Maurika Vathanan

My GP placement was a pivotal experience in shaping my interest in General Practice. However, I also recognised that student experiences can vary significantly depending on the practice, particularly in terms of teaching, patient exposure, and support with the Community Action Project (CAP).

As GP Third Year Coordinator, I want to help create a more unified and supportive placement experience for all students. While variation in cases is inevitable, the level of teaching, patient interaction, and academic support should feel consistent and equitable.

A key focus for me would be improving support around the CAP project. Many students feel uncertain about expectations, timelines, and how to approach their projects. I would aim to provide clearer guidance, structured check-ins, and shared resources to ensure students feel confident and well-supported throughout the process.

Additionally, I would work to:

• Promote clearer expectations for patient exposure and supervised consultations

• Encourage consistent teaching opportunities across practices

• Create accessible revision and skills support sessions

• Provide a platform for students to share feedback and improve placements collaboratively

General Practice is an important and formative part of third year, and it should feel both educationally rigorous and supportive. I want to ensure students leave their placement not only more clinically confident, but also with a positive and inspiring impression of General Practice.