Celebrating Success: Oscar Lu

NEWS |

Head shot of Oscar Lu, smiling, with Chapel Quad in background


Many congratulations to Pembroke student, Oscar Lu (2021, Graduate Entry Medicine) for being awarded the Martin Wronker Prize by the University! Oscar has received this award for achieving top place across his cohort during his first-year exams.

We asked Oscar to tell us about his course so far, and the extracurricular activities that he has taken part in over the last year:

"Graduate-entry Medicine (GEM) is intriguing yet carries its unique challenges. It is fascinating – all the scientific foundations come together for the understanding of patients’ presentation and treatment. The clinical emphasis is there from the very beginning. The course is also very difficult – the breadth of knowledge covered in the first year can be overwhelming. For many of us from a basic sciences background, it helps to actively stop focusing on the minute, niche details, but pay attention to broader pictures in their clinical application.

My favourite aspect of the course would be the research component. GEM has a focus on evidence-based medicine. Having the opportunity to take part in a research project of our interest, with one day each week dedicated to this project is enjoyable. In first year, the output would be a literature review; we also have another dedicated block in second year to continue this research. Besides research, I also really enjoyed the medical ethics course. Before starting it, ethics always seemed to me as a highly philosophical and intangible subject that can be dry. But the GEM medical ethics and law course ended up being very practical, using realistic clinical encounters to allow us to see the ethical principles in practice relevant to us.

Extracurricular-wise, I was a member of the University Men’s Seconds Fencing Team and fenced at both BUCS competitions and the annual Varsity match against Cambridge. OUFC is a vibrant and close community, where I made many incredible friends outside of my degree and college. I also learnt to row at the College and was fortunate to take part in Christ Church Regatta and Torpids with PCBC.

Pembroke is a dazzling place. The tutors in GEM 1 – Jack, Sam and Anna are all incredible and super supportive. For graduates, the MCR is a second home. In particular, the weekly bar night offers a great avenue for socialising and fosters many interesting conversations.

My recommendations for anyone about to embark on their journey would be to be brave and open-minded. Pembroke, and Oxford at large, have so many wonderful opportunities, academic or extracurricular. Absolutely take advantage of them, your involvement and the people you meet will shape a very memorable experience!"