As new Chair of the Bermuda Medical Students’ Society (BMSS), Asha Ratteray hopes to connect more Bermudian medical students with mentors who can help them through their years of training.Ms Ratteray, a second year medical student at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, said practicing doctors have had a huge impact on her life. She aims, along with the rest of her newly elected Executive Board, to bring that influence to more medical students.“Our goal as the new committee is to continue to provide council and advice and to make resources available to medical students,” Ms Ratteray said. “We are really looking to just continue the work that’s already been started, starting with helping medical students find mentors. That’s our focus right now.”“We have an event coming up this Christmas where we are looking to meet with the medical students in Bermuda over the break and also help them establish mentor relationships with doctors that are practicing on the island.”As Chair, organising events like this will be Ms Ratteray’s main responsibility for the BMSS, along with promoting the events and representing Bermudian medical students.The organisation, which is run by medical students and overseen by practicing physicians, is dedicated to guiding Bermudian medical students through their schooling.Joining Ms Ratteray on the Executive Board are Stephen Kenny, a second year student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Amne Foggo, who is in her third year at the University of West Indies.Emma Knight, now in her first year at St George’s University of London, has been elected as Membership Director and Jasmin Caines, a third year Ross University student, will handle public relations for the group.Currently the society has between 15 and 20 members but Ms Ratteray hopes to expand their reach.“One of the important things that we’re looking to do is get the members who were formerly on board, the general members of the BMSS, to e-mail us and let us know if they’re still interested so that we can connect with them and get them involved with what’s going on with the BMSS, and also to attract new members because there are probably lots of new medical students who have been accepted or even in their first or second year who are not yet involved. We want to get everyone involved.”As she still has four years of medical school left, Ms Ratteray hasn’t chosen the particular speciality that she will pursue.“I have an interest in internal medicine, in public health, in cardiology, in lots of things, so I haven’t narrowed down my choice yet,” she said. “Right now I’m in my preclinical years. In the first two years we do preclinical sciences and then in the last three years we’re in clinical years and that’s when we actually do rotations through the various specialities. Then I’ll have a feel for what each of these specialities entails and then I’ll choose.”Ms Ratteray’s initial interest in medicine was piqued by a high school human biology class. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in biology at York University in Canada. Instead of then proceeding directly to medical school as many aspiring doctors do, Ms Ratteray returned to Bermuda to work as a lab technician at King Edward VII Memorial. Last year she resumed her studies, beginning medical school at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.Ms Ratteray gave two main reasons for her choice to pursue medicine.“It’s a career that is devoted to helping and serving other people,” she said. “The other reason is that I find it fascinating, the intricate details of how the body functions. It involves a lot of problems solving, using signs and symptoms and your medical knowledge to put the pieces of a puzzle together to make a diagnosis and manage the treatment.”To any younger Bermudian students considering going into medicine, Ms Ratteray said: “Medicine is a challenging but highly rewarding field. It involves a lot of sacrifice and commitment to studying but I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.“If you are considering a career in medicine, gain some hands on experience by volunteering at the hospital or any organisation involved in patient care. Talk to practicing physicians who are so often willing to answers any questions you may have and guide you in the right direction.”“There are so many people in Bermuda who are willing to help, so many doctors have come alongside and have mentored me, have assisted me in the medical school application process and getting some hands-on experience as well. There are scholarships and other resources out there.”The BMSS asks that any current members e-mail bermymss@gmail.com with updated information about their schooling.Any recently admitted or newly enrolled medical students interested in joining the BMSS can e-mail the organisation and request an application so that they can become official members.Membership is free. All current and new members can join the Bermuda Medical Students’ Society Facebook page for information on upcoming events.