Donor’s family and friends meet bursary students

Financial support for doctors of the future
Medical students using the Anatomage table clinical
Family and friends of a donor who left the University of Plymouth more than £1 million have met medical students and toured teaching facilities, to see how the funds are being spent.
Launched earlier this year, the James Johnston Bursary Fund targets undergraduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds who want to become doctors.
Annual funding is coming from a £1,158,644 bequest from Jean Johnston; in memory of her late son James, who studied at Plymouth in the 1980s, to support young people into medical careers.
Dr Pru Allington-Smith was among Jean’s relatives visiting the University’s John Bull Building and Derriford Research Facility, last week. Praising the University of Plymouth’s efforts to widen participation in medicine, she said:

As a patient, you don’t always want to be treated by doctors from wealthy backgrounds, because they won’t necessarily have much understanding of where you’ve come from and what your life has been like so far. It’s incredibly important that people are cared for by doctors who have different life experiences and perhaps understand more of the challenges some people face in their everyday lives, because of their work, responsibilities as carers, etc…Cousin Jean very much wanted to support medical training and students – particularly in an area of the country that was very dear to her heart – and this is her way of achieving that and leaving a lasting legacy in her son’s name.

Visitors to the University's John Bull Building

It’s been delightful for Jean’s family and friends to see where future doctors train in Plymouth and meet some of the students benefitting from the bursary – their stories are inspirational, and I am sure they will go on to be amazing medics.

Dr Pru Allington-Smith

Faculty of Health

Exceptional clinical and academic learning, social engagement and research in medicine, dentistry, nursing, psychology and health professions.
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