Lessons from COVID-19: The Perspective of an International Medical Student Back in the United States

Avnee Nulkar

doi:10.5195/ijms.2020.527

Abstract

As current medical students, we are in a unique position. Although we possess some medical knowledge, our hometowns may require a medical diploma to provide clinical aid in the fight against COVID-19. However, upon arrival from my medical school in Ireland to my home state of California, multiple community-based opportunities to assist patients were discovered. While medical students provide community care, we can also observe our surroundings, learn from the current situation, and deduce methods of improving patient care and healthcare systems, with hopes of preventing such repercussions if a similar pandemic were to occur in the future. This experience piece aims to express shifts in a medical student’s perspective amidst COVID-19 and explicate potential ways in which the American healthcare system can improve.

Highlights

I first learned of COVID-19 as an American student attending an Irish medical school
I was in limbo awaiting the decision to cancel or continue my US licensing exams, unsure how much study time to allocate towards my licensing exams versus medical school exams
I was, with three years of medical knowledge, yearning to be helpful in hospitals, whether taking bloods, triaging patients, comforting families, or collecting personal protective equipment, yet a diploma was lacking – my perceived ticket into clinical settings to aid the fight against COVID-19 in California

Summary

Introduction

I first learned of COVID-19 as an American student attending an Irish medical school. During my two-week self-isolation at home in California, my restless mind overwhelmed all rational sense. I was, with three years of medical knowledge, yearning to be helpful in hospitals, whether taking bloods, triaging patients, comforting families, or collecting personal protective equipment, yet a diploma was lacking – my perceived ticket into clinical settings to aid the fight against COVID-19 in California.

Results

Conclusion