Sorbonne collaboration opens doors to Paris Hospital experience for UNIC student

As part of the University of Nicosia Medical School’s agreement with the Sorbonne University Faculty of Medicine, MD Year 6 student Isabella Mae Angelopoulou spent the summer working in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Armand Trousseau Hospital in Paris.

Isabella describes this experience as incredibly rewarding but also very intense and demanding: ‘From day one, I moved between outpatient clinics, operating theatres, and emergency calls. In theatre, I scrubbed into gynaecological and obstetric surgeries and observed a range of operative techniques’.

Working alongside experienced doctors, Isabella had the opportunity to see how they work in a time-sensitive setting. ‘What struck me most was the rhythm of real-time decision-making: the way surgeons, anaesthetists, and midwives communicated precisely as situations evolved’, she points out.

During her time at the hospital, Isabella observed and contributed to different units. ‘The obstetric service gave me great insight into managing complexity. I contributed to the care of high-risk pregnancies and observed the constant balancing act between maternal and foetal wellbeing’.

Isabella also engaged directly with patients and contributed to discussions on diagnoses and management plans: ‘I was welcomed by consultants, residents, and midwives who trusted me with responsibilities and shared their expertise generously. By the end of my time there, I left with more than new skills and sharper clinical instincts. I carried a deeper appreciation for precision, coordination, and adaptability in a fast-paced hospital environment’.

Isabella’s placement was part of a wide-reaching agreement between the Medical School and the Sorbonne University Faculty of Medicine, which includes a joint commitment to conduct mutual exchange programmes for medical students, carry out joint research projects, and arrange shared events like workshops, seminars and conferences.