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IMed Blog: Where medicine meets faith and excellence

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh, and welcome to the IMed Blog! We are the Islamic Medical Society at UoB, representing the Muslim healthcare students on campus. Our community is a melting pot of all the healthcare-related degrees around the Medical School—yes, even dentists are part of the family! This blog is a space where we share a diverse range of articles and reflections designed to enrich your understanding of both deen and academics. At IMed, we strive to connect spirituality, healthcare, and indulge in the intriguing ethical challenges we encounter in our fields. From personal experiences in clinical years to thought-provoking discussions on topics like the assisted dying bill, you can look forward to a wide variety of engaging content crafted by our talented team of IMed writers! You’ll also find tailored revision tips for UoB pre-clinical and clinical years, alongside practical advice for navigating university life as a Muslim student. As the next generation of ...
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Trust the Author of Your Story, Your Rizq is Already Written

Assalamu Alaikum! When you are chasing a dream like medicine, every rejection feels personal. I know, because I have lived it. Twice rejected at undergraduate level, and again at graduate entry. At times, it felt like the door to medicine was firmly, almost cruelly, slammed shut in my face. But Allah had already written my path. I just could not see it yet. Allah reminds us in the Qur’an, “And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.” (Qur'an 51:22) Your rizq, your opportunities, your success, your future, are not in the hands of admissions panels or interviewers. They are already decreed by Allah. No rejection, no delay, no circumstance could ever change what was destined for me. After those rejections, I accepted a place to study Biomaterials Science at the University of Birmingham. At the time, it felt like a compromise, something to soften the blow of not making it into medicine. But subhanAllah, looking back now, I realise it was never a "Plan B....
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Tie Your Camel & Trust Allah: A Muslim Student’s Guide to Exam Season

Assalamu Alaikum! Exam season is here again. You know the drill — late-night revision sessions, colour-coded notes, the endless cycle of coffee breaks that somehow become full-blown snack feasts. But if you're anything like me, this time of year brings more than just textbooks and highlighters. It brings stress. Anxiety. Doubt. And that overwhelming feeling that there's just not enough time . But here's a reminder that always grounds me: Tie your camel, and trust Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Tie your camel and trust in Allah." It’s such a simple yet powerful concept. Do your part, then leave the rest to Him. Especially during exam season, this balance is everything. As Muslim students, we have two things fully within our control: How much effort we put in. How much trust we place in Allah. That’s it. We can’t control the paper, the questions, the marking schemes, or the final grade. But we can control how many honest hours we revise, how sincerely we make duaa, a...
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OSCEs Made Simple: What You Really Need to Know

Assalamu Alaikum! We have all been sitting written exams for most of our lives and have consequently learned how to do well in them.  OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations), however, are a different type of assessment. The intense, time-pressured format can feel intimidating — especially for those sitting them for the first time. With exam season in full swing, here are some essential tips (from a final-year medic) to help you succeed in your OSCEs, in sha Allah: 1. Know your learning objectives inside out You should have handbooks or learning outcomes for your OSCE exam, outlining the exam format, timings, and broadly what you can be tested on (e.g. physical examination, history, clinical skill). Make a list of every physical examination/symptom/clinical skill that can come up, and use this to structure your revision. 2. Make use of online resources and older years’ resources Although OSCEs may seem unpredictable, the are common themes, and there will be online resour...
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How to Secure Research Opportunities While Studying Full-Time

Assalamu Alaikum! My name is Surayyah , and I am a Pharmacy student at Aston University, with a background in Medical Physics research. I was previously published in a Harvard GSAS journal for an astrophysics project during my final year of sixth form, and I received the IRIS National Best Researcher Award from the renowned Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock , Alhamdulillah. My current integrated master’s programme provides numerous research opportunities, and I actively seek innovative projects outside my degree as well that align with my passion for STEM and community impact. The IMed team has asked me to share tips for getting involved in undergraduate research, so here they are. Balancing a medical-related degree with research might sound overwhelming, but with the right approach, it’s completely achievable. Whether you’re studying pharmacy, medicine, biomedical science, or any healthcare-related course, research experience can boost your CV, expand your knowledge, and open doors to further...
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Top 7 Hacks to Maximise your Portfolio as a Medical Student

Assalamu Alaikum! Your portfolio is a true reflection of your journey through medical school and beyond. It serves as a record of all the meaningful activities and accomplishments that shape your career. Many students engage in remarkable experiences but fail to document them until it’s too late. Given the increasing competitiveness of medical training, assessors are becoming stricter about the evidence required. To stay ahead, it’s crucial to build a strong portfolio from the outset. Passion and Dedication: The Foundation of a Strong Portfolio Having a clear passion for a particular specialty not only helps guide your career choices but also sustains you through the challenging moments. Passion acts as a strategic reserve, keeping you motivated during difficult shifts and sleepless nights. These moments often serve as a litmus test—do you truly love what you do? Recruiters in competitive specialties, particularly surgical fields with long and demanding training pathways, want to see g...
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