Medical elective funding in Nepal
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Who am I and what is an elective?
Hello, my name is George Richardson and I am originally from Chorley, however, I am currently in my fourth year at the University of Liverpool studying medicine. At the end of our fourth year, after sitting our final exams, we are expected to complete a medical elective.
An elective is an opportunity to put skills we have learned into practice and gain experience in possible future career paths. It can be carried out either in the UK or overseas. I have chosen to do my elective in Pokhara, Nepal. The elective is a mandatory part of my studies which I must do out of term time during my summer holidays, and it is also something which I must fund independently.
Why have I chosen to go to Nepal?
Nepal is classified as one of Asia’s poorest countries, the International Monetary Fund shows Nepal was the third poorest Asian country in 2017. It is a country that has a strong historic relationship with the UK. The Treaty of Friendship between Great Britain and Nepal was signed in 1923 which further formalised relations between the two countries. This close friendship between our countries was one of the reasons I chose Nepal.
One of the targets set by the Nepalese government is to graduate to a developing country by 2022. To do this it has to meet two of the three criteria set by the United Nations one of which is meeting the threshold for human asset index which includes health and nutrition. Given their aspiring health industry I feel it would be the perfect place for me to learn about modern surgical techniques at a high level of care.
What am I hoping to achieve from my elective?
After my university training, I hope to eventually undertake surgical training and so would like to use my medical elective as an opportunity to gain experience in the subspecialty of neurosurgery. My chosen hospital, Manipal teaching hospital Pokhara, is one of the largest in the local area and I am expecting to gain invaluable insight into the most up to date equipment and techniques used in Nepal.
Why is it important to experience medicine overseas?
By practicing outside of the U.K. we are able to learn from different medical systems, lessons which can then be applied once working in the NHS. Many scientists and extreme sportspersons gravitate to Nepal due in part to Mount Everest’s evocative and cultural draw. Medical research in Nepal is a testament to this with numerous studies investigating links between the high altitude and the effects on human physiology.
Why am I raising funds?
As mentioned, the elective is self-funded and I am primarily looking to raise £2,500 to cover the cost of my transit, my accommodation, and food. I am hoping that with your generosity I will raise considerably more which will be donated to the hospital where I will be based. So far McGinty Demack chartered certified accountants have already agreed to a sponsored amount for my elective.
What else am I likely to do in Nepal?
Any time that I am not in the hospital I would like to spend exploring the culture and breath-taking landscapes of Nepal. On our days off I would like to do some hikes around the local mountains, as well as journeying to Pokhara old town and the numerous museums.
What will I be doing to update you whilst I am in Nepal?
To chronical the experience I am planning to set up a blog accounts and report on social media what I have done for my elective and document my experience and the people I meet, from the hospital to any extra-curricular activities I get up to. On completion of my elective, I will be producing a report detailing my favorite experiences, what I have learned from the hospital placement and reflecting on how this will change my medical practice in the future. I would also be keen to share my experience with your organisation on my return if this would be of interest to you.
Thank you for reading I hope to hear from you soon.
Kind regards
George Richardson
Hello, my name is George Richardson and I am originally from Chorley, however, I am currently in my fourth year at the University of Liverpool studying medicine. At the end of our fourth year, after sitting our final exams, we are expected to complete a medical elective.
An elective is an opportunity to put skills we have learned into practice and gain experience in possible future career paths. It can be carried out either in the UK or overseas. I have chosen to do my elective in Pokhara, Nepal. The elective is a mandatory part of my studies which I must do out of term time during my summer holidays, and it is also something which I must fund independently.
Why have I chosen to go to Nepal?
Nepal is classified as one of Asia’s poorest countries, the International Monetary Fund shows Nepal was the third poorest Asian country in 2017. It is a country that has a strong historic relationship with the UK. The Treaty of Friendship between Great Britain and Nepal was signed in 1923 which further formalised relations between the two countries. This close friendship between our countries was one of the reasons I chose Nepal.
One of the targets set by the Nepalese government is to graduate to a developing country by 2022. To do this it has to meet two of the three criteria set by the United Nations one of which is meeting the threshold for human asset index which includes health and nutrition. Given their aspiring health industry I feel it would be the perfect place for me to learn about modern surgical techniques at a high level of care.
What am I hoping to achieve from my elective?
After my university training, I hope to eventually undertake surgical training and so would like to use my medical elective as an opportunity to gain experience in the subspecialty of neurosurgery. My chosen hospital, Manipal teaching hospital Pokhara, is one of the largest in the local area and I am expecting to gain invaluable insight into the most up to date equipment and techniques used in Nepal.
Why is it important to experience medicine overseas?
By practicing outside of the U.K. we are able to learn from different medical systems, lessons which can then be applied once working in the NHS. Many scientists and extreme sportspersons gravitate to Nepal due in part to Mount Everest’s evocative and cultural draw. Medical research in Nepal is a testament to this with numerous studies investigating links between the high altitude and the effects on human physiology.
Why am I raising funds?
As mentioned, the elective is self-funded and I am primarily looking to raise £2,500 to cover the cost of my transit, my accommodation, and food. I am hoping that with your generosity I will raise considerably more which will be donated to the hospital where I will be based. So far McGinty Demack chartered certified accountants have already agreed to a sponsored amount for my elective.
What else am I likely to do in Nepal?
Any time that I am not in the hospital I would like to spend exploring the culture and breath-taking landscapes of Nepal. On our days off I would like to do some hikes around the local mountains, as well as journeying to Pokhara old town and the numerous museums.
What will I be doing to update you whilst I am in Nepal?
To chronical the experience I am planning to set up a blog accounts and report on social media what I have done for my elective and document my experience and the people I meet, from the hospital to any extra-curricular activities I get up to. On completion of my elective, I will be producing a report detailing my favorite experiences, what I have learned from the hospital placement and reflecting on how this will change my medical practice in the future. I would also be keen to share my experience with your organisation on my return if this would be of interest to you.
Thank you for reading I hope to hear from you soon.
Kind regards
George Richardson
Organizer
George Richardson
Organizer
England
