News From Imperial : Two Cohorts of LKCMedicine Students Visit Imperial for Elective Placements
By Dr Abigail Harrison, Undergraduate Clinical Teaching Fellow, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital & Dr Vineet Dinakaran, Undergraduate Clinical Teaching Fellow, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
From September to November 2025, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust had the privilege of hosting 27 final-year LKCMedicine students for their six-week elective placement with Imperial College London. The students were allocated across various medical and surgical specialties and undertook numerous educational activities during their time, including small group tutorials and simulation.
Each of the two cohorts began with an introductory session at Imperial’s South Kensington campus. Students were welcomed to the programme by the Director of Clinical Studies and Academic Lead for Collaborative Partnership Placements, Dr Brent Bartholomew, and the undergraduate clinical teaching fellows.
The students then quickly settled into their placements and adapted seamlessly to the pace of clinical life within the National Health Service (NHS). Many joined ward rounds, clinics, and theatre sessions from their very first day, engaging proactively with patients and staff alike. Throughout the placement, they demonstrated a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for learning, which was warmly noted by supervising clinicians across departments.
Midway through their elective, students participated in an acute care simulation day. During this, they worked in teams to assess acutely unwell patients and initiate emergency management. These challenging scenarios ranged from discussing palliation and supportive care to performing resuscitation and advanced life support on a resuscitation manikin. Feedback from both faculty and students was overwhelmingly positive. Students developed important non-technical skills including leadership, role delegation, and closed loop communication.
Dr Vineet Dinakaran, Clinical Teaching Fellow at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital remarked, “It was a pleasure to teach the LKCMedicine students and see their progression over the course of the elective”.
Students also had the opportunity to present a case they had to their peers and undergraduate fellows. They clearly demonstrated understanding of patient journeys in the NHS and highlighted core principles such as patient-centred decision-making. A winner and runner up were selected and prizes awarded.
The placement concluded with a farewell gathering where students shared reflections on their experiences and the insights they had gained from working in a UK hospital environment.
The team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital would like to commend the students for their professionalism and commitment during the placement. It was a pleasure to support their learning. We wish them every success in their future careers as Imperial alumni and look forward to welcoming future cohorts in the years to come.
