Ameera Selant
iBSc in Global Health student, 2018-19.
What inspired you to study this course?
I was really interested in studying a degree that was different to the medical course that can be very clinical at times. I wanted to be able to understand health on a global level, beyond Western medicine. I had heard great things about the course and the HCRI department and hoped that the course would fuel my interest in humanitarian work in the future.
Tell us some information about you, your journey so far and what you want to achieve?
I intercalated between 3rd and 4th year and have thoroughly enjoyed my studies so far! This year was a great opportunity to engage with a year out of medicine and meet new people and learn new skills. I had time to also work part-time and save up for my elective which I hope to do in a developing country after gaining help and advice from the HCRI department. I would like to volunteer/work abroad in the near future to gain valuable experiences and challenge my knowledge.
How have the skills and knowledge gained on the course helped you in your current role/career progression?
The modules and assignments in this course have allowed me to engage in critical thinking as well as creative work, for example creating a global health campaign video which I had never done before. I feel like I have a better understanding of global health priorities as the course creates awareness of important issues emerging from political crisis such as refugee status and health. Whichever field I pursue, I now feel after the course that I am equipped to understand health and social needs of different populations. I have a great interest in psychiatry and mental health and we were able to discuss and cover many relating topics whilst also understanding the influence of context and culture.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
The topics we are able to cover are so interesting and relevant to our current socio-political climate. I enjoyed that we learnt beyond the scientific facts to understand how religion, history, geography, economics play a role in how we perceive and practice healthcare. The lecturers and researchers at HCRI have a vast amount of knowledge and expertise and have been amazing in supporting their students. I enjoyed the debate and research aspect of the course as there are often no right or wrong answers unlike clinical medicine. I thoroughly enjoyed the medical anthropology module. Tony our lecturer was great in engaging us with new ways of clinical and ethical thinking.
Do you have any advice for people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Make the most out of the course, attend extra workshops and lectures put on by the HCRI department that are so insightful. Ask plenty of questions as the staff and students are there to help you! Choose a dissertation topic that are you are passionate about as it's a tough thing to write and you don't want to lose interest with it! Have a great and enjoyable year!