Partners Host Moi Student Exchange, Part 3

Earlier this year, more than 30 students from Moi University College of Health Sciences visited universities in the U.S., Canada and Sweden for multi-week educational and clinical experiences. In this third and final part of the series, students who travelled to Linköping University in Sweden and Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine in New York reflect on their experiences.

Read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

Linköping University

Gilbert Bii (physiotherapy): Coming to Sweden and experiencing a new environment and culture different from Kenya and Africa and also meeting new people and making new friends is something I think I will never forget in my life. This opportunity came as a surprise because I never thought that I will travel out of my country and this indeed has to be the most memorable time for me.

The literature review course has totally changed my perspective on research and made me love it more because of the approach that Linköping uses to teach and also how Professor Paul Enthoven guided us through the process of doing my first ever systematic literature review of articles. I have learned something on the entire process of reviewing of published articles which I had no knowledge about before. This has actually opened my mind on research related studies which I actually didn't like before at all. I really appreciate this opportunity AMPATH has given me, because it has indeed added value to my academics and totally changed my future career line of thought. 

Emmnauel Fungoh (medicine): The most memorable thing I've experienced here is the level of patient involvement in anesthetic care. Unlike in Kenya, where patient involvement can be more limited, I've seen how actively engaging patients in decision-making improves their comfort and understanding of the process.

I envision a career where I specialize in anesthesia with a focus on enhancing patient-centered care in Kenya. This experience at Linköping University Hospital has been transformative, showing me the value of involving patients more in their care. I plan to incorporate this approach into my practice back home, which I believe will lead to better patient outcomes and satisfaction. It has also inspired me to advocate for more inclusive patient communication in anesthetic care in Kenya. 

Haron Gitau (medicine): I have learned that it is possible to learn in and create a friendly environment for both students and other healthcare professionals. You can't practice medicine with compassion if none was shown to you.

I envision a career in medical research. This opportunity has provided required exposure and experience acting as an excellent foundation for research topics around patients and patient care. Thank you very much for this opportunity.

Moi University students at Linköping University

Janet Jelal (nursing): One of the most memorable things I’ve experienced so far is seeing how important patient autonomy is, especially with Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders. In the past, DNR decisions were rare and often felt difficult to discuss. But here they happen more often, and I’ve seen how patients are given the chance to make their own choices about end-of-life care. It’s been eye-opening to see this, and it shows how important it is to respect patients' wishes and make sure their care reflects what they truly want.

I had the chance to meet a specialist nurse in geriatric care who was deeply passionate about research and evidence-based care. Watching how enthusiastic she was about improving care for the elderly through research was truly inspiring. I could see myself following in her footsteps, especially as geriatric care is not commonly offered in Kenya. Her commitment to using research to drive better outcomes opened my eyes to the possibility of becoming a clinical nurse researcher myself. Specializing in geriatric care or research would allow me to combine my interests in patient care and evidence-based practice, ensuring that I can make a lasting impact in areas that need more attention.

Naomi Juma (medical bioscience): The most memorable experience has been the practical sessions in immunology. Working hands-on with advanced techniques in immunological assays has greatly enhanced my understanding of these techniques.

I envision a career where I can bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, particularly in the field of immunology and stem cell biology. This opportunity at Linköping University is providing me with knowledge and practical experience, which I plan to bring back to Kenya. I hope to contribute to improving diagnostic methods and perhaps even explore regenerative medicine and its applications in disease treatment.

Brian Ochieng (medicine): I think of these placements as an eye-opener into the various options I have in medicine and surgery. Initially I was fixated on OB/GYN, but after 7 weeks, my horizon has expanded. Now I get the idea of thinking first about my patients: What is the gap in service delivery? How can I be of help in bridging the gap? I've now included ophthalmology and ENT into the list of things I would consider. I think that is a plus, baby steps. In ENT I met Johanna Westerberg and from her I learned that teaching is an art, or maybe she is just employing a trick from the old books, "the best way to learn is to teach!"  I hope in the future I'll emulate her approach in the field.

I now see the scope of practice is not limited, but of importance is the application of medical ethics in my day-to-day practice to ensure the dignity of my patients and that they receive the utmost care as it's within their rights. Hopefully, I will be the agent of change as intended by this program as I reflect on the good virtues I've gained through this exchange in my day-to-day life as a medical student and later on as a doctor.

Cheryl Khaoya

Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine

Cheryl Khaoya (medicine): The most memorable thing for me was the “Hospital at Home” setups I attended one afternoon. Before this, all I had been exposed to as health care in US was a high resource setting, which it is, compared to Kenya. However, seeing this other side where patients are not always able to access it and how doctors are finding alternate ways to get health care to them was so impressive. It brought back the idea of seeing a patient as a whole, not as a disease process and trying to sort out their existing medical problems with as little resources as possible.

My time at Mount Sinai has been eye opening to what healthcare has to offer. Being in a system where patients get the needed workups and treatment without bias brought back the joy of being a healthcare professional. With emphasis on patient care, I have seen and learnt what empathy is and how it promotes health care. I have been exposed to various clinical specialists with such an incredible passion for what they do. I have seen cutting edge research as well as innovative medicine in treatment modalities. 

*Responses have been edited for length and clarity.