MEDICUS MARCH 2016

O P I N I O N

Medicine with no borders

Daniel Dorevitch President, Western Australian Medical Students' Society

A s March rolls in, the great global exodus of final-years draws to a close. Nearly three months have passed since the dreaded November OSCE, and the sixth year cohort (the last of its kind before the transition to the MD course is complete) has celebrated in style by dispersing to all corners of the map. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been filled with posts of exotic locales, new friends, colourful food, pristine beaches, palm trees, pulsating metropolises, powdery snow and far more, designed to exude freedom and induce great jealousy in those remaining in Perth. Overseas elective placements have afforded the opportunity for many to adventure the world guilt-free – enjoying travel whilst at the same time justifying the experience by observing medicine in a completely different setting. These medical placements enable students to appreciate the differences in healthcare delivery across borders, as well as seeing the similarities. Systemic, educational, administrative and resourcing differences across countries are certainly vast and at times disheartening to observe. Despite this, there are still broad similarities that remind us why we’re in “the business”. The sounds of a crying child are the same. A parent’s concern for their child’s wellbeing is the same. Confusion about a complicated diagnosis or treatment regime, the same. The difficulty of coming to terms with a harsh diagnosis, or the joy at a

cured family member that can return home – the same.

In fact, the fear for the future that the patient

In fact, the fear for the future that the patient and their loved ones experience in hospital is what unifies medical practice across Australia and around the world. Part of our role then as healers – in whatever language and with whatever resources – is to do our best to reassure and support them through this journey into the unknown. WAMSS’ role then, is to support these supporters and to ensure they are adequately prepared for their travels to far-flung locales. This is largely coordinated by our Electives and Exchange Officer – this year, Vivien Hsu. The preparation process begins in March the year prior, with an information evening designed to inform, prepare and inspire students about all things they need to consider when planning their elective. Talks from the Faculty of Medicine, specialists in Infectious Diseases and students with exciting elective adventures of their own all share their thoughts to broaden the minds of the outgoing students. arranging the most appropriate (and affordable) accommodation can be quite an overwhelming process. Enter the WAMSS elective database. Now students returning from their electives can submit their experiences in detail, leaving handy tips and useful contacts for future students to make use of. The database continues to grow year by year and is a brilliant springboard for Communicating with a foreign hospital or doctor, navigating visas, and

and their loved ones experience in hospital is what unifies medical practice across Australia and around the world

students still in the planning stages.

Once locked in, students are then able to access the Local International Needs Contribution Scheme (LINCS). Managed by Interhealth, WAMSS’ global health arm, LINCS enables students placed in resource- poor settings to make a tangible difference to their placement hospital by providing them with appropriate equipment, textbooks and disposable goods that will be of use in that specific setting. The LINCS coordinators – Kausalya Lingamanaicker and Jordan Fitz- Gerald – manage this in consultation with the overseas hospital and have enabled thousands of dollars’ worth of goods donated by local Perth doctors and hospitals to be dispersed to patients in need across the globe. Enriched by their experience, rejuvenated by a long holiday, and in many cases more appreciative of the status quo medicine practised in the Australian system, our final-year students are now back in Perth and ready to hit the ground running in the final slog to the finish line. ■

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