Hi! My name is Sharmeen Jawad and I am a second-year medical student at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), based at the Chelmsford campus. I am currently your VP Healthcare Practice 2022-23, having recently completed half of my term, and am rerunning because of how much I love this student-facing role and the positive changes I have implemented as a result.

If selected for VP, I will continue work on my long-standing campaigns (like transport to placement) and use your feedback to launch new campaigns such as mental health support, course satisfaction, parking and university communication. I also endeavour to further strengthen the existing relationships and good rapport I have created with key university contacts and public figures.

My past achievements as VP Healthcare Practice include:

• Furthering my work on my transport to placement campaign (I’ve organised 6 faculty forums and created a placement survey, as well as information on travel discounts, as part of this long-standing campaign)
• Provision of a prayer space for the Muslim community at ARU Chelmsford
• Implementation of a Practice Hub for students, to provide a central point of information for HEMS clinical placement students- ranging from mental health support, to staff contacts
• Implementation of a HEMS online space for students with the student opportunities team
• Improving PDT services provided by the university
• Introducing Halal food to 92 café (Chelmsford)
• Assisting with individual student queries (such as accommodation, course satisfaction) and signposting to the correct services where possible
• Assisting with collective student queries and formal complaints (such as with social work, and paramedic science students)
• Meeting regularly with the HEMS Faculty Partnership Team to discuss and improve overall student experience
• Sitting on an EDI working group within the SU, with the aim to improve EDI within the SU and beyond
• Working on women’s history month, and Ramadan preparations
• Supporting faculty rep and course reps with their work

….. and so much more!

As an officer team, we have also:

• Assisted with the implementation of £1 meals to Chelmsford canteen and Cambridge campus
• Hosted the World Cup screenings at university
• Helped with freshers’ and refreshers’ activities
• Worked on accommodation issues this year as part of our accommodation working group
• Investigated the NUS president dismissal case, following student concern
• Addressed strike action to ensure that impact to students is minimised
• Met with MPs, Vice Chancellors and other important staff to share our visions and discuss how to improve student experience

Outside of my VP role, I am a full-time medical student and do my best to ensure I have a healthy work-life balance. I play netball, am part of the Islamic society, and have also co-founded the ARU Pakistani Society Chelmsford. I am a biomedical science graduate from St George’s, University of London. Therefore, I feel I am very knowledgeable about the needs of healthcare students and can use my previous experience, combined with my skills and passion, to fulfil this role to the best of my ability!

My vision? Put simply, to continue representing YOU and enabling you to make the most of your university experience, both inside and outside of the lecture theatre! As VP, I will lead in representing ARU’s vast range of healthcare students, and support with overall strategy and guidance of the Union. Those of you who know me will know that I always ensure that any task I undertake is done meticulously and to the highest standard possible. If re-elected for VP Healthcare Practice, I will fully immerse myself in everything I do and continue to work above and beyond the level I currently do. Most importantly, I will endeavour to be the means through which healthcare students have their voices heard and drive positive change! I hope I can count on your votes this year, as I did last year, if you feel I would be suited to the role!

Questions? I’m a message away! 

sj880@student.aru.ac.uk

Instagram: vp_hp_campaign