Conversations with Our Medical Students: Michaela & Naresh reflect on their Mobile Clinic Club leadership

by Christos Krasidis, Communications Office, UNIC Health
26 February 2025

At the University of Nicosia, the Mobile Clinic Club offers students a unique opportunity to develop and apply skills that go beyond the classroom, from year 1, while making a meaningful impact on underserved communities. Two final year students, Michaela Takos and Naresh Sinnathamby, reflect on their experiences, leading Mobile Clinic expeditions as members of the Mobile Clinic Club committee over the past few years.

For Michaela Takos, events organiser and former president of the Mobile Clinic Club, this has been a defining experience. ‘It has been one of the most humbling and transformative aspects of my medical journey’, she reflects. Travelling to rural areas, the team provides screening tests, providing healthcare services to individuals that have limited access to medical attention otherwise. ‘We are not just treating patients; we are offering reassurance and reinforcing the idea that healthcare should be both preventative and accessible’, she explains.

Naresh Sinnathamby, former secretary and current president of the Mobile Clinic Club, shares similar experiences. Over the past two years, his participation in the committee has allowed him to witness the club’s impact on both students and the communities they serve. ‘The Mobile Clinic has not only shaped my clinical growth, but has also allowed me to immerse myself in Cypriot culture and explore the island in ways I never imagined’, he shares. Leading clinics alongside experienced physicians and working with fellow students has made the experience even more rewarding.

One of Michaela’s proudest contributions was the introduction of clear, patient-friendly forms to explain test results, improving communication with patients. ‘This experience has shaped my understanding of what it truly means to be a doctor—creating trust, awareness, and dignity in every patient encounter’.

Naresh’s recent initiative to introduce paediatric stations to the expeditions will allow the club to cultivate healthcare awareness from early on. ‘As we continue to expand, we are developing new ideas to enhance our services’. Both student-leaders acknowledge the dedication of the staff and physicians who volunteer their time to coordinate and supervise these clinics. ‘None of this would be possible without the incredible support working behind the scenes’, Naresh notes.

For Michaela and Naresh, the Mobile Clinic has been more than a student-led initiative. It has been a transformative journey of learning, service, and community engagement. Their reflections invite future medical students to take part, contribute, and experience the impact of this initiative first-hand.