Midwifery student is awarded prestigious Jelf Medal

Anna Merrick recently graduated from Midwifery (BSc Hons), and was presented with the prestigious Jelf Medal at her graduation ceremony at the Barbican.

The Jelf Medal is one of King’s most prestigious awards. It commemorates Rev Richard Jelf DD, who was Principal from 1844-1864, and to mark his services to the university his colleagues and friends established this endowment. One medal, to the value of £200, is awarded to a final year student in each of the Schools/Faculties. The students chosen, in the view of the Principal, have most distinguished themselves during their undergraduate programme. It is presented in recognition of academic proficiency and prominence in the social and/or athletic activities of the university.

Of receiving the award, Anna said:

‘I felt really privileged and grateful to win the Jelf Medal. I was nominated for the medal without knowing it, by Faculty staff who had taught and supported me throughout the three years of my training, which made me feel proud. I was so happy that Midwifery was being recognised, on a platform of its own. I felt proud of my achievement, as the degree was testing and far from easy. Mostly, I was thankful to my friends, family and the Faculty for supporting me throughout.’

Elsa Montgomery, Head of the Midwifery Department said:

‘We were delighted to learn that a student midwife had been awarded the Jelf medal this year and are particularly pleased that Anna’s quietly determined commitment both to her studies and to the future of her chosen profession has been recognised. Anna maintained consistently excellent academic results throughout her programme of education and was the first-ever Midwifery Editor of the Student Nursing Times. In this role she has provided honest yet celebratory accounts of student life and has raised the profile of midwifery at King’s.’

Since graduating, Anna is now working full-time as a midwife at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, which is where she trained whilst on her clinical placements as a student. She will spend the first year of my career rotating to different clinical areas. Alongside this, she writes a quarterly column for the Royal College of Midwives magazine, detailing life as a newly-qualified midwife.