A medically-minded student at Chadwell Heath Academy who is helping classmates to follow their dreams of becoming doctors is the latest nominee for the Exchange Ilford sponsored Recorder/Redbridge Rotary Club Young Citizen Award.

Omar Carney, 17, of Arandora Crescent, Chadwell Heath, has founded a medical society at the school in Christie Gardens to give pupils tips on breaking into medicine.

Omar hopes to help sick people abroad in the future and on Thursday he got three doctors from the Chadwell Heath Surgery in Chadwell Heath Lane to come and speak to pupils.

He said: “The school has had lots of talks about medicine and medicine around the world. It’s really interesting.

“I’ve seen a lot of difference in Africa and it shocked me.

GPs Nazia Hussain and Syed Raza and medical student Nancy Hadjieuaugelou, who also works at the surgery, met with 35 students.

Ms Hadjieuaugelou told them how to get into medicine and they also learned what to expect from work experience and the life of a GP.

The school previously held seminars for students interested in medicine which Omar developed into the society, with 18 pupils regularly attending the meetings.

He runs through a meeting plan with head of science Jan Swallow and previously the group has considered mock situations such as how to triage patients following an accident.

His mother Yasmin said: “I think it’s amazing.

“He watches documentaries and he says we’re really lucky with the National Health Service.

“He wants to work for the World Health Organisation.”

Omar said: “The meetings are currently every three weeks, but I’d like to do it more often.

“I’d like to get trips to universities, it would really help.”

The year 12 pupil wants to keep the society going for his remaining time at the school, before going to university.

The Young Citizen Award is one of the six Mayor’s Annual Awards which will be awarded in January.

For more info and to nominate in another category by December 14 visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/mayorsawards.