Student placement inspired Chris to become an Air Ambulance doctor

In 2010 Chris King was one of the first two medical students to spend time with Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT), gaining first-hand experience of the Charity’s life-saving work. The experience left such an impression on him that Chris was determined to return one day as a fully qualified doctor.

Chris has now achieved his goal, having joined EHAAT as a Pre-hospital Care Doctor. He is the first former student to do so.

Dr King said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to EHAAT nearly a decade after I was lucky enough to train with the Charity as a medical student. Opportunities to gain any pre-hospital experience back then were extremely limited.

The team were so welcoming and really inspired me to learn more about caring for critically ill patients. I’ve spent the past 9 years training as an anaesthetist and have been waiting for the day I could return to EHAAT as a flight doctor.”

“In the interim EHAAT has welcomed me back for further observer shifts, clinical governance days and its excellent annual conference. Over the past 10 years EHAAT’s medical student training has expanded rapidly.

“EHAAT now regularly welcomes medical students from Cambridge, Barts and the London and Anglia Ruskin universities, as well as elective students from across the world. I’m really looking forward to help train and inspire the next generation of prehospital care providers.”

Stuart Elms, Clinical Director at EHAAT said: “It’s brilliant to see Chris return to us as a pre-hospital care doctor after starting as an elective student. My aim for this world class elective was twofold, to share the great learning available and also to provide a possible recruitment route for us.

“To have an exceptional doctor like Chris return to us is fantastic and the culmination of hard work for both Chris and EHAAT. We are looking forward to seeing him teach the next generation of elective students.”