Basel, a medical student from Al-Quds University, completed his elective at Cleveland Clinic, gaining immersive clinical and academic training in internal medicine, with a focus on cardiac diagnostics and research. The experience enhanced his clinical skills, judgment, and evidence-based practice, equipping him to improve patient care and medical education in Palestine.
“This elective has truly transformed my approach to patient care and research, giving me skills I’m excited to bring back home.”
Check the photos and testimonial below.
My elective at Cleveland Clinic provided transformative clinical and academic experiences that have significantly advanced my medical training. I was fully integrated into patient care teams, where I conducted comprehensive history and physical examinations, developed assessment plans, and participated in treatment decisions. This direct responsibility for patient management gave me invaluable exposure to a high-resource healthcare system while sharpening my clinical judgment and autonomy.
A particular focus of my training was enhancing my cardiac diagnostic skills. Under expert supervision, I significantly improved my ability to interpret ECGs and analyse echocardiograms, skills that are directly transferable to improving cardiac care in Palestine. The systematic approach to reading these diagnostics at Cleveland Clinic has given me a structured framework I plan to teach colleagues back home.
Beyond clinical work, I contributed to a systematic review research project, gaining hands-on experience in evidence synthesis and academic writing. This research exposure complemented my clinical training by reinforcing the importance of evidence-based practice. The combination of rigorous patient care and research involvement has shaped me into a more complete physician – one who can provide safer, more informed care while contributing to medical knowledge.
This experience will directly benefit Palestinian healthcare through multiple avenues. My enhanced ECG and echocardiography skills will improve diagnostic accuracy in resource-limited settings. Furthermore, I will share the systematic review methodology with colleagues to foster a stronger research culture in our institutions. The patient safety initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration I observed will inform my advocacy for system improvements in Palestinian hospitals.
Read more about the international training placement programme here