Tilly (Matilda) Gardener began her medical degree in 2019. She said: “I’d gone to the same school from age 3 to 18 and suddenly found myself a very small fish in a very big pond. The transition was daunting.”
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic also marked the beginning of a personal health battle with anorexia. A particularly poignant moment occurred in December 2020 after learning that her BMI was below the General Medical Council's (GMC) fitness to practise threshold.
Tilly said: “I’ll never forget sitting on the bottom step of the stairs that December, crying to my housemates after being told my BMI was below the GMC’s fitness to practise threshold. Oddly, there was some relief too — it felt like my health battle had finally been acknowledged, and I had a reason to step back and rediscover who I was outside of medicine.”
Deciding to suspend her studies for a year to receive treatment for her eating disorder, she immersed herself in various roles — University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) tutoring, coaching medical school applicants, and invigilating exams. Simple pleasures, like leisurely walks and crafting afternoons, kept Tilly grounded, and friends saw her through.
Returning to Bristol Medical School, Tilly faced the usual highs and lows but gradually found her confidence and a genuine passion for medicine. She completed a medical elective in India and Vietnam, immersing herself in their healthcare systems and vibrant cultures — from sipping chai with doctors in Faridabad to sampling street food in Hanoi.
She also took on leadership roles, including founding the Bristol University Geriatrics Society (BUGS) and she was co-president of Galenicals — the Bristol Medical Students' Society.
But what inspired Tilly to want to specialise in geriatrics? It was during a wellbeing project in her fifth year of medical school that geriatrics truly captured her heart. While joining a Scottish country dancing group of mostly over-70s, she found unexpected mentorship and connection. “They were so kind — always asking how my placements were going. They reminded me that older adults aren’t just patients — they’re people, with humour, curiosity, and so much to offer.” Tilly feels geriatrics is often overlooked because of the assumption that nothing can be ‘fixed’, but she said that misses the point. “It’s not about chasing cures at all costs It’s about helping people to live well on their own terms. It’s intellectually stimulating, deeply human, and incredibly rewarding.”
Tilly who will be moving back to Brailsford, a small village in Derbyshire, where she grew up with her parents — her biggest cheerleaders — and her brother and sister, to start her medical career, said: “I’m probably one of the few people in their twenties who is absolutely ecstatic to be moving back to their family home!”
Following her degree ceremony Tilly received the Preparing for Professional Practice Prize, nominated by clinical teaching fellows. The prize – presented during the Medicine Graduation Reception – is awarded to the student who has demonstrated exceptional professionalism during their practice.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared: "Keep going, even when it feels like you've lost your way. There's strength in being the small fish — it teaches you how to swim in uncertain waters. And sometimes, good enough really is more than enough."
Professor Chrissie Thirlwell, Head of Bristol Medical School at the University of Bristol, said: “Tilly’s journey is one of resilience, compassion, and courage. Her determination to return to medicine after facing such personal adversity is a testament to her character. We are proud of her and know she will make a profound difference in the lives of her future patients.”