13 November 2024
In Spring 2024, five Year-6 MD students joined the Erasmus exchange programme in Örebro, Sweden. Among them were Yasmine Khair from Jordan, Abigail Ndalama from Zambia, and Eline Johansen from Norway.
The Erasmus programme offers exchange medical students an opportunity to experience different healthcare systems and immerse themselves in a new culture. It helps them improve their clinical skills, build international connections, and gain insights that enrich their personal and professional lives.
For Eline, a native of Norway, Örebro was both familiar and new. ‘Knowing the language and culture made it an obvious choice for me’, she remarked. The programme allowed her to refine her language skills and integrate seamlessly into the hospital’s work culture. Eline observed how doctors frequently collaborated and supported each other, easing her initial anxieties about post-graduate life.
Abigail viewed the exchange as a step towards her aspirations for residency in Sweden. ‘It was an opportunity to further my language skills and introduce myself to the Swedish medical system’, she explained.
For Yasmine, the exchange was a step into the unknown. ‘I didn’t have any plans to go to Sweden’, she admitted, ‘but I was curious about the culture, having only known about Sweden through Volvo, ABBA, and IKEA’. Her decision paid off as she gained valuable insights into the Swedish healthcare system, which she found both different and enlightening.
During their ten weeks stay in Örebro, the students participated in morning meetings, rounds, and surgeries at the hospital. The daily ‘fika’ coffee break was a favourite, offering a chance to relax and chat with peers.
Outside the hospital, the students enjoyed exploring local culture through museums and libraries. They found the Swedish people warmer than expected, experiencing hospitality like being invited to a doctor’s home for dinner and taking part in a fun sports event called Läkarcampen.
The exchange also provided them with comparisons in terms of patient demographics and healthcare challenges. In Sweden, they encountered more cases of paediatric psychiatric conditions and autoimmune diseases like coeliac disease compared to Cyprus or their home countries.
Abigail noted the advantage of gaining a clearer picture of life in Sweden, which she now sees as a possible place for her future career. Yasmine added that while the cold was one disadvantage, it was more than compensated by the Swedish healthcare insights and delicious local treats like Princess Cakes. Eline shared that speaking the language allowed her to take patient histories, perform exams, and write in the system, adding ‘By the end, I became quite proficient at it, which was great’.
The students agreed their Erasmus semester in Örebro was more than just medical training; it was about personal growth and exploring new opportunities and was ‘100% worth it’.
L-R: Dana Alzoubi, Eline Johansen, Abigail Ndalama, Yasmine Khair, Ingelin Monahan.