My elective was a great chance to explore my medical interests and places I'd always wanted to visit. But it ended up being so much more.
Paediatrics in Malaysia
I spent most of August this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then September in Birmingham, UK. The placements and countries felt like night and day, but (not surprisingly) filled with excellent opportunities to expand my skills, knowledge and experience.
Developmental paediatrics in Kuala Lumpur pleasantly surprised me. Although I had been used to mostly general paediatric cases in university placements, it was good to focus on conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay presentations.
The way the consultant I was under dealt with both patients and their families was fantastic, particularly her patient-centred approach. This was especially important for neurodiverse children, as they all had different needs, but still needed optimal care.
Duties and learning
During consultations, I observed international standard testing for developmental delay exams, such as the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, and had the chance to interact with children throughout their exams. This allowed me to practise building rapport with young patients, something I initially thought would be challenging.
To my surprise, the children responded positively, and I received great feedback from parents, some of whom said their children don't typically interact with strangers!
I also had the opportunity to deliver some teaching to a Malaysian placement partner during clinics. This was a great opportunity to practise my teaching skills (something I was previously fond of already) and a way to learn about the Malaysian medical education and healthcare system. It was here I was reminded that good medical care is valued in all parts of the world.
Emergency medicine in Birmingham
Emergency medicine in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QE) contrasted heavily to my experiences in Malaysia.
Firstly, it wasn't a specialised field of medicine, but I enjoyed seeing a bit of everything. My activities included placements in resus, trauma calls, clerking new patients, practising clinical skills, attending teaching and grand rounds.
My time here really allowed me to test my knowledge as a final-year medical student (with an alarmingly fast-approaching AKT exam, I may add). The emergency department and acute medical unit (AMU) team were fantastic and I had great teachers and mentors.
The best advice I received was from a registrar in AMU: if something doesn't make sense, always question it, whether that might be guidelines, other members of the multi-disciplinary team or even just from your own experiences. Without this, how else are you supposed to learn and grow?
The registrar really emphasised not settling for, "We do this because that's how we always do things," or, "Because the computer says no." There should always be a good reason for doing things in medicine, so if there isn't, ask yourself why that is and consider an alternative.
What I learnt
The elective specialties in both countries allowed me to deepen my interests in neurology. I had the rare opportunity to follow cases in Malaysia such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 - a neuromuscular disease so uncommon that my consultant noted I might never encounter it again - and developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE).
In the UK, I observed the presentation and management of more prevalent neurological conditions, including stroke and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Of course, a huge incentive for my elective was exploring Malaysia and its surroundings. I was lucky enough to visit places like Phuket in Thailand and Penang in Malaysia - beautiful destinations with warm, welcoming people, rich in culture and diversity.
Malaysian cuisine is incredibly fantastic, both rich in diversity and flavour. The night food markets were excellent for trying a bit of everything: from curries to satays, to the vast array of seafood and sweet, traditional Kopi. Honestly, not too keen on durian, but I'm happy I tried it! We made sure to embrace every opportunity to enjoy daily life as the locals do in Kuala Lumpur, and I'm longing to go back already.
Embrace the opportunity
When all is said and done, electives are what you make of them. I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to spend at least part of their medical elective abroad - especially in Malaysia - because it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This page was correct at publication on 20/11/2024. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
by Adeel Hashmi
Adeel Hashmi is currently a fifth-year medical student at the University of Plymouth. He is interested in internal medicine, specifically neurology, and medical education. His hobbies outside of medicine include fitness, drawing and reading. He hopes to include writing and teaching throughout his career, alongside continuing to aid prospective medical students getting onto the course.