Cardiff cash boost aids international medical
Charity projects which help support some of the world’s most underdeveloped healthcare systems are set to
benefit from Cardiff University student volunteers as part of a major new medical scholarship scheme.
The first successful Cardiff University students to receive Dr Jack Matthews scholarships have been announced
with winners heading off to remote parts of the world including Madagascar, Latin America, Sierra Leone and Mongolia to support a variety of key medical projects.
Launched in April 2009, the Dr Jack Matthews Scholarship Fund allows the University’s School of Medicine to help towards the cost of medical students undertaking athletic, artistic, medical or charity work.
Professor Paul Morgan, Cardiff University’s Dean of Medicine said: “Our students continue to represent the School at the highest of levels both in achievements outside the lecture theatres and in their medical professions.
“The decision to establish the Dr Jack Matthews Scholarship Fund was taken to encourage our medical students
to reach their full potential and broaden their horizons.
“The fact that Cardiff medical students want to broaden their horizons in this way is an illustration of the dedication they have for both their medical studies and for supporting others.
“That is why I am delighted that some of the first Dr Jack Matthews Scholarships have been awarded to help support such important international health projects in some of the most underdeveloped health care systems across the world.”
Students and international medical charities set to receive support from the Dr Jack Matthews Scholarship Fund include:
Tom Roberts, who has already visited and supported healthcare clinics in Mongolia, was awarded a £400 scholarship to help fund a return trip in the summer of 2010 to a small under-staffed rural clinic in Mongolia to provide health care assistance.
Sarah Bowden, awarded a £400 scholarship to support her work in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone. During a planned six-week stay, Sarah will provide a report outlining the areas of maternal and child health that could most benefit from a link with Cardiff University’s School of Medicine and the University Hospital of Wales.
Elisabeth Redman, awarded a £250 scholarship to support her work with the charity MEDRI. The charity offers free medical and dental treatment and health education to hundreds of people living in temporary camps in Northern Uganda.
Naomi Riddel was awarded a £400 scholarship to support a trip to develop Special Education Needs provision in Mauritius. Naomi will use her previous gap-year experience of working with children with complex special needs to help introduce and implement a range of methods of working with children with specific medical needs, sensory impairments, physical difficulties, developmental delays, and behavioural issues.
In total, 15 scholarships were awarded to students across all five years of medical study at Cardiff. Funding was also awarded to help support travel costs for a variety of local charity projects, language courses, and athletic expenses.
The scholarships are named in tribute to Dr Jack Matthews OBE. Dr Matthews studied at Cardiff’s School of Medicine and practised as a GP for more than 45 years. He was an accomplished sportsman, playing rugby for Cardiff, Wales, the Barbarians and the British Lions.
The fund is supported entirely by donations from individuals, charity auctions and fund raising activities. Further information on the Dr Jack Matthews Scholarship Fund is available at: www.cardiffnetwork.cf.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=438.