Q&A With A Medical Student Studying Abroad

18 January 2011.  TalentEgg Incubator.

On TV shows like Scrubs , medicine seems like a funny occupation.

But if you were to watch Grey’s Anatomy or House, you’d know that, along with all the jokes, it can be really difficult work too.

In actuality, medicine is an incredibly challenging field, leaving you to work long hours week after week.

“[Living abroad] makes you more resourceful, encourages you to try new things, lets you appreciate what it really means to ‘come home,’ etc.” —Joanna Mathisen, second year medical student, University of Aberdeen

And if that isn’t enough to dissuade you, gaining admission to medical school is very competitive, and also require long hours of studying and hard work once you’re in the program.

So then why do people want to become doctors in the first place?  Quite simply, they wish to help others and make their lives better.

Joanna Mathisen has wanted to be a doctor for most of her life.  But unlike many Canadians, she decided she wanted to leave the country and attend medical school abroad after completing an English degree with a minor in art history at McMaster University.

Joanna is currently in her second year of studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Q.Why did you consider applying to medical school abroad in the first place?
A. Because I wanted to live in Scotland – it was very simple! I want to get more travelling in while I’m young and I lived abroad before (in France), and figured that although being an international student is expensive, it would be worth the expense to live for five more years in a foreign country. With a good excuse!

Q. What made you decide on going to U Aberdeen after getting accepted?
A. It was the only university that had accepted me, primarily!

Also, I have two distant cousins in Aberdeen who took me out for dinner and showed me around the town when I went over for my interview, so I felt comfortable there.

Q.What are some things that med school abroad can give you that you can’t get in Canada?
A. Experience living abroad! It’s something I think everyone should do, if they can. Of course, it’s very much a privilege to be able to live abroad, so that makes it extra special. It makes you more resourceful, encourages you to try new things, lets you appreciate what it really means to ‘come home,’ etc.

Medical school is pretty similar across the board (not like taking a Canadian history degree elsewhere!), so you’re not straying too far away from Canadian standards by going somewhere like Scotland.

Q. How will getting your degree abroad make things better for you in terms of practicing medicine?
A. Well, it gives you more choices in terms of where to practise! I’m trying to decide whether to start working here or Canada, and I have that option.

Coming home will be difficult, but not impossible, and I’ve begun my career in the British system, so I can also work here if I wish to. It’s exciting to have that kind of opportunity!

Q. How will getting your degree abroad make things more challenging for you to obtain a residency after graduation?
A. To be honest, I haven’t looked into coming home in much detail because I’m taking things one day at a time. I’m sure I’ll have to write a few difficult exams, and fewer training positions will be open to me than for Canadian-trained students, but the experience of being abroad outweighs those difficulties.

Q. What is the coolest thing about doing your degree in Scotland?
A. I’ve met some amazing people, gotten to know some Scottish family, and met an amazing  Scottish guy who’s now very important to me! It’s been quite a ride!

Q. What is the single-most important piece of advice you would pass on to others considering applying to med school abroad?
A. I would advise anyone to apply abroad even just to be able to dream about it!

Entry-Level Living: Travel Close to Home, Its Patriotic

" Entry-Level Living: Travel Close to Home, Its Patriotic", July 6 2009

You’ve probably heard of the 100 Mile Diet, but what about a 100 Mile Vacation? In trying economic times, being able to go on vacation has become increasingly difficult, especially for those of us who are still in school or who have recently graduated and are just starting in the workforce. To go on a 100 Mile Vacation, plan a vacation no more than 100 miles from your home (or 160.9344 km, since we use the metric system here in Canada).

Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia

Travelling closer to home (in Canada, if not within your own province/territory) has a lot of benefits. As with the 100 Mile Diet, you’ll have a lesser impact on the environment and you’ll spend less money. Also, you’ll never have to worry about changing your money to another currency!

Throughout the year, each province and territory has a slew of large-scale events that occur. To name just a few, Alberta has the Calgary Stampede; Ontario has Caribana, Pride and the Canadian National Exhibition; while Quebec has Carnivale. These events have a lot to do with our national identity and are something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

There is a lot to see and do within Canada, and most of us take it for granted. Although our nation is a relatively new one in comparison to our neighbours in the Eastern Hemisphere, there is plenty of history to see and learn about. They say history repeats itself, so why not get a better understanding of our current affairs by learning about Canada’s past?

There are currently 15 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) heritage sites in Canada, all of which can teach you something about how and why Canada is functioning as it is today.

There is also the large variety of climate and geography within Canada: you can see mountains, deserts, tundra, dense urban areas, lakes, oceans, forests, prairies, etc. In no other country do you see the kind of variance that you do in Canada in terms of landforms and temperature.

Travelling within Canada may also be helpful if you are looking for a job or a post-secondary institution. If you’ve found there is nothing available for you in your home province/territory, maybe it’s time to start looking at employers in other parts of the country and consider relocating. Sometimes getting a fresh start somewhere else can be very beneficial to your future.

Similarly, if you think your education isn’t getting you anywhere, maybe you should see what educational options are available in other parts of the country, as schools in different parts of the country can offer location-specific programs and specialties.

If you’re traveling in Vancouver for example, why not check out the forestry department at UBC or the School for International Studies at Simon Fraser? Sometimes trying something new or visiting a new place is the best way for you to find out what you really want to do with the rest of your life. Why not experience it in Canada?