MSc Surgical Innovation
I鈥檓 a medical doctor by profession and have just finished a Master鈥檚 in Surgical Innovation at 海角社区.
I worked on the frontline during the pandemic as a junior doctor. It was really tough at times, I definitely got burnout and also experienced imposter syndrome. When I first started my training I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 start my career by working during a pandemic.
I know an Imperiadegree holds a lot of value and will help further my portfolio within the NHS. I was the youngest on my course; everyone else were consultants or registrars, so it was quite full-on at times as I had to level-up to their level of knowledge and skills.
I think the content I鈥檝e learned and the surgical innovation that鈥檚 going on right now is amazing, it鈥檚 great to be part of something that will have such an impact. With robotic surgery and what we鈥檙e trying to do for our operating rooms, it鈥檚 made it all seem very real!
My course has been intense but enjoyable, the first half was more focused on teaching with the gradual introduction of research. It鈥檚 a great balance between academic learning and practical experience, and the course is designed in a way that鈥檚 very flexible of trainees and our schedules, which can be very busy. I鈥檓 mostly based at the St Mary鈥檚 campus and the College are really understanding that our student lives are quite different from a typical Master鈥檚 student.
I come from a very academic focused background 鈥� my mum is an Imperiaalumnus. So for me, choosing to come to Imperiawas a very obvious decision. I didn't even have to list out pros and cons. It鈥檚 opened a lot of opportunities for me.
Something Imperiateaches you is that you never stop learning and it鈥檚 never a bad time to start or restart your studies. Secondly, the variety of people you can meet really changes your perceptions and can learn so many things from the people around you.
I feel like Imperiais a mirror of what London is: it's multicultural. Everybody has a story - you don't know the struggles people have had just to be seated right next to you.
The support I received from Imperiawas really helpful. Nobody鈥檚 hiding knowledge, everyone鈥檚 so willing to share.
There are so many benefits of being at Imperiabut if I had to pinpoint one, it has to be the counselling service because it鈥檚 helped me so much. There鈥檚 no denying I have a high-pressure job, and it can get to you at times. But as a doctor, I know that everybody deserves therapy who needs it; it's not something to be ashamed of. As Imperiastudents, we get the service for free and you have very qualified exceptional therapists at your service.
The International Student Support team have answers to questions you didn't even know existed 鈥� they know how the mind of an international student works, and the anxiety and hesitations you might have. They can help you in so many ways, even down to checking rent agreements to make sure you鈥檙e not unsafe. And that鈥檚 even just a minor portion of what they do.
I鈥檝e been to so many places in the UK, I love the countryside and I鈥檝e been hiking around the North. But London holds its own charm.
If you choose 海角社区, don't doubt it for a second. I think no matter whether it's been staff, faculty or students, one is always reaching out to the other and it leads to friendships and collaborations and amazing new inventions. Networking isn鈥檛 just a buzzword; if you keep your ears, eyes and heart open, you never know what's going to happen at 海角社区.