Medical students experience nordic healthcare through NEOLAiA

Last March, four MD5 students from the University of Nicosia Medical School completed a 10-week exchange programme at Örebro University Hospital in Sweden, a NEOLAiA alliance member. Emma Nordahl from Norway, May Hajeir from Jordan, Yllina Zekaj from Kosovo, and Weaam Al-Hoqani from Oman undertook their gynaecology and paediatrics placements in this integrated university hospital environment.

The students participated in comprehensive patient care including taking histories, practical procedures, and surgical observations. They accessed the hospital’s computer system to write patient notes and, under supervision, order investigations. May noted that ‘students are encouraged to think independently and then discuss their clinical reasoning with supervising doctors’, finding similarities with teaching approaches at Paphos General Hospital.

The programme exposed students to different patient populations, from neonatal cases to complex adolescent mental health situations involving multidisciplinary teams. The healthcare system’s holistic approach particularly impressed them, with comprehensive mental health screening and highly skilled midwives managing advanced patient care.

Students were integrated into Swedish hospital culture, including ‘fika’ – the morning coffee tradition that ‘creates a pleasant working environment’, according to Weaam. They also adapted to the local transportation culture by cycling to the hospital daily.

Emma summarised: ‘It was an excellent experience and I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity’. The exchange demonstrates the value of international medical education partnerships in developing well-rounded healthcare professionals.