Building your Medical Portfolio - Medical Students

Firstly, well done for taking the time to think about your medical portfolio - whether you’re a first-year just getting started or a final-year student preparing for specialty applications, this guide is here to help you build something meaningful. Portfolio building can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t know where to begin or what really counts. That’s exactly why we decided to write this guide. Written by a current medical student, with contributions from Dr Temidayo Osunronbi (Director of Research at Melanin Medics), this guide brings together practical advice, personal experience, and encouragement to help you get started early, stay consistent, and reflect along the way. It covers everything from SSCs and electives to audits, research, teaching, and overcoming barriers - especially those faced by Black medical students. Whether you're aiming for a specific specialty or still figuring things out, I hope this guide helps you build a portfolio that reflects who you are and where you’re going.