Kealan Jones, an extraordinary 18-year old from Neath who underwent life-saving brain surgery at the age of 12, is now on the path to realising his ambition of becoming a doctor at Imperial College London.
Kealan started experiencing debilitating headaches which escalated leading him to be admitted to hospital for a critical operation. Witnessing the dedication and expertise of the surgeons and medical staff, who worked tirelessly under intense pressure, profoundly influenced Kealan’s decision to pursue a career in medicine.
“It was an incredibly frightening time for both me and my family” said Kealan. “The sudden illness took us by surprise. As I observed the hospital staff caring for patients, many in dire situations, I realised the profound difference they were making. None of my family members were involved in medicine, but their impact on my life and the lives of others inspired me and set a clear path for my future.”
Despite coming from a non-medical background, Kealan, the son of a local theatre manager and financial inclusion officer, excelled academically. He attended the local comprehensive school, achieving exceptional results in his GCSE results and won a full scholarship to top school, Cardiff Sixth Form College, where he studied chemistry, biology, maths and economics A-levels gaining A*s in all four subjects.
Commendably, Kealan actively participates in college life despite traveling over an hour each way from Neath to Cardiff. He has been undertaking charity work for Noah’s Arc Children’s Hospital Charity which funds innovative medical equipment and facilities and is President of the Medical Ethics Society. He wrote his Extended Project Qualification on ‘Should those with self-inflicted illnesses be treated for free on the NHS’ and was appointed Deputy Head of School where he organises college events such as TedX talks, hosts induction visits for new students and organises fundraisers including a charity hike up Pen y Fan.
Tom Arrand, Principal of Cardiff Sixth Form College said: “Kealan has made a real impact at the college, consistently placing others before himself and striving to make a positive impact. He led the way in supporting our chosen charity this year, Noah’s Ark, inspiring fellow students to raise funds for this worthy local cause. With his exceptional empathy, Kealan is poised to become an outstanding doctor, and we are proud to be part of his journey.”
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