As part of our Minerva Lecture Programme, Dr Sunila Prasad delivered a workshop titled “An Introduction to Complementary Medicine.” This talk forms part of our Women’s Health Initiative, which aims to empower girls with knowledge about health and their bodies.
Dr Sunila Prasad is a Paediatric Doctor and qualified Acupuncturist, having graduated in Medicine in 2017 with clinical distinctions and an additional first-class BSc in Reproductive Medicine. After specialising in Paediatrics, she went on to establish her own acupuncture clinic, supporting the health and wellbeing of women and children. She also teaches Western medicine on one of the UK’s leading acupuncture courses, training future acupuncturists.
Drawing on this unique dual expertise, Dr Sunila bridges the gap between the science of modern medicine and the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). During the workshop, students explored how complementary therapies can work as “teammates” alongside conventional medicine to support health and wellbeing.
The session also empowered students to navigate the “wellness” trends they encounter on social media, helping them to recognise health misinformation and identify reliable, evidence-based advice. The workshop concluded with a live demonstration of cupping and acupuncture (on a teacher!), giving pupils a first-hand look at these fascinating therapies in action.
As per our tradition, Year 9 pupil Violet created a portrait of the Minerva speaker to commemorate the event