The African & Caribbean Medical Society (ACMS) hosted its inaugural conference last week at The University of Manchester, drawing praise for its bold vision, meticulous organization, and inspirational message: exploring healthcare beyond the bedside.

Spearheaded by a student-led team, the event—titled #BeyondTheBedside (BTB2025)—was designed to expose future healthcare professionals to careers and conversations that extend beyond clinical practice. From the outset, the conference aimed to broaden perspectives and challenge traditional pathways in medicine, offering attendees insights into leadership, health equity, innovation, and advocacy.

The event’s lead organiser, Farrah Adegunle, a medical student from the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health reflected on the immense dedication and planning behind the scenes.

“Balancing months of planning, speaker changes, stakeholder engagement, and social media promotion with university deadlines and voluntary work was intense,” she shared. “At times, it felt like the world was on my shoulders. But it was all worth it.”

Born from a recent internship experience, the conference brought that vision to life with engaging panels, dynamic workshops & participation of wide array of healthcare professionals.

Notable speakers included Dr. George Obolo, Dr. Jessica O’Logbon, Dr. Oyinda Adeniyi, and Dr Adam Danquah, among others—each offering a unique lens on medicine, advocacy, and impact. Organizations such as the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN), Sickle Cell Care Manchester, and the National Sales Network UK Chapter lent their support and expertise to the day.

Key takeaways for the organising team were both logistical and personal:

• Build a team you can trust — leadership does not mean doing it all alone.
• Design flexible plans that embrace change. Obstacles are often a source of creativity.
• Rest is strategic — not a luxury.
• Speak up — student voices matter and can drive meaningful change.

Farrah said; “Beyond the Bedside was born from the need to address a changing healthcare system and the lack of accessible career insight — especially for Black and minoritised students who often face unique barriers. It is a gap rarely acknowledged in medical education. We wanted to create a space that inspires, informs, and connects — giving students not just ideas, but tangible tools to lead confidently in diverse careers.

We were also guided by the University’s Social Responsibility Agenda and the 2035 Strategy, which empowered us to function as changemakers and drive inclusion through our work as a student-led society.”

Special recognition was given to Carl M. Kulimushi, who co-led the project, as well as a host of volunteers, sponsors, and partners who contributed to the day’s success.

As the dust settles and the team takes a well-earned breath, one thing is clear: the ACMS conference has set a powerful precedent for future student-led healthcare initiatives — with #BTB2026 already on the horizon.