Jayakrithi Krishnan
Anticipated Graduation date: June 2024
I have been at North Middlesex University Hospital (NMUH) in London for most of my 3rd year and I could not be happier with my placement. I had initially planned on completing a couple of my core rotations here but I enjoyed my experience so much, I decided to stay. I have met other SGU students and also built rapport with some of the University College of London (UCL) students who also rotate at the hospital. NMUH fosters a great sense of community and I have felt welcomed from my first day here. The medical and administrative staff are both a delight to work with. Our student co-ordinator, Ms Carole Sammy is very accommodating and has offered a number of volunteer and clinical skills opportunities to help establish an all-rounded student experience. I have especially loved the diverse demographic of patients and range of medical presentations I have been able to see during my time here. The hospital is a true reflection of the multiculturalism seen in the city of London and not only has it made it extremely easy to get settled in but has also broadened my medical knowledge.
I just completed my Surgery Rotation and I am grateful for being given the opportunity to rotate throughout six subspecialties, being General, Urology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Upper GI and Colorectal. I was able to gain a lot of exposure to the various surgical subspecialties over the 12 weeks and this helped in successfully completing the rotation. I was given numerous opportunities to scrub into surgeries as well as perform basic clinical skills such as venipuncture, arterial blood gases, physical exams and thorough history taking in the wards and in clinic. The consultants, registrars and foundation year doctors are always willing to help and offer a ton of teaching sessions that better my understanding in preparation for the exam. The medical staff are very eager to help you gain confidence in the field of medicine and offer advice, when needed. They are also aware of the shelf exams we have to take at the end of each rotation and use every opportunity to help us learn.
An additional perk of my UK clinical experience is living in London. The public transportation is uber reliable so getting around is a breeze. The affordable accommodation provided by NMUH is steps away from the hospital and conveniently close to Central London. Living in England’s capital city has given me an opportunity to partake in so much during my free time. I love the numerous dining options as well as museums, theatre shows, pop-up events and athletic activities the city has to offer. It is impossible not to find something fun to do outside of the rotation schedule.
I would advise students looking to rotate in the UK to seize this opportunity. It is a wonderful experience and helps in understanding the diversification of medicine and establishing the differences and similarities in how medicine is practiced in countries outside of North America. There is a lot of opportunity to grow, learn and build upon your clinical skills here and I am more than thankful for the chances I’ve been given and the ability to stay and study in the UK.
“The hospital is a true reflection of the multiculturalism seen in the city of London and not only has it made it extremely easy to get settled in but has also broadened my medical knowledge.”