club that is passionate about netball and we have members at all levels of ability.
We offer twice weekly training with lots of opportunity for match play. These sessions take place on Wednesday afternoons and Friday evenings. We play in a number of different leagues so whether you are just starting out or are a competitive player, there will be something for everyone! Our intramural league is a really fun way for everyone to get involved in netball. For our more competitive players, we participate in a local club league. Lastly our NAMS league is against other medical schools and is for our most competitive players. Our biannual trip to Nantes, France and varsity against Cardiff are both highlights in our year.
Our socials are the best Bristol has to offer, so players that are more socially inclined are more than welcome! Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions!
Are you a snow lover? Are the slopes where you belong? Or are you a beginner who is intrigued to know what it feels like gliding down the side of mountains? If any of these are you or you are simply keen to meet new people, learn a new skill or experience the mad scenes of European apres ski, then Bristol Uni Medics Ski Club (BUMS) is the one for you! We offer an exceptional trip somewhere in the the beautiful Alps for an exceptional price! This is one of the hottest tickets of the medic calendar with tickets selling out quicker than Glastonbury last year. As a club, we cater for all standards of skiing so whether you’re a first-time skier, or you’re an expert we can guarantee you will have a great time on the slopes with us. All years are welcome and encouraged to come on this ski trip extravaganza, so don’t miss out!
Bristol medics squash are a fun and friendly club open to players of all abilities. Sessions are run on saturday mornings and membership includes the courts, balls and rackets. There are also opportunities for competitive play including the annual medics varsity and our BRAND NEW squash ladder. We look forward to welcoming your to our club!
Welcome to University of Bristol Medics Swimming Club! We hope you will join us for our fun and flexible weekly training sessions at the Bristol University swimming pool at Bristol’s SU. We train on Wednesdays (7-8pm) and Sundays (11am-12pm), you are welcome to join at any time during the year and there is no minimum attendance of sessions. Our training sessions are a great way to stay in shape and meet medics from different years. Training is very relaxed, we try and make the sessions appeal to both casual swimmers who swim for fun and fitness, and more experienced swimmers who are trying to fit relaxed training into a busy university schedule. Come along and get in touch on our club Facebook page (Bristol Medics Swim Club) if you have any questions. Hope to see you all soon!
We are Bristol Medics Tennis! We offer casual and fun tennis at all levels- whether its the first time you’ve ever picked up a racket or you’re the next aspiring Federer, BMT is the place for you. We have training once a week on a Sunday and run various events throughout the year including our infamous Brimbledon. For the 2020/21 season we have some exciting new plans which include more matches and coaching badges alongside more opportunities to play tennis throughout the year! If you’re interested join our Facebook group ‘Bristol Medics Tennis’ or drop us an email at bmtuob@gmail.com. We are also recruiting new committee members so drop us a message/email if you’re interested!
UBHWRFC is now entering its 6th year as a club and has gone from strength to strength over this time. What started out as a small, social team who enjoyed a fair-weather run around and a pint, has grown into a fantastic group of girls from all years of the Medical School who compete at the highest level while maintaining this fun and friendly ethos. In the 2022/23 season, the first ever NAMS league for women was set up. Our Bristol team went undefeated in the league and went on to win the cup final in front of a large crowd in London! Our team is run by players, for players and encourages heads up rugby with individual flair, rather than setting a regimented playbook! If you love fun rugby, a run around on a Saturday morning and competitive matches with your friends then we look forward to welcoming you this September, whether you have played for years or never picked up a rugby ball!
For more information follow us on instagram @ubhwrfc, where you can also find the link to our facebook group for the 2023-2024 season.
More wine than sense
Come join the BOGS! Bristol Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society is a great opportunity to see what a career in Obs and Gynae is all about. We are all really passionate about women’s health, and want you to get involved as well! We have our Women’s Health Series and charity events running throughout the year (which we would love you to join), an annual trip to the Royal College in London, and our O&G Revision Day in June. Come and see us at Medic Fresh for a chat and a cake!
We are the University of Bristol Ophthalmology society. If you are interested in ophthalmology as a career then this is the society for you! Throughout the year we will be holding various events ranging from revision teaching sessions, fundoscopy practice as well as helping you to prepare for the Duke Elder Examination. We LOOK forward to SEEING you all get involved with our society!
Bristol Ortho Soc is the University of Bristol Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Society. Founded in 2015, our society aims to provide medical students with opportunities to engage more in the speciality as well as support them through their learning of musculoskeletal surgery. Each year we run a Careers Evening and National Research and Innovation in Orthopaedics Conference. In addition, this year we will be running regular small teaching sessions for pre-clinical and clinical years. We will be covering Anatomy, OSCE skills and common cases you may encounter as a junior doctor in your rotations. Keep an eye out for our highly attended conference which consists of a fully packed day of interesting talks, hands-on workshops and Portfolio/CV advice to help students start their career in Surgery as soon as possible. We also provide students with the opportunity for poster/podium presentations as well as the chance to win some prizes. This is an excellent opportunity for you to get a taste of what is required for you to be able to present at a National Conference and an insight into the excitement of a career in orthopaedics.”
Sexpression:UK is a charity which provides peer-led sex education schemes in schools, academies, youth groups and the local community. The volunteers in the Bristol Branch are a mix of University of Bristol Medical students and students with an interest in teaching sex education. We provide comprehensive and inclusive sex and relationship education primarily within secondary schools in the local bristol area. In addition to our peer-led sessions, we organise fundraising and advocacy events in relation to Sexpression’s core values around the university and local areas. So, if you’re as passionate about safe sex as we are and aren’t afraid to get stuck into some glamorous condom demonstrations then get involved and join our lovely team of open-minded volunteers. To get stuck in and heading off into schools it only requires attendance at our training day in at the beginning of the year which will get you educated and prepped for teaching as well as covering all child protection training. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
Interested in global health issues such as homelessness, the refugee crisis and climate change? Bristol Students for Global Health is part of the national organisation Students for Global Health and international IFMSA, who believe in “a fair and just world in which equity in health is a reality for all”. It is a student network and registered charity tackling global and local health inequalities through education, advocacy and community action. We offer opportunities to get involved in national and international movements such as training and conferences. At a local level in Bristol, we organise events throughout the year to both raise awareness, act and fundraise for important local and global health issues.
Thinking of a career in Emergency Medicine, Acute Medicine or Pre-Hospital Care, or are you just interested in learning key medical skills that will be valuable to any junior doctor? We are a large society that organise a variety of exciting and informative evening lectures, practical skills workshops, simulation and clinical experiences in the fields of Emergency and Pre-Hospital Medicine, Acute Medicine, Intensive Care and Anaesthetics.
Did you know that it’s possible to practice as a ski-doctor, responsible for the care and evacuation of patients from the mountains? Or that you can work as a dive-medic on deep-sea diving expeditions? Perhaps you can see yourself as the medic on standby for an ultra-marathon through the Gobi desert, or for a TV crew filming in the Amazon? Where people go, medicine must follow. Your medical degree will teach you all you need to know about practicing medicine in the hospital or primary care environment, but what about when you’re outside your comfort zone? When you don’t have all the equipment you need to support you? The Bristol University Wilderness Medicine Society works with students outside the standard curriculum, we want to get you exploring and practicing medicine in challenging environments. From physiology and first aid, to mountain rescue and evacuation, we’ll help teach you the skills necessary to succeed in these roles and explore the potential career paths you may otherwise never know existed.
Think that good things come in small packages, patients included? You’ve come to the right place! We’re BUMPS – Bristol University Medics’ Paediatrics Society (you can understand why we went for the acronym)! Our society covers everything Paediatric and Child Health Related. We have an amazing committee passionate about Child Health and provide fun and exciting opportunities for Medical Students across all years including: Careers Events, Educational Opportunities, Volunteering, Fundraising and our Paediatric Conference!
Hello and welcome to Cardio Soc! We’re super passionate about all things cardiology and want to spread this and inspire more of you to follow cardiology as a future career option. The heart is the most vital organ in your body, so why not come and become an expert on it? This year we’re planning on even bigger and better events, including a cardiology conference, revision days for all years and loads of fundraising! We’re especially fortunate in Bristol to have amazing contacts with inspiring doctors at the Bristol Heart Institute, so the speakers and mentors we’ve got are some of the best in the country! Come along and say Hi to us at Medic Fresh to find out more about what we do and how you can join!
The Christian Medical Fellowship unites and equips Christian doctors and nurses to live and speak for Jesus Christ. We were formed in 1949 and currently have over 4,000 UK doctors and around 800 UK medical students as members. The Bristol group comprises Christian medical students plus doctors. We meet to get to know each other across the five years of the medical school and pray together. We meet termly with the doctors for dinner and for the Human Journey (an ethics course which looks biblically at issues from life to death). We usually head to the Student Conference once a year.
CPR in Society (CPRiS) Bristol teaches valuable first aid skills in schools, youth clubs, Scouts, Brownies and various other organisations in Bristol. We are the Community Outreach Branch of RMD (resuscitation for medical disciplines). During sessions, student volunteers teach chest compressions, rescue breaths, the recovery position and dealing with bleeding and choking, using live demonstrations and manikins. Certificates are given out at the end of each session. To become a member, you must first be trained in teaching adult basic life support. As part of the new MB21 curriculum, all first-year medical students will be trained in basic life support with AED use by RMD Bristol in their first term of university. After which they are invited to join CPRiS. We teach more than 200 people per year, and provide a wonderful opportunity to volunteer in medical school More information about how to sign up for training sessions on our Facebook page and by signing up to our mailing list. For more information, please email cprisbristol@gmail.com Please join our Facebook group for updates!
Galenical’s Orchestra is a group of music loving medics who come together every Saturday to rehearse and perform a wide repertoire of music from Classical to Film Scores. We showcase our hard work at the Christmas Carol Concert as well as other performances throughout the year along with the choir. We are a relaxed group who welcome all abilities so please come along! Join our Facebook group (Galenical’s Orchestra) or email us if you have any questions!
Galenicals Choir is a group of enthusiastic medics that meet every Saturday to sing a wide range of music from classical to pop covers. We welcome everyone regardless of singing ability, so please come along and enjoy an hour of singing and a chat with tea and cake afterwards. Join our facebook group (Galenicals Choir) or email us if you have any questions!
Welcome to Bristol Medics Men’s Football Club, known as Galenicals FC! We are a very welcoming club focused on good football and even better socials. We are a very inclusive club accommodating for players of all abilities. We have a lot of football going on for all abilities. This includes a Wednesday league on Clifton down against other courses/societies/halls, weekly training sessions on Friday evening on a 4g pitch, and a more competitive Sunday league division, where we are currently competing in the top flight of the Bristol Sunday league. Lifts can be provided so need not worry about transport. We have an annual varsity against rivals Cardiff and biennial tour to Nantes, both alongside other medic sports, as well as competing nationally at NAMS (the national medical schools football tournament). This promises a weekend away you wouldn’t want to miss, which is why we have brought 2 teams on this tour with us in recent years. Our weekly socials on Wednesday are a brilliant opportunity to get to know some of the older students and members of the club, even if you aren’t all about football! Feel free to have a chat with any of us at the Freshers fair and if not don’t hesitate to pop us a message if you want any more information!
LGBTQ+ Health, the Medical School’s LGBTQ+ society, is an exciting and inclusive space aiming to teach and guide all Medical Students in becoming aware of the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in healthcare. We aspire to challenge prejudices, inspire activists and encourage respect for all members within the Medical School and wider community. We are also here to listen to and represent the needs of those from within the LGBTQ+ community at Medical School and we provide as much peer-to-peer support as possible. We offer teaching sessions on various aspects of LGBTQ+ health to all members of the Medical School and wider University community. We have an LGBTQ+ Medic Group Chat support system with LGBTQ+ Medics from all year groups present. This will be where we advertise the many socials planned for the year! If you would like to get involved or if you’re interested in attending one of our events, please follow and give us a message on either our Facebook or Instagram @LGBThealthuob
A group created for Mature medics (anyone starting the course aged 21 or over) studying at Bristol University. We all know how daunting it is to go back to studying as a mature student. We have all had second thoughts, especially knowing you’re at a different point in your life compared to your potential peers and how it can become daunting. So fear not! we have created this community to help you meet and chat with other mature medics who have been in a similar position to you.
It will allow you to communicate but also mingle with students from across the years and allow you to have common ground but also get all the support needed which include words of wisdom but also health and well-being support! So come join us! Facebook: Official Bristol Mature Medics
Welcome to women’s medic’s football. We are a friendly, welcoming and inclusive club. If you are looking to have fun, meet other medics and maybe even learn a few tricks then this is the club for you. We welcome players of all abilities and levels. We accommodate to everyone’s needs, so whether it’s your first time kicking a ball or you’re more experienced, come along to our training sessions and give it a go. We often have matches with other clubs and we also offer wide range of socials so join our Facebook page to get more information – “Bristol Medics women’s football” and follow our instagram
Medics Yoga Society is new for 2020, and brings an opportunity for experienced yogis and complete beginners to join together for a weekly practice – encompassing both a physical and mental release. Use your breath to strengthen your body as we flow through practices taught by medical students, who are also qualified yoga instructors. Here we provide you with a safe space and a way to engage in mindfulness in a more accessible format for many. A hug to the body, a thank you to the soul and a break for the mind. Keep up to date with our events via our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1868084096660464/) and Instagram (@yoga_4_medics) and remember that all levels are welcome!
So you’ve chosen Bristol Medical School and you’ve joined Galenicals, but have you ever wondered who Galen actually was? If you’re not willing to let your school history studies become history themselves, then Medics Rewind is the society for you! Come and join us in our founding year as we journey back in time, bringing you new knowledge and all the gruesome details of medicine’s gory past in the form of talks, film nights, pub quizzes and much much more. And if that’s not enough, there will be exciting opportunities to join our committee and discover even more about the city you now call home. If this sounds right up your cobbled street, sign up at Medics Fresh or send us a messenger pigeon (via email), and get ready to hit rewind!
MedStart is a student run charity helping local high school students interested in applying for Medicine. We aim to help those who do not have as much support applying and to increase awareness of Medicine as a career option. Our main goal is to make Medicine more accessible and open to all and hope to do so via our mentoring scheme, interview evenings, application evenings and school visits.
Meet-A-Medic is a charity that works through the medical school where we go into primary schools and deliver interactive talks to children of all ages. The children are always enthusiastic and full of questions making each session individual and lots of fun! The aim of delivering these sessions is to encourage children to develop an interest in medicine and appreciate the importance of good health. It’s good practice for teaching and also a great thing to have on your CV! We’re always looking for students from any year to get involved so get in touch if you’re interested! Places are usually allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis, but we’ll do our best to make sure everyone gets a chance to give it a go!
Muslim Medics is a student-led society which endeavours to be guided by positive and inclusive values to create a sense of community amongst all medical students. Muslim Medics have been involved in hosting a variety of events during the past year encompassing both the academic and social sides of medicine. We ensure that students are supported throughout the demanding and simultaneously rewarding course! One of the main highlights from last year was our sell-out evening discussing paediatric healthcare in the UK and how students and healthcare professionals can get involved to help tackle these concerns and networking with professionals in the sector. We were very fortunate to have the CEO of Barnardo’s, Javed Khan and Dr David Grant (President of SESAM) attend and give fantastic insights into these issues. As a committee we recognise the importance of not only paving our chosen career pathways but also ensuring we are enjoying the process and having fun! You can therefore be sure to expect many entertaining and enjoyable social events where you will get to know peers from all years and backgrounds. We also have been heavily involved in supporting charitable causes such as our incubator appeal last year and successfully promote and campaign for better healthcare globally.
An innovative information hub of food, nutrition and lifestyle medicine. Promoting the need for greater nutrition and lifestyle medicine education within healthcare training and empowering members of the public to improve their health. We hope to bring greater nutrition and lifestyle medicine education to Bristol Medical Students, as well as members of the wider Bristol community.
Bristol Peer 2 Peer Teaching is a student-led society that aims to support other medical students when revising core subjects and concepts in a relaxed environment; encouraging peer-to-peer education, as well as collaboration across all years of the medical school. Fostering skills which are outlined in GMC’s Outcomes for Graduates, such as leadership skills and professional development.
Keen to don your scrubs and learn about surgery? Welcome to SCRUBS, the University of Bristol’s surgical society aiming to give all medical students a taste of a surgical career. We host a variety of events, including many suturing workshops throughout the year to hone your practical surgical skills, as well as national conferences where students can present research which they have carried out. Other events include a popular battle of the surgeons whom compete to prove their specialty is the best and our renowned surgical skills day. As a society, we are passionate about providing students with a wide variety of exposure to the many different surgical specialities.
Join StreetDoctors if you are committed to ending youth violence! StreetDoctors teaches emergency first aid to young people at risk of youth violence so they know what to do if someone is bleeding or unconscious. We do this through our movement of young healthcare volunteers who train 11-25 year olds to understand the true medical consequences of violence and empower them to become lifesavers in their communities. You could be teaching young people at criminal justice services, schools, pupil referral units, sports and community groups leaving them equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions about how to keep themselves and others safe. #endyouthviolence
The Black Bag has been the Medical Student Magazine since 1937. Published twice every year, we are the voice of both students and alumni. Initially designed by the Faculty of Medicine as a scholastic publication, the Black Bag was taken over by students in the 1970s and replaced with a slightly less-polished perspective on the raucous life of medical students. Today, our articles range from the informative to the satirical, providing a platform for both thought-provoking discussion and comical musings. We look to reflect on the wide variety of Galenicals sub-societies (sports, music, drama) as well as to evaluate (and lampoon) the current state of the Bristol Medical School and the world of medicine. The Black Bag are always looking for contributors. If you are interested in writing for us or providing material, please email: blackbag1937@gmail.com.
Welcome to Medics Hockey! UBHMHC prides itself on being a welcoming, diverse and inclusive club dedicated to the love of hockey. With over 70 members (and growing), we cater to all hockey abilities, including complete beginners. Training takes place every Friday evening and there are regular mixed and separate Men’s and Women’s matches throughout the season, as well as mixed intramural games every Sunday. The social side is also very important to us. Medics Hockey is an amazing place to meet people with a wide variety of socials, larger events and tours to other universities throughout the year. We’re also a great platform for raising and giving, offering opportunities such as coaching in primary schools and working with our charity partners Help Bristol’s Homeless.
Follow our social media for regular updates on training, socials and matches:
The United Bristol Hospitals RFC represents Medics, Vets and Dentists at the University of Bristol. We are a fun, friendly club that plays at a high standard but more importantly holds the best socials in the West. The UBHRFC currently has two squads, with a view to expand in the coming season, playing in both local leagues and nationally against rival medical schools along with a highly contested Varsity and grudge match against the UBRFC. We train twice a week at Coombe Dingle and have support from a full team of coaches and a physiotherapist who are dedicated to making our club stronger. We social every Saturday, without fail, and regularly on Wednesdays, so you can get involved with the famed Wednesday Sports Nights. We also get involved with the biannual tour to Nantes with the other Galenicals sports teams. We’re really excited at the prospect of having a Women’s squad this year. Get in touch if you want more information about this opportunity. Moving to Bristol and starting University can be quite difficult and as a club we are dedicated to supporting all of our new members through this. Having a link to older students really helps when you’re going through a tough time and we can help you through most problems. If you’re interested in being part of the most illustrious club at the Uni, come and have a chat with us at Fresher’s Fair & Medic Fresh or check out our website (ubhrfc.com). We’d be happy to have you!
Interested in learning more about mental health? Interested in a career in psychiatry? Interested in learning how to support yourself and/or someone else? Welcome to Bristol University Psychiatry Society (BUPS)! BUPS offers a range of events, including film nights, talks, workshops and festivals, where you can learn about these topics and much more.
Ever wondered what happens after you “panic call the anaesthetist” in your A-E sim? At UBSACC we focus entirely on this. We are an exciting society organising a variety of events including careers talks, practical workshops, simulation and experiences in areas such as critical care, pre-hospital medicine and many more. Anaesthetists are involved in all specialties and make up the largest fraction of hospital doctors. We are really excited for the year ahead so find us online or at Medic Fresh for a chat!
We are a friendly group of students aiming to help make surgery a more accessible career. We organise lots of socials, networking events, informative talks and this year, we are introducing a new buddy system to help younger years get more 1-to-1 support. Hope to see you at our next event!
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