Travel the world with IFMSA-Poland
Imagine yourself in your perfect fitting scrubs drinking Jin Xuan milk tea at the hospital in Taipei. The next few hours you are going to spend rotating with well-experienced local doctor who is always eager to teach you something new. For the rest of the day, you have planned laying on the warm golden sand on the beach of East China Sea and joking around with other international students. Does it sound like a perfect summer internship?
Or would you rather have a hand in the development of medicine in well-equipped laboratory in Switzerland? It is easier than you realize to make it come true. Each year our students participate in similar professional or research exchanges. They spend four weeks experiencing culture, tasting local food, and making friends all around the world.
If you would like to be one of them, you should consider joining IFMSA-Poland. We are a medical students association, and our aim is to allow medical students to explore health systems in unfamiliar cultural settings. This means we facilitate international exchanges by providing you with accommodation and contact person in the hosting country. We also shoulder the responsibility for all the bureaucracy connected with your exchange.
Let me introduce you to two of our standing committees: SCOPE and SCORE. The first one is dedicated to medical students who would like to improve their practical knowledge abroad. Participants spend four weeks in chosen country attending the rotations with their tutor at the hospital in order to experience health care system in different socio-cultural background. On the other hand, SCORE is meant for students who are interested in research. Its mission is to offer future physicians the opportunity to take their first steps in science. Both SCOPE and SCORE are coordinated entirely by medical students volunteers.
We are proud to say that our exchanges are not only meant to gain medical knowledge. Every local committee in the world makes an effort to enable their incoming students to learn about the culture and tradition of the hosting country. Thus, trips to breath-taking places, tasting local food and drinks, going to museums, and meeting local people is the key part of our exchanges.
Each month we also welcome foreign students who decided to complete their summer internships in Gdańsk. We care deeply for making their stay in our city an unforgettable experience. During our social programme we organize activities such as „pierogi night”, trips to Malbork or Hel, picnics and much more. Although this may seem like a huge responsibility, we usually see it as a great occasion to make new friends and have fun together. If you want to join and help us with our social programme you are more than welcome – just let us know!
If you are curious where our outgoing students spent their summer internships here are some examples:
“In August, I participated in a research exchange in Ludhiana, Northwest India. The first half of the day was spent researching in the neurology department, where I participated in recruiting patients for clinical trials and preparing study protocols. I also saw clinical cases utterly different from those in Poland - e.g., complications after polio. On the other hand, the afternoons were full of bargains at the bazaars, buying pashmina and cashmere straight from the sheep and learning about the region's culture. I made long train journeys on weekends and saw the Sikh Golden Temple, the Ganges funeral rites, and the Himalayas.”
Krzysztof Klimiuk, 6th year medical student
“My exchange destination was Galway, Ireland. I spent a month on anaesthesiology ward - and I'm happy to say it was definitely a time well spent! What struck me the most was the amount of attention and trust I was given as a student. I performed, with the guidance of my tutors, most of the procedures during the anaesthesia process, I was also given the chance of working with Intensive Care Team and Pain Team. It really opened my eyes and I feel like I developed significantly during my time there, especially in terms of practical skills”
Karolina Biernacka, 6th year medical student
“Hi, I am Ania. In July, I did a research exchange at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Due to Thailand's hot climate, kidney stones are a very common problem there. There is no specific screening to assess our risk of their formation, and imaging tests are relatively expensive. That's why a new procedure was being worked on in the laboratory where I was doing my scientific exchange, and that's how the Calcium oxalate crystallization index (COCI) was developed. The project I was involved in was called Calcium oxalate crystallization index (COCI) : a novel method for distinguishing nephrolithiasis patients from healthy subjects. In addition to my work in the lab, the professor prepared a series of individual lectures for me where he told me about his work and further expanded on the topic of oxidative stress, urinary stones, but also bladder and liver cancers, which are also dealt with in the lab. During the exchange I also had time to relax, explore Thailand, and learn about the culture and customs.”
Ania Wściślak, 4th year medical student
“This year’s Italy exchange was my second SCOPE adventure. I was placed in Messina, and although it hadn’t been my first choice I loved every moment spent on beautiful Sicily! From the flamboyant Palermo with its multicultural ancestry and vivid night life to non-obvious spots, like Gole dell’Alcantara or Isola Bella, it is a fantastic place to visit. Flexible hospital clerkship schedule also allowed me to see procedures I hadn’t observed yet - like state-of-the-art 3D laparoscopy. Last but not least - the people. Friendships made in the way is the best part of every exchange!”
Michał Błaszczyk, 6th year medical student
“This year, I completed my practical clinics in an unusual place – in Coimbra in Portugal. Coimbra is a typical college town with the oldest university in Portugal and one of the largest hospitals. It is thanks to the atmosphere of openness and youthfulness that it is the ideal destination to choose for exchange. Even during the holidays, when most students returned to their hometowns, it is practically impossible to pass unnoticeably a group of students singing songs in the most traditional Portuguese music genre - fado, while strolling through the town. They are dressed in distinctive black robes that are customary of "Universidade de Coimbra" students. According to rumors, J.K. Rowling modeled the Hogwarts students' gowns after them. Passing those groups, you have to be prepared for requests to dance and I must admit that doing so in Coimbra's bustling street is one of the best experiences one could have. Another one, that I gladly participated in, is singing with other random people, when group of 4 students decides to take out their guitars and play in the place prepared by students association. During those times, you get to know new individuals from all over the world and experience a sense of community. When you become friends with them, you should take advantage of your free weekends to explore different regions of Portugal, as you can see in the picture of me having my best time with my newly met friends.”
Ewa Szplit, 4th year medical student
Finally, I also wanted to share my exchange with you. For my summer internship after third year, I decided to go to Amman, the capital of Jordan. What I liked the most about this country were Jordanians themselves. Both doctors and local committee team were attentive, open-minded and we had a lot of fun together. Since Jordan has one of the best social programme in the world there was not a single boring day for the whole month. We went scuba diving in the Red sea, swimming in the Dead sea, watching shooting stars in Wadi Rum desert and much more. We also had a trip to Petra which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I really liked the food, especially the hummus – it tastes so much different there!
And where would YOU like to spend your next holiday? Mexico, South Korea, or Sweden? The best time to start planning is right now!
If you want to know more about our exchange programme do not hesitate to contact our local officers:
Jagoda Bobula Local Exchange Officer for outgoings, leo-out@gdansk.ifmsa.pl
Natalia Krzyżaniak – Local Exchange Officer for incomings, leo-in@gdansk.ifmsa.pl
Jakub Jarczewski – Local Officer on Research Exchange, lore@gdansk.ifmsa.pl
If you want to know more about our association and how to join us, contact our local Vice President for Members:
Natalia Bruska – vpm@gdansk.ifmsa.pl
Or simply check our website: www.ifmsa.pl
