Hello and welcome to the Warwick Medical School (WMS) alumni newsletter.
We hope you’ve had a great start to the year. Here at WMS, we’ve enjoyed celebrating our students’ fantastic achievements at our recent winter graduation ceremony and our annual prize-giving evening. Their commitment and dedication, both on their courses and in their personal and professional lives, never fail to impress us.
In this edition, we’re excited to share more stories of impact and achievement from across the WMS community. Read on to learn about an alumna transforming medical education through technology, how our students are caring for the community through our new Community First Responder scheme, and much more. Best wishes, The WMS team |
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Graduate tech start-up helps students with exam preparation
Dr Maile Grace Wedgwood (MBChB, 2025) is developing her own tech start-up alongside working as a resident doctor. Medictionary is a Duolingo style app that helps students prepare for medical exams. Maile, who has dyslexia, says: "At medical school I found it really hard reading lots of long texts... so, I’ve tried to develop something that’s more accessible for all." |
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A story of courage, perseverance, and transformative impact
Dr Maryan Qasim (PG Dipl Public Health, 2013; MPH, 2016) embodies the compassion, resilience, and commitment to improving lives shared by many of our alumni. From fleeing the Somali civil war in the 1990s to returning to serve as one of the country’s most senior cabinet ministers, she has led transformational change. |
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| Charity opens doors for young people in Africa
As well as working as a GP and Assistant Professor, Dr Afiniki Akanet (MBChB, 2012; PGA Understanding Childhood, 2014) runs a charity that helps young people in Africa reach their full potential through motivational talks, tuition fee grants, books, prizes, and school support. |
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WMS launches Community First Responder scheme
We’re pleased to have launched a Community First Responder scheme, part of the wider regional scheme led by West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS). Working alongside paramedic crews and coordinated by WMAS, our professionally trained student volunteers are responding to calls across Coventry and Warwickshire. |
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| Three WMS academics named as Highly Cited Researchers
Professor Sophie Staniszewska, Professor Jerry Nolan, and our Dean, Professor Gavin Perkins, have been named in Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researcher List 2025. Highly Cited Researchers are those whose publications are most often quoted in academic journals, ranking in the top 1% by citations for field and year. |
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If you’re an international member of our alumni community who studied a Master’s in Public Health at Warwick Medical School, and it has helped to develop your career, we would love to hear from you. We’re looking for career stories to share with prospective students, especially those considering studying with us from overseas. |
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| Medical students win Royal College of Psychiatrists prize
Grace Fisher and Sujaree (Mew) Kuenghakit have been named joint winners of the 2025 Royal College of Psychiatrists' Medical Student Essay Prize. Their essays explore the intergenerational impact of perinatal mental health disorders.
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Set the Pace
On Tuesday 3 March 2026, we were proud to launch Set the Pace – the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in Warwick’s history. This is our moment to shape a better future for the world, together. By 2030, we aim to raise £250 million and inspire 20,000 acts of volunteering. And you, our incredible alumni community across the globe, are at the heart of making this happen. |
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You’ve navigated your own unique career journey – why not help someone else do the same? We’re looking for people willing to bring their knowledge, insight, and experience to students or fellow alumni, all while developing your own skills and experience. Join the Warwick Alumni Mentoring Programme on and start your mentoring journey today.
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| Undergraduate and MB ChB open days Saturday 20 June and Saturday 27 June Our next undergraduate and MB ChB open days will take place on the dates above. If you know someone who would be interested in coming along, they can express their interest here. |
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Fancy a catch up?
From China to New York, your alumni engagement team hosts global alumni catch ups. If you're interested in celebrating all things Warwick, and sharing a great evening with members of your community, you can register for our upcoming receptions (like the ones in Lagos and Paris) on our alumni events pages.
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| Catch up on our women’s health webinar
Women spend nine years of their lives on average in poor health. Warwick is building a unique community of experts across discovery science, clinical application, social science, business, engineering, and more to move lab breakthroughs into real-life impact. |
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WMS students share their journeys
Our new WMS digital ambassadors have started vlogging about their time with us. Follow our Instagram account to see regular updates from those on the MB ChB, Health and Medical Sciences, and Integrated Natural Sciences courses. |
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