Moving forward while reaching back
ACMS's intergenerational mentorship scheme, designed to support aspiring and current medical students throughout their journey into medicine - from sixth form, through medical school, and into clinical practice.
An Akan word, a lasting philosophy
“Sankofa” - to go back and retrieve
Sankofa is an Akan word from Ghana meaning "to go back and retrieve." It represents learning from the past, carrying valuable knowledge forward, and reaching back to support those following behind.
This reflects the purpose of the programme: members who have progressed through each stage use their experience to guide the next generation. As students advance, they continue within their circle - not only as mentees, but increasingly as mentors themselves.
Reaching back across every stage
Participants are organised into small mentorship groups called Sankofa Circles, matched by a shared interest - such as a specialty of interest. Academic progression runs up the centre, sixth form through to Year 5 - and a Senior Doctor and an F1/F2 Alumni Doctor each mentor every stage of that journey, not just the person directly next to them:
Each participant receives guidance from those further ahead while supporting the person coming behind them - creating a continuous chain of mentorship from sixth form all the way into clinical practice.
Structured, and built to last
Support flows down the chain
Each student primarily supports the person in the stage immediately below them - a direct, manageable mentoring relationship rather than one person mentoring an entire circle.
F1/F2 doctors: the practical bridge
Accessible, recent advice on clinical placements, applications and the transition into working life - from someone who's just been through it.
Senior doctors: the long view
Wider career insight, access to specialist clinical placements - like surgeries and beyond - professional guidance, and long-term mentorship.
Termly circles, ongoing check-ins
Sankofa Circles meet as a group once a term, with additional one-to-one check-ins between individual mentors and mentees throughout the year.
Relationships that last
Participants remain connected as they progress through their own careers - creating lasting relationships across the whole ACMS community, not just within one cohort.
Ready to reach back - or move forward?
Whether you're a sixth-former exploring medicine or a doctor ready to mentor the next generation, there's a place for you in a Sankofa Circle.