Hadeel Hassan joined Hymers College for the Sixth Form, from Sydney Smith High School, after receiving the Ogden Trust Science Scholarship.  From Hymers College, Hadeel continued her studies, gaining a Medical degree at Manchester University, an MSc at Hull York Medical School, and a PhD in paediatric oncology supportive care at Leeds University.  After finishing medical school, she pursued a career in paediatrics and paediatric oncology (children's cancers).

I enjoyed research and ended up doing something called an academic clinical fellowship and then a clinical research fellowship.  During these fellowships, I did an MSc and PhD in paediatric oncology alongside working in paediatrics and paediatric oncology.  After finishing my PhD, I moved to Toronto, Canada to do a clinical fellowship in paediatric haematology and oncology as the hospital for sick kids sees large volumes of patients and is a world renowned department. I learnt a lot and also survived the busy nature of the role (which included many 24-hour shifts!).

I have just started a very exciting clinical research fellowship in artificial intelligence in paediatric oncology at Sick Kids Hospital Toronto. During this fellowship I still do about 20% clinical work but most of my time is spent doing research. I am researching how machine learning can be used to predict certain outcomes in paediatric oncology patients.

Hadeel has many good memories of her time at Hymers College and fondly remembers Economics teachers, Mr Exley and Mr Gravelle, and Chemistry Teacher, Mr Prescott:

Mr Exley and Mr Gravelle brought a lot of humour and joy to my economics lesson and I laughed a lot. They used to tease me for my atrocious handwriting! Something that is still atrocious now.

Mr Prescott always encouraged me to have confidence in myself and to be outspoken as I was always a bit nervous about speaking up with answers. Whenever I have an indecisive moment, I think the words he used to tell me (in his voice!) "Don't be so wet!"

Regretfully, I was a little too 'obsessed' with studying when I was doing my A-levels and was focused on making sure I got the grades to get into medical school.  I wasn't the most sociable and I forgoed extracurricular activities back then as I prioritised studying. Something I don't encourage at all! I am a big believer in preventative medicine and encouraging sports, musical interest as a child/teenager is SO important.  However, I make up for this absence as I now love to run and weight lift in my spare time. I am actually training for my 7th marathon this autumn.

Honestly, I am just so grateful for having the opportunity to do my A-Levels on a fully funded scholarship - I had a wonderful 2 years. I had many barriers at the high school I attended previously with regards to studying and it was so nice to be able to be in an environment in which studying was not frowned up on (I used to get bullied at the high school because I was interested in studying). I honestly don't know if I would have got the grades to go to medical school, if I didn't have all the wonderful teachers, support from Hymers and the opportunity to attend on a fully-funded scholarship.