Summer Surgical Elective in Hong Kong

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2495

Keywords:

Hong kong, Life Experience, Medical student, Plastic surgery , Surgical Elective, Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, International Elective, Hong Kong Healthcare, Medical Education, Laryngopharyngoesophagectomy, Multidisciplinary Team, Surgical Training, Cross-Cultural Experience

Abstract

I completed a surgical elective with the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China. I was taught a great deal of surgical knowledge by the team and was inspired as I witnessed the life-changing operations they performed. The experience was professionally and culturally enriching and has cemented my desire to pursue surgery as a career to improve the lives of my future patients. In this article, I will discuss how I secured this elective and my personal experience during the elective. Additionally, I will briefly discuss some differences I observed between the healthcare systems in Hong Kong and Ireland, including different scopes of surgical practice, residency training, and also the similar challenges faced by both public healthcare systems.

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References

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The Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Annual Statistical Survey Report. 2022 Report on Annual Earnings and Hours Survey. cited 2024 Jun 5; Available from: www.censtatd.gov.hk

Health Insurance in Ireland. cited 2024 May 25; Available from: www.hia.ie

Shah SA, Robertson C, Sheikh A. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on NHS England waiting times for elective hospital care: a modelling study. Lancet. 2024;403(10423):241–3.

Schoeb V. The Role of Health Professionals within a Social Model of Health. China Perspect. 2016(2016/4):51-58.

The image titled "An Exterior Photograph of the Entrance to Queen Mary Hospital Taken at 11 PM" shows the hospital’s main entrance at night, with the quiet, illuminated street and building. This photograph captures a significant moment from the author's surgical elective experience at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong. It highlights the long hours spent in surgery, including a memorable 13-hour operation, reflecting the dedication required in the medical field, as described in the article​.

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Published

2024-07-22 — Updated on 2024-09-30

How to Cite

Ho, M., & Chow, V. (2024). Summer Surgical Elective in Hong Kong. International Journal of Medical Students, 12(3), 345–346. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2495

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2024)

Section

Experience

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2024 Martin Ho, Dr Chow

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