ESMO: Medical Oncology course for medical students - Valencia, Spain

Written by Wafia Sadik, 5th year medical student

I am Wafia Sadik. I am entering the fifth year of my medical degree at the University of Manchester. This summer I had the opportunity to attend the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Course in Medical Oncology for Medical Students, held in Valencia.

The course is a four-day residential aimed at increasing interest in medical oncology, an area that is notoriously overlooked in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Each year, ESMO selects 90 medical students worldwide to take part. The programme is also fully funded, covering travel, accommodation, meals, and refreshments throughout.

Over a packed few days, we received lectures delivered by internationally recognised experts across a range of cancers, including lung, breast, ovarian and colorectal. Each session was followed by workshops where we worked through case studies, discussed ideas with colleagues (many of whom quickly became friends), and presented our findings back to the group. The days were also punctuated with Q&As, careers talks, and classes on interpreting clinical trial data. We were generously treated to an excursion into the Valencian countryside to enjoy the sunshine, scenery, and a group meal. Evenings were spent exploring the city, trying local paella, and watching sunsets on the beach with new friends, hopefully future colleagues.

This was an unforgettable experience that’s had a real impact on both my personal and professional development. This course has truly opened my mind to the prospect of a career in oncology. I realised the constantly evolving nature of a specialty that celebrates the intersection of research and clinical practice. I left feeling that medical oncology represents a well-supported specialty with scope to practice holistic healthcare and opportunity for international collaboration. The benefits of attending the course were far-reaching and continue to benefit my professional growth now. For instance, scholars are also offered free attendance to the ESMO Congress 2025 in Berlin, Germany, which I hope to be attending later this year.

Above all, the biggest change that I have noticed is a new confidence in reaching out to professionals and taking part in opportunities beyond my undergraduate degree. For anyone considering a career in oncology — or thinking of applying for this course — here are my top tips:

1.       Go for it! I honestly didn’t think I’d be accepted – but that didn’t stop me from applying. I see these opportunities as a win-win. The process itself was valuable — it helped me to reflect on my strengths, spot gaps in my portfolio, and set goals for my final year. Even if you don’t get in, you’ll gain a lot from applying.

2.       Pinpoint what you hate doing, then do it anyway. I dreaded presenting cases and asking questions in front of experts, but by day one I’d already presented to an international audience, and by day two I was contributing to Q&A discussions. It wasn’t half as daunting as I had imagined, and I left feeling that I had truly contributed to the conference, rather than attending as a spectator.

3.       Speak to EVERYONE. Whether a professor of medical oncology, the organisers of a course, fellow students or patients, speak to people. I make a conscious effort to connect with as many people as possible in as many settings as possible. The truth is, I don’t know where the next door lies and who will open it for me, and casting the net wide while approaching others with kindness and an open mind is the best way to get ahead.

Pursuing a specialty can feel daunting, but remember — you have more time to pick than you think. If you are not sure, keep it broad and get involved with as many opportunities as possible. I pray we all find success in the paths we choose, whether that leads to medical oncology or elsewhere. Good luck for the future!