Future medic Amber celebrates A-Level success after Investigating the Ozempic Debate

Future Medic Amber Osborne Celebrates A-Level Success After Investigating the Ozempic Debate

Cardiff Sixth Form College student Amber Osborne is celebrating her A-Level results today after securing her place to study Medicine at the University of Exeter.

Amber, who studied at Cardiff Sixth Form College on a scholarship, gained an A* in Biology and As in Chemistry, Mathematics and Psychology plus an A* in her EPQ and is now looking forward to beginning her journey towards a career in medicine.

Her academic interests have already led her to tackle one of the most topical issues in healthcare through her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which examined the question: “To what extent is Ozempic the most adequate treatment for Type 2 Diabetes?”

As Ozempic has become one of the world’s most discussed medications, Amber wanted to explore not only its medical effectiveness but also the wider issues surrounding accessibility, affordability and supply.

“I deliberately used the word ‘adequate’ rather than simply asking whether it was effective,” said Amber. “I wanted to look at whether Ozempic was genuinely the best treatment when you consider factors such as accessibility, shortages and cost, as well as how well it treats Type 2 diabetes.”Through extensive research, Amber examined how Ozempic works, its role in treating insulin resistance and the effectiveness of the drug compared with alternative treatments such as Metformin. She reviewed academic papers, medical research and studies examining weight loss and its impact on insulin resistance, while also investigating whether certain patients may be genetically predisposed to respond differently to treatment.”My conclusion was that Ozempic is probably the most effective treatment in terms of reducing insulin resistance and helping patients manage Type 2 diabetes,” she explained. “However, I concluded that it is not necessarily the most adequate treatment overall because of the practical challenges surrounding it.”

A key issue identified during her research was the global shortage of Ozempic, partly driven by its growing popularity as a cosmetic weight-loss drug.”There have been significant shortages because of demand outside of diabetes treatment,” she said. “I also found that pricing varies dramatically between countries. For example, it is much cheaper in France than in the UK. Even the most effective treatment can become problematic if patients cannot consistently access it.”The project further fuelled Amber’s passion for medicine, a subject she believes combines scientific understanding with meaningful human interaction.

“I’ve always been a people person, but I also enjoy logical thinking and understanding how the human body works,” she said. “Medicine brings those things together.”Amber hopes to specialise in dermatology in the future and is particularly interested in combining clinical medicine with a more holistic understanding of physical and mental wellbeing.

“Dermatology fascinates me because skin is the organ most exposed to the outside environment. I would love to explore how physical conditions and mental health interact and look at more holistic approaches to patient care.”Her interest in the field was strengthened during work experience at the University Hospital of Wales, where she spent time in the skin cancer department observing melanoma removals and learning about specialist patient care.”It was an incredible opportunity,” she said. “I was able to see procedures first-hand and understand the impact doctors have on patients’ lives. I also observed a neurosurgical procedure where pressure was released through a burr hole in a patient’s skull, which was fascinating.”

Alongside her academic studies, Amber has built an impressive record of leadership, debating and community service.

As Vice President of Cardiff Sixth Form College’s Debate Society, she helps organise debates, judge competitions and provide feedback to younger students. She was part of the College team that won the Welsh round of the Ethics Cup competition before finishing as runners-up at the national finals in Edinburgh.

She also achieved first place in the Cambridge University regional debating competition and later competed at the Cambridge Finals, where her team placed 19th out of 78 teams. In addition, she was selected to participate in the South Hampstead Debate programme for advanced debaters.

Amber has also worked to widen access to debating through outreach projects with local state schools across Wales.”We ran workshops for students from schools across the Valleys, teaching debating skills and showing them how to establish debating societies of their own,” she said. “It was rewarding to help build confidence and give students opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

Her interest in ethical issues within healthcare has led her to serve as Vice President of the College Medical Ethics Society, where students discuss complex topics including euthanasia, surrogacy and the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Outside the classroom, Amber is a House Captain, helping to organise major school events including Sports Day and inter-house competitions. She has also embraced the arts, performing in the Franklin Choir at the College Eisteddfod, participating in the Winter Showcase and starring as Kelsey in High School Musical through the College’s GLEE programme.

At a cultural event, she even helped introduce fellow students to Welsh dance, encouraging participation from across the College community.

Amber’s innovative thinking was also demonstrated through a medical invention competition focused on autoimmune diseases. Working on a project related to Sjögren’s Syndrome, she helped design a wearable device in the form of smart glasses capable of measuring changes in light entering and leaving the eye to help detect disease flare-ups associated with dry eye symptoms.

Beyond school, Amber works part-time in a local card shop, a role she secured only after applying for around 40 jobs. “It taught me resilience,” she said. “Getting a job wasn’t easy, but it showed me the value of persistence.”

She is also a volunteer befriender with Age Cymru, speaking weekly with an elderly woman who lives alone.”It’s one of the most rewarding things I do,” she said. “I’ve built a genuine relationship with her and I hope to continue volunteering while I’m at university.”

Her commitment to helping others extends further through volunteering at a school for children with disabilities, where she supported pupils with Down syndrome and severe autism through educational activities and play sessions.Academically, Amber has also earned recognition through essay-writing competitions and achieved a Silver Award in the prestigious Cambridge Chemistry Challenge.

Said Principal, Tom Arrand:  Amber has worked so hard to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor, working part-time alongside her studies as well as significant volunteering within the local community.  She will make an outstanding doctor as she has a really enquiring mind alongside a very warm personality and excellent communication skills.”