Headington Connect
Grant Winner 2026
Even after leaving Headington Rye, we encourage all of our alumni to have a life-long connection with the School.
As alumni, our aim is to continue to support and help your future development through career mentoring, work experience, and business networking opportunities.
If you are a Headingtonian or Ryetonian in full-time higher education or have recently graduated, and would like to apply for up to £200 towards opportunities such as expeditions, charitable work, and medical electives, please complete the Headington Connect Grant Form by 8th June 2026. Applications will be reviewed and the successful applicant will be announced in July.
Read about last year’s winner, Zakira Klico
Having completed my final medical school exams at UCL, I travelled to the Philippines in March to undertake my medical elective at Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu.
The team was incredibly welcoming and I was able to get involved straight away: shadowing and assisting with basic patient care in both the paediatric and emergency departments.
Alongside conditions I had commonly encountered in the UK, such as acute strokes and seizures, I also saw a range of more advanced presentations in the emergency department. These included a patient with fulminant liver failure who had presented at a very late stage.
I also examined a seven-year-old child with a myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. This condition is typically identified during pregnancy and treated either before birth or shortly afterwards; however, her family had been unable to afford the necessary surgery.
During my paediatrics placement, I had the opportunity to attend community clinics, where I helped deliver vaccinations and support newborn screening programmes. One particularly memorable experience was attending a pre-school graduation with paediatricians who work closely with local schools. Within the hospital, I spent time across general paediatric wards, children’s A&E, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I was also fortunate to observe a birth and assist with the initial assessment of the newborn.
I was struck by the resourcefulness of the doctors. With limited equipment available for neonates, I witnessed a doctor fashion an oxygen mask from a glove package. Restricted access to investigations also placed greater emphasis on clinical judgement, which I was able to develop further when assessing babies with jaundice.
What impressed me most, however, was the resilience of the doctors. During residency, they frequently work back-to-back 36-hour shifts, with only 14 days of annual leave. In addition, observing differences in attitudes, as well as the legal frameworks surrounding maternal and fetal healthcare, such as abortion, contraception, delivery methods and breastfeeding, was particularly thought-provoking and is something I will continue to reflect on throughout my career.
Outside of the hospital, I was fortunate to explore the natural beauty of the Philippines. Highlights included visiting a tarsier sanctuary in Bohol, snorkelling during the famous sardine run in Moalboal, and swimming alongside sea turtles (and the occasional jellyfish)! We also experienced island-hopping tours, canyoneering through waterfalls and, perhaps most memorably, learning to surf in Siargao!
I am incredibly grateful to have been awarded the Headington Connect Grant. I met so many inspiring people and gained invaluable experiences during my time in the Philippines - memories I will cherish for years to come.
Since returning from my elective, I have graduated and begun working as a doctor in London. I hope to carry forward everything I have learned into becoming a more skilled and compassionate doctor.