ThriveInMed Medical Students Conference 2026 Brief
Theme: More Than a Medic: Careers, Identity, and Impact
20th June 2026 10AM - 4PM
Royal College of Surgeons of England, London
About this event
Industrial action, increasing competition for training posts, and unprecedented levels of dissatisfaction among medical students have prompted a fundamental question: what does it mean to be a doctor today? In a healthcare system under sustained pressure, many students are re-evaluating how they conceptualise themselves, not only as future clinicians, but as individuals with identities, values, interests, and ambitions that extend beyond a single traditional pathway.
The ThriveinMed Medical Students Conference 2026, taking place in June 2026, responds directly to this moment. As ThriveinMed’s flagship annual event, it brings together medical students from across the UK to learn, connect, and grow, both within and beyond the traditional boundaries of medicine.
Centred around the theme “More Than a Medic: Careers, Identity and Impact”, the conference will explore what it truly means to practise medicine in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. It will challenge narrow definitions of success and create space for students to reflect on who they are becoming alongside their clinical training.
Learning sits at the heart of the day. Through a programme of inspiring talks, panel discussions, and interactive workshops led by clinicians, innovators, and leaders across a range of sectors, delegates will gain insight into diverse career pathways, portfolio careers, and the skills required to build fulfilling, sustainable, and impactful professional lives.
Networking is a core pillar of the conference. Students will have meaningful opportunities to connect with peers who share similar lived experiences, aspirations, and challenges, as well as with professionals who have navigated non-linear and multidisciplinary career journeys. The event aims to foster collaboration, peer support, and long-lasting relationships.
Above all, the conference reflects ThriveinMed’ commitment to championing students from widening participation backgrounds. By increasing access to knowledge, networks, and relatable role models, the event seeks to level the playing field and empower students to see themselves, fully and authentically, within medicine and beyond it.
The ThriveinMed Medical Students Conference 2026 is a celebration of ambition, individuality, and impact, reaffirming that today’s medical students can also be leaders, innovators, advocates, and influencers- and perhaps even professional dog walkers!.