Khim, a Biomedical Sciences with Professional Experience BSc student at the University of Westminster, recently completed a yearlong placement at Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of the UK’s leading specialist children’s hospitals. In this blog, she reflects on the skills she developed, the challenges she overcame, and how the experience strengthened her confidence as an aspiring biomedical scientist.
Embarking on a yearlong placement at Great Ormond Street Hospital has been one of the most transformative experiences of my academic journey. Working within a world-renowned paediatric hospital has allowed me to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge gained at university and the practical skills required in a real clinical laboratory setting.
Bridging the Practical Skills Gap
While university has provided me with strong scientific foundations, hands-on laboratory exposure can naturally be limited in an academic environment. This placement gave me the invaluable opportunity to significantly enhance my practical lab skills in ways that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom.
Throughout the year, I developed confidence in performing laboratory procedures, adhering to strict safety and compliance standards, maintaining accuracy under pressure, and understanding the real-life clinical implications behind every sample processed. Improving my technical competency, attention to detail, and ability to work efficiently in a regulated environment has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this experience.
Setting Clear Objectives
Before starting my placement, I set clear goals to guide my development.
Personal Development Goals:
I aimed to strengthen key transferable skills such as communication, time management, adaptability, and leadership. Working in a fast-paced hospital environment taught me how interconnected these skills truly are. Effective communication improved teamwork, strong time management increased productivity, and leadership developed naturally when taking initiative.
Professional Development Goals:
I focused on refining my critical thinking skills, improving my confidence in laboratory techniques, and gaining a deeper understanding of quality assurance, safety regulations, and professional standards expected in a clinical setting.
Immersing Myself in the Hospital Environment
Understanding workplace culture was essential. During my initial weeks, I observed how multidisciplinary teams collaborated to deliver accurate and timely results that directly support patient care. This reinforced the importance of precision, professionalism, and accountability in every task undertaken.
Working at Great Ormond Street Hospital has strengthened my appreciation for the responsibility biomedical scientists carry. Behind every sample is a patient relying on accurate results a perspective that has profoundly shaped my professional mindset.
Building Professional Relationships
I have been fortunate to receive guidance from experienced colleagues who generously shared their knowledge and expertise. Their mentorship, constructive feedback, and encouragement have contributed significantly to my growth.
I am especially grateful to my university and the LAS placement team for their continuous support not only in securing this opportunity but also for their ongoing guidance throughout the year. Their commitment to students’ development truly makes a difference.
Embracing Challenges and Growth
The transition into a professional laboratory environment came with challenges, particularly adapting to the pace and precision required. However, each challenge became an opportunity to learn. By maintaining resilience and focusing on improvement, I have grown in both competence and confidence.
Regular reflection and feedback helped me track my progress and continuously refine my skills.
Looking Ahead
As I prepare to return to university in September to complete my final year, I do so with renewed motivation and clarity. I cannot wait to see the end product of all this hard work. When I graduate, I will not only hold a degree, I will become a certified IBMS-registered Biomedical Scientist, ready to contribute meaningfully to the profession.
This placement has been more than just a year in industry; it has been a defining step toward the professional I aspire to become.
About Westminster
As one of the most diverse universities in the UK, we are a global university with London energy, with more than 19,000 students from 169 countries. To find out more about our Biological and Biomedical Sciences courses visit our website.