Dementia Research Society: President

I am a year two Biomedical Sciences student with a keen interest in the ongoing Dementia research. Being an active member of the UCL Dementia Research Society and a part-time dementia care support worker has enabled me to better understand the intricacies of the condition. Being the marketing head of a non-profit, youth-run organisation has granted me strong leadership and communication skills. As the President of the Dementia Research Society, I wish to build a community and raise awareness among students by having regular seminars delivered by various professors specialised in this area of research. This year, I aspire to tie up with charities to contribute in any possible way to improve the lives of patients suffering from dementia. I will make the best out of this opportunity and therefore, I hope you will consider my application!

Through volunteering, my EPQ project on Music and Dementia and other experiences, I have become very interested in Dementia care and research. Two aspects of this I am especially passionate about are raising awareness about dementia and person-centred care, focussing on the person’s experiences and who they are rather than just their medical condition. If elected I would love to organise a diverse range of speakers and events to suit everyone: whether that may be the latest research (especially prominent at UCL), optimising care in clinical settings, social aspects, fundraising and of course I would be open to any ideas. I have learnt a lot from being the Medical Officer of the UCL Dementia Research Society this year which I think would be incredibly beneficial if I were elected. As president I would aim to be organised, communicate well and work together with the team to have a successfully run society. I would also collaborate with other societies and possibly charities to make the UCL Dementia Research Society better known and raise awareness for dementia.

Hey everyone! My name is Maria and this year I'm running for Dementia Research Society President. As a part of the society this year, I appreciated the focus on dementia and its clinical implications as well as the events where students could hear from professionals in the field. 

My goal for next year as president are:

• Increase the society’s presence on social media to promote our online presence and increase awareness in addition to sharing webinars and resources for members who are considering a career in the field of dementia research.
• Plan events in collaboration with a wider range of professionals and organisations that tackle different aspects of dementia research such as UCL Dementia Research Centre, Dementia Research Institute, Dementias Platform UK, Race Against Dementia and many more.
• Promote volunteering opportunities in the field for members interested in helping the community as well as getting hands-on experience.
• Collaborate with other societies in order to diversify our events and present how dementia is portrayed in medicine, psychology, art, history and how it is currently portrayed in the media. 

As a second-year Psychology student I am deeply interested in the topic of mental health and research in general and this society has brought me to delve deeper into the topic of dementia and everything it entails, which is something I also hope to do for future generations.