Iqra Dafedar

Muslim Medics: Vice-President for Education

As salamu alaikum,

My name is Iqra, and I'm running to be your Vice President for Education!

To be a great VP, you need experience, passion, and clear ideas - three areas where I excel.

Experience: This year, I served as Year 1 Coordinator, managing tutors, delivering tutorials, creating mock papers, and sharing resources. This gave me a clear understanding of what works, what needs improving, and how to drive change. I also led BADG, strengthening my communication and leadership skills, which are vital for this role.

Passion: I chose this stream to directly help my peers through medical school. Between heavy workloads, difficult exams, placements, and building our portfolios, the journey is already challenging. Hearing the impact of my work from Year 1s made me eager to do more.

Ideas:

Refine Year 1 and 2 tutorials - concise, high-yield, with improved slide structure and more embedded questions.
For Year 3, introduce an OSCE run-through series and handbook, and a Passmedicine masterclass.
Host research guidance sessions covering finding projects, approaching supervisors, and presenting posters.
With O&W, expand careers support through speciality talks, mentorship schemes, and wellbeing panels on burnout and exam stress.
Collaborate with other societies for networking events celebrating women in healthcare.
Launch a student-hosted podcast with doctors and alumni on their journeys, speciality insights, and faith-informed perspectives.

The Prophet (S.A.W) said, "The best of you are those who learn knowledge and teach it." My goal is to serve our ummah by making medical school more accessible and successful for everyone:)