Surrey physician associate students commended for outstanding contributions on placement
Two physician associate students have been formally commended for their contributions on a two-week psychiatry placement at Silverwood, a new mental health facility in St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey.
Silverwood is a £45 million mental health unit that opened in February 2025.
Alena Watif and Nikita Patel are in the second year of the Physician Associate Studies PGDip programme. Their psychiatry placement took place on Polaris Ward at Silverwood, an inpatient mental health ward for adults aged between 18 and 65. They helped the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and ward team with delivering care to patients, including attending ward reviews and MDT meetings, taking bloods, clerking patients, and performing and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs).
Dr Teresa Luu, a psychiatry trainee doctor at Silverwood, praised Alena and Nikita for their positive impact on the ward and their teamwork and initiative.
Alena and Nikita's clinical acumen, professional conduct with patients, and proactive engagement with the doctors had a very positive impact on the smooth running of the ward. I was impressed with the respect and professionalism they displayed towards our patients, many of whom present with complex mental health needs and personality disorders. Overall, their contributions were outstanding. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside these fantastic future physician associates!Dr Teresa Luu
Clinical placements are an integral part of training to be a physician associate. Students spend one day a week in a primary care setting in their first year, with four days a week on campus. In their second year, they spend most of their time in a secondary care setting in hospitals across Surrey and Hampshire, returning to campus for one day of teaching every three weeks.
Working in the psychiatric ward completely changed how I see patient care. The incredible staff showed unwavering kindness and professionalism, creating a safe and hopeful environment for everyone. Their teamwork and compassion inspired me every single day. As a Physician Associate student, I left feeling more motivated than ever to make a difference in mental health care.Alena Watif
Find out more about Nikita's experience at Surrey and explore our Physician Associate Studies PGDip.
