At 22 years, Indian is UK’s youngest doc
London: At the age of 22, India-origin Heenal Raichura has qualified to become Britain’s youngest doctor and is all set to practise medicine.
Daughter of Nalin and Shobhna Raichura, Heenal was accepted into university to study medicine in 2002 when she was 16.
Six years later she has passed her degree and is all set to start work at University College London Hospital where she hopes to become a surgeon.
Heenal said: “It’s quite a surreal feeling to actually, finally, become a doctor after six years of a degree. To finally come out at the end and say, ‘I’m a doctor’, my childhood dream, is an indescribable feeling. PTI
Extracts from Daily Telegraph
Heenal Raichura was accepted into university to study medicine in 2002 when she was 16, after a school career which had seen her several years ahead of classmates.
Six years later she has passed her degree and is to start work at University College London Hospital where she hopes to become a surgeon.
Dr Raichura said: “It’s quite a surreal feeling to actually, finally, become a doctor after six years of a degree. To finally come out at the end and say, ‘I’m a doctor’, my childhood dream, is an indescribable feeling.
“All I remember from when I was younger is wanting to be a doctor.
“My parents tell stories about how I would come over and put my head against their chest because I didn’t have a stethoscope to play with.
“I was always interested in trying to figure out what was going wrong with the body.”
At just nine-years-old, Heenal joined MENSA with an IQ of 170 and became the youngster person to start secondary school.
She took her GCSEs examinations early at the age of 14 at the France Bardsley School for Girls in Romford, Essex, and got 7A*, 3As and a B – the best results in her school that year.
In 2002 she notched up four grade As and one B at A-Levels at the Coopers’ Company and Coborn School in Upminster.
Her proud father Nalin from Rainham, Essex, 65, said: “She encountered immense difficulty in finding universities that would accept her at the age of 16 because the minimum age at entry is 17 years 6 months.”
She was offered a place to study medicine at St George’s University in London where she six years later she has graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree.
She received her degree at a presentation ceremony at The Barbican Centre in London in June this year (2008) and is believed to be Britain’s youngest doctor.
On top of the normal five years of medical study Heenal also spend an extra year to get a degree in Anatomy and Developmental Biology from the University College of London.
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Hey Heenal, Rutu here……….
I m very proud of u dear, specially after reading all this, o god at the age of 16 u entered in university,where generally student enters at the age of 17 & 6 months. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST ………..
I m eager to hear one day, you will be practising as a sergeon…ALL THE VERY BEST…do well as you always do………Love you.
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Saif Ali Khan’s home banner venture, being directed by Imtiaz Ali (of JAB WE MET fame), is progressing as per schedule in London. The film is being kept away from the prying eye of the media, though time and again we have brought you exclusives about the much anticipated project. And here is the latest!
Heenal Raichura (of Indian origin), who holds the distinction of being the youngest doctor in UK, and her elder sister, Sonia,has just finished shooting for a dance sequence in London, along with the two lead stars of the film, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Heenal is no novice to dancing as she has trained under ‘Kathak’ guru, Shrimati Shama Bhate.
Well done 🙂
On 29th September 2008, Heenal was awarded the “Gullands Excellence Award 2008” by the NRI Institute of India at a glittering ceremony held at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel in Central London.
During the Navratri festival celebrations, Dr. Heenal Raichura was awarded “Unique Achievement Award” by the Nagrecha Trust on Saturday 4th October 2008, attended by more than 1,200 people at the Nagrecha Hall in Leyton, London.
The Official Presentation was conducted by The Rt. Hon Stephen Timms, the Member of Parliament for East Ham and Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions.
Besides the British Government’s Minister, there were other diginitaries in attendance including the Mayor of Newham and Councillors.
Dr. Raichura will receive another honour at an Annual Grand Ceremony to be held at a glittering function befitting this great event on Friday 2nd January 2009 at Indian Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
She will be presented with the globally reputed “Glory of India Award”.